MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

Re+Play, the wellness and recovery line from Harrington Wellness, is partnering with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to become an official partner of NBPA.

The multi-year product development plan brings Re+Play products and technologies to athletes of all levels, according to a press release, with offerings including topicals, kinesiology tape, massage guns, and more. Re+Play products are also available at the company’s website and will soon be available online at Amazon and Walmart, according to the release.

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“Re+Play’s partnership with the NBPA will provide consumers with a wealth of trusted, technology-driven products to help them recover like a pro,” said Al Harrington, CEO of Harrington Wellness and a former 16-year NBA veteran and NBPA member. “As we move into the next phase of the Re+Play brand with our strategic partners at Amazon, the NBPA, and Walmart, we are excited to once again reimagine how we help athletes of all levels recover from pain with CBD and other innovative technology.”

The initial product release from Harrington Wellness’ partnership with the NBPA is a line of recovery creams developed in partnership with Avicanna.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. , July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- Pacific Stone, a premier seed-to-sale company producing 6.5 percent of the licensed California market's cannabis flower, announces its ongoing partnership with RIP Medical Debt and participating California retailers with the goal of alleviating $3 million in medical debt for families across the state of California.

Because of RIP Medical Debt's unique model of purchasing medical debts in large portfolios for a fraction of their face value, every one dollar donated relieves, on average, $100 of medical debt. Pacific Stone's goal is to raise $30,000 to abolish $3 million of burdensome medical debt for Californians in need. The first in-store promotional event will take place from July 15 through July 17 at two Wellgreens dispensary locations in San Diego. Consumers can support this initiative by purchasing the following Pacific Stone products:

RIP Medical Debt's partnership with Pacific Stone is the latest step in their overall goal of abolishing financially burdensome medical debt around the United States. Employing a model that mimics for-profit debt buyers, the national nonprofit uses fundraised dollars to purchase medical debt in large, bundled portfolios at below market value. After acquiring the debt, the organization contacts the individuals whose debt(s) they have purchased and notifies them that they are no longer obligated to pay. Thus far, the national nonprofit has raised enough money to abolish over $7 billion of medical debt for nearly four million families.

"It is a pleasure to collaborate with a mission-driven organization such as RIP Medical Debt. Their noble work has already helped millions and we are excited to help change the lives of many more families across California," said Skip Motsenbocker, CEO of the Pacific Stone's family of brands. "The support of Wellgreens dispensaries is also critical to the success of this partnership. Moving forward, we hope that more dispensaries will get involved. Not only will their support help families in need, but it can also help build a strong connection between the dispensary and the community it serves. Cannabis has a rich history in the medicinal realm and this is another way the sale of the plant can provide medical benefits."

"Medical debt is an issue that plagues many states across the country and California is no different. One in ten California residents struggles to pay their medical bills. By partnering with Pacific Stone, we can bring this societal issue to the forefront in a unique way," said Allison Sesso, President & CEO of RIP Medical Debt. "We look forward to hosting more fundraisers with Pacific Stone at dispensaries across the Golden State."

"Part of being good corporate citizens and stewards of our community is giving back to the residents we serve," said Sarmad Hallak, CEO of Wellgreens. "No one should have to face crippling debt as a result of medical treatments they needed. That's why we at Wellgreens are honored to contribute to RIP Medical Debt to alleviate a minimum of $200,000 of medical debt for San Diego families."

BOSTONand MIAMI, July 12, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Ayr Wellness Inc., a leading vertically integrated U.S.multistate cannabis operator, announced the opening of AYR in Watertown, the company’ssecond adult-use dispensary in the Greater Boston area. Sales will begin at 10a.m. July 12, 2022.

Locatedat 48 North Beacon St., the store features a wide range of cannabis brands andproducts, including Ayr’s own Kynd premium flower, Entourage vapes, SecretOrchard vapes, Wicked edibles, Levia THC infused seltzer, and HAZEconcentrates, to address experienced consumers as well as those newer tocannabis.

“Theopening of AYR in Watertown is another amazing milestone for our team. We arethrilled to be adding a second adult-use dispensary in Greater Boston inanother great location,” said Jonathan Sandelman, founder, chairman and CEO ofAyr. “With our newly opened Back Bay dispensary hosting its grand opening celebrationon July 14, this is an important week for Ayr in Greater Boston. We lookforward to celebrating these milestones with the Watertown community, where wemaintain our commitment to being a great neighbor and community partner.”

Thestore’s hours of operation are 10 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week. Pre-ordersare encouraged and can be placed at www.ayrmassachusetts.com.

SiraNaturals (doing business as Ayr) is awaiting approval from the MassachusettsCannabis Control Commission to sell medical cannabis at the Watertown locationand anticipates beginning medical sales at the Watertown dispensary soon.

WAKEFIELD, Mass., July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA / OTCQX: CURLF), an international provider of consumer cannabis products, today announced that its select brand has launched "The Farmer's Select" program, an ongoing series of limited-edition collaborations with licensed legacy farmers and diverse operators in California. In celebration of launch, Select's second Elite Live collaboration is now available across the state in partnership with Delighted Farms, a state-of-the-art indoor farm managed by a team of legacy California growers.

The Farmer's Select program reaffirms Curaleaf's commitment to providing premium products to consumers while uplifting smaller craft operators across the Golden State. Select initiated its first Elite Live collaboration in April 2022 with Sonoma Hills Farm, a Sun+Earth certified cannabis farm nestled on 60-acres in Sonoma Valley. The limited-edition product line sold out in under two weeks and the partnership's success empowered Curaleaf to explore more ways to support craft genetics grown by farmers engrained in California's cannabis culture.

Select's latest product collaboration transforms Delighted Farms' top-quality, limited-batch cannabis flower into the same Select Elite Live Oil that customers know and love. The limited-edition product line is now available at dispensaries across California in three strains including Napali Sunrise (Sativa), Frozen Gushers (Hybrid) and Gas Pie (Indica).

"On behalf of the Select brand, we are proud to launch The Farmer's Select program and reaffirm our commitment to creating an equitable cannabis industry where all can participate and hopefully, partner together to strengthen the industry," said Matt Darin, CEO of Curaleaf. "This one-of-a-kind program not only connects cannabis industry leaders, but it also highlights skills of innovative growers, talented extractors and other vital figures that power California's cannabis ecosystem."

"Curaleaf and Select's commitment to providing quality products aligns with Delighted's commitment to producing premium, top-quality cannabis flower that honors the history and cannabis culture of California," said Joshua Pritchard, Founder & CEO of Delighted Farms. "We're excited to introduce our collaboration with Select, and we're happy to help break the stigma of "us versus them" competition in the cannabis community. The spirit of the plant is about sharing and connecting, and partnerships based on quality lift up our industry. We look forward to crafting more premium products in the future."

The Select Elite Live Delighted Farms collaboration is now available at dispensaries across California while supplies last. For more information on product availability, visit www.selectbetter.com/find-us or visit one of the participating retailers below.

On July 1, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) announced that it plans to withdraw its USDA-approved Hemp Production Plan beginning Dec. 31, 2022.

VAAFM stated in a letter that it will work with the USDA to “ensure a smooth transition for its growers, including participating in a joint webinar, updating the agency website to refer potential registrants to the USDA grower licensing system and conducting direct outreach to potential 2023 registrants.” The organization also said it would continue to provide support to hemp producers and processors as able.

To grow hemp in Vermont next year, farmers must register with the USDA, according to the VAAFM website. 

New Approach North Dakota has submitted over 25,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office to place an adult-use cannabis legalization measure on the state’s November ballot.

The campaign had to turn in 15,582 valid signatures by July 11 to get its initiative before voters this fall, Valley News Live reported.

The group, which began collecting signatures in late April after its petition received approval for circulation, ultimately submitted 25,762 signatures, according to the news outlet.

The proposal would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess limited amounts of cannabis, which would be sold through licensed businesses.

“This signature drive showed us that, from Williston to Grand Forks, people all across our state are ready for responsible cannabis policy reform,” New Approach North Dakota Campaign Manager David Owen told Valley News Live. “We are tremendously grateful to the tens of thousands of North Dakotans who signed and our terrific team of signature gatherers. We’re looking forward to all of our hard work paying off when we receive the official word that we’re on the ballot.”

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana submitted more than 90,000 signatures July 7 to place two medical cannabis legalization initiatives on the state’s November ballot.

The campaign had until 4 p.m. on Thursday to turn over roughly 87,000 valid signatures on each of its two petitions to get the measures before voters this year, according to a local WOWT report.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana collected the required number of valid signatures to get a medical cannabis legalization measure before voters in the November 2020 election, only to have the Nebraska Supreme Court rule that the ballot initiative violated the single-subject rule outlined in the state constitution.

The campaign regrouped and filed two new medical cannabis initiatives with the Nebraska Secretary of State last year to get the issue before voters this November.

The group hit additional snags earlier this year, however, when it lost two of its biggest donors and filed a lawsuit against the state to ease the ballot requirements.

New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is once again warning businesses to stop selling or gifting cannabis without a license.

Regulators issued their first batch of cease and desist letters in February to businesses suspected of illegally selling or gifting cannabis, and sent an additional 52 letters July 7, according to an OCM press release.

“These stores falsely depict their operations as legal cannabis dispensaries, but they are not licensed by New York State and are selling untested products that put public health at risk,” OCM officials stated in the release.

The letters notify the operators that failure to cease operations could permanently disqualify them from receiving a cannabis license in the state.

“There are no businesses currently licensed to sell adult-use cannabis in New York State,” Tremaine Wright, Chair of New York’s Cannabis Control Board (CCB), said in a public statement. “Selling any item or taking a donation, and then ‘gifting’ a customer a bag of untested cannabis does indeed count as a sale under New York’s cannabis law. You need a license to sell cannabis in New York. Licensed sales and a regulated market are the only way New York’s customers will be assured that the cannabis products they are purchasing have been tested and tracked from seed to sale. Sale of untested products put lives at risk. I implore these illegal store operators, and any other stores pretending to be legal operations, to stop selling cannabis products immediately.”

Name: Luca Boldrini
Location: Standard Wellness, Gibsonburg, Ohio 
Title: National Director of Cultivation
One word to describe your cultivation style? Commercial
Indoor, outdoor, greenhouse or a combination? Indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse. I have a strong preference for indoor.

Can you share a bit of your background and how you and your company got to the present day? 

I entered the cannabis industry in 2008 as an entrepreneur and cultivator by self-funding and operating grow operations across California. I moved to Colorado in 2014 to design and manage what became one of the first and largest indoor deep-water culture facilities in Colorado. In 2019, I became the director of cultivation for Curaleaf Connecticut, where I transitioned the company from soil to hydroponics in a new state-of-the-art facility. I have a passion for the science behind cultivation, and it has driven me forward to today where I am the national director of cultivation for Standard Wellness, directing cultivation sites across three states.

I have specialized in highly controlled indoor grow spaces that produce the highest-quality cannabis possible, but I have also grown in greenhouse and outdoor environments. I have a wide breadth of hydroponic media experience including rockwool, coco and deep-water culture. I have grown successfully under all forms of artificial lighting and room designs, including two- and three-tier LED flower rooms. I have developed a highly effective and all-organic integrated pest management program that utilizes beneficial insects and bacteria to perform most of the preventive pest and pathogen management.

What tool or software in your cultivation space can you not live without? 

[A handheld] temperature and humidity meter. Most static sensors go out of calibration, and they are only located in one area of the grow space. Even with multiple sensors per room, it can be difficult to find pockets of stagnant air without a reliable handheld meter. I wouldn’t feel as confident in the integrity of the grow spaces without using the temperature and humidity meter to verify existing sensors.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your business in the past six months? 

UV sterilization wand. They are relatively inexpensive depending on how often you plan to use it and at what scale. UV light can be used at any phase of growth to sterilize the leaf surface, but I most often use it during the cloning phase when plants are more vulnerable to pathogens and pesticide applications.

What cultivation technique are you most interested in right now, and what are you actively studying (the most)? 

I am most interested in pushing the limits of tiered LED flower room designs, specifically three-plus tiers. The environmental control and labor challenges presented are interesting to work through.

California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is proposing standardized lab testing methods in an effort to create uniformity across the state.

Senate Bill 544 would require DCC to establish standardized cannabinoid testing methods by Jan. 1, 2023, according to a release from DCC.

Per the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, all cannabis products in California must be tested by a licensed cannabis testing laboratory prior to sale to ensure they are free of harmful contaminants including molds, pesticides and residual solvents, and are labeled with accurate cannabinoid content and information.

RELATED: June cover story: California’s Cannabis Market at a Crossroads

“One of the challenges we face in regulating an industry that is not federally recognized is the lack of standardized testing and validated methods for testing,” said DCC Director Nicole Elliott. “Individual, licensed laboratories use different methods which may produce inconsistent results and inaccurate data on cannabis cannabinoid content. DCC is working to change that so there is greater integrity in the market, accurate information for consumers, and confidence among stakeholders.”

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, July 11, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a multistate cannabis operator, opened a new medical dispensary in Apopka, Fla. Located at 2121 W Orange Blossom Trail, the Apopka dispensary opened at 9 a.m. ET Saturday, July 9, with ongoing regular hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Grand opening festivities throughout the day at the new dispensary included numerous partner giveaways, music, food trucks, deals and specials, and all registered patients received a 25% discount. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering and in-store pickup. All first-time guests are also eligible for a 50% new customer discount at any Florida-based location.

"Trulieve is proud to expand access to medical marijuana for Florida's patient population," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "Trulieve is committed to investing in the Apopka community, as well as offering patients access to high-quality products and providing exceptional customer experiences."

Trulieve's retail employees are trained to provide personalized patient care and support individuals at every stage of their cannabis journeys. Trulieve dispensaries throughout Florida offer on-site consultations to help patients obtain appropriate medical products and dosages to ensure optimal cannabis experiences.

Trulieve patients across Florida can choose from a large selection of THC and CBD products available in various consumption methods, including smokable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more.

BOCA RATON, Florida, July 11, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, announced the grand reopening of its Beyond Hello Palm Springs retail location will be held at 9 a.m. PT, Wednesday, July 13. The redesigned retail location at 4765 E Ramon Road features a new desert-inspired aesthetic, some of the most sought-after locally-sourced cannabis and artisan crafts, along with a new art exhibit from award-winning photographer Jushi Chief Creative Director Andreas Neumann.

Open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Beyond Hello Palm Springs shoppers can choose from a wide variety of product selections from California craft cannabis providers and distinctive finds, such as the company’s signature scented candle, which Jushi designed in collaboration with a locally owned company Joshua Tree Candle Co. (JTC) to capture the scents and sentiment of California’s Joshua Tree–a legendary travel destination amongst nature enthusiasts. In addition, shop-goers can find popular cannabis brands and products, including flower, concentrates, vaporization products, tinctures, edibles, topicals, capsules, pills and various ancillary products, such as approved rigs, batteries, merchandise and other devices.

“Palm Springs has long been a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, music lovers and cannabis connoisseurs, so it’s fitting that our store personifies the best California has to offer,” said Jim Cacioppo, Jushi CEO, chairman and founder. “Beyond Hello Palm Springs provides our guests with a new retail experience that they can enjoy on their way to Joshua Tree National Park, Coachella or a quick dinner. As adventure seekers ourselves, we aim to bring the excitement of discovering new things to every aspect of our in-store and digital customer experience. By partnering with talented craft growers, boutique businesses like JTC and award-winning artists, we are bringing another elevated retail experience to consumers that helps them discover the thrill of exploring cannabis and the region.”

Neumann added, “Whether you’ve had the privilege of visiting Joshua Tree or not, Beyond Hello Palm Springs’ art exhibit will help you savor one of the world’s most legendary travel destinations. In our redesigned Palm Springs store, we’ve capitalized on the power of sensory branding, delivering an immersive experience to customers that takes them on a desert journey. It is also our first store to feature our new branding and logo, which signals an evolution for not only our company but the cannabis industry at large. At our Beyond Hello Palm Springs location, we unveiled a new mid-century, modern look that is approachable, fun, fashionable and accessible as well as reflecting how we are evolving as a c.”

Beyond Hello Palm Springs features an express pickup option, 12 point-of-sales systems–five of which are express–and 22 convenient parking spots. As part of the company’s commitment to exceeding customer expectations, experienced, well-trained staff will be on-site to help dispense products, answer questions and provide exceptional service.

Long lines aren’t necessarily great for business.

Sure, long lines are better than no lines, but cannabis shoppers who have to wait extended periods of time to reach a point of sale are less likely to be returning customers, especially if another dispensary nearby can provide quicker service.

One of the easiest ways to keep heavy traffic moving in and out of a dispensary is to have proper staffing during busy days and high-volume hours, Nick Jack, chief operating officer with Nevada-based Diego Pellicer Worldwide, recently told Cannabis Business Times. Diego Pellicer is a national brand with vertical integration that focuses on refining the premium cannabis retail experience.

RELATED: 5 Tips to Capitalize on Friday Sales at Your Dispensary

“It’s great to be busy, but you want to ensure that you’re providing a quality experience to lock down that return customer,” Jack said. “If your customers are coming in and receiving slow/poor service on Fridays, your Fridays will eventually become less busy as consumers will opt to shop somewhere else that’s staffed accordingly.” 

Fridays are key in the retail industry.

The University of New Haven in Connecticut announced that it has partnered with California-based cannabis education company Green Flower to offer four online certificate programs in cannabis.

Connecticut legalized adult-use cannabis in June 2021, and is expected to launch sales later this year. The four certificate programs are designed to prepare students for various jobs in the state's emerging industry.

According to a press release, the four certificate programs, each consisting of three eight-week online courses, will cover the following topics: the business of cannabis, cannabis law and policy, cannabis healthcare and medicine, and cannabis agriculture and horticulture. 

Green Flower will vet and select individuals to teach the programs, which "are developed by board-certified doctors and lawyers along with experts in engineering and agriculture,” according to the release.

"This is a unique opportunity for the university to collaborate with an industry leader in the cannabis education industry to offer in-demand certificate programs that enable individuals from a variety of fields and interests to develop specialized knowledge and skills in some of the most important areas of the cannabis industry," Danielle Wozniak, MSW, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of New Haven, said in the press release. “Trained professionals are needed to fill the jobs that are being created now, and that will be created in the future. Students will receive cutting-edge preparation in these certificate programs to prepare them to excel in this emerging and highly competitive growth market while applying ethical business practices and quality standards to the Connecticut cannabis industry."

Enrollment is now open, and all four programs are expected to start Sept. 5.

NEW YORK, July 8, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Columbia Care Inc., one of the largest and most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and providers of cannabis products in the U.S., announced that at the special meeting of shareholders of the company, held July 8, 2022, the proposed business combination with Cresco Labs Inc. was approved.

RELATED: Cresco Labs Targets $2B Acquisition of Columbia Care

The shareholders voted in favor of a special resolution to approve the previously announced plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) whereby, among other things, Cresco Labs will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company, all as more particularly described in detail in the company’s definitive proxy statement and information circular dated June 6, 2022, filed on SEDAR and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Voting results are as follows:

(1) Assuming conversion of all proportionate voting shares into common shares.

At the meeting, a total of 169,938,646 Columbia Care shares were represented in person or by proxy, representing 42.6% of the Columbia Care shares issued and outstanding as of the close of business on May 10, 2022, and entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date.

A brewing company is already jumping on the bandwagon to implement a THC- and CBD- infused beverage product in Minnesota, following the state's recent law that went into effect July 1.

Under Minnesota's new law, "adults 21 years and older can purchase 'edible cannabinoid products' that contain no more than 5 milligrams of hemp-derived THC (i.e. delta-8, delta-9, delta-10) per serving and 50 milligrams per package, and no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight," Cannabis Business Times previously reported.

RELATED: Cannabis Edibles and Beverages Containing Hemp-Derived THC Now Legal in Minnesota

Indeed Brewing Company, which has locations in Minneapolis and Milwaukee, recently introduced a nonalcoholic seltzer water infused with 2 mg of THC and 2 mg of CBD, according to a press release. 

The company plans to release the beverage, called "Two Good," in early August. It also has plans to eventually release a 5 mg version.

Tom Whisenand, Indeed Brewing Company CEO, said in the press release that the company is working hard behind the scenes to develop a "first-of-its-kind product in Minnesota."

Although many barriers exist when launching a cannabis dispensary, Hope Wiseman, owner of Mary & Main in Capitol Heights, Md., says besides finding capital, access to the expertise and industry knowledge necessary to compete may top the list.

“The major players, we’re in play. It’s difficult to jump into a new market now,” Wiseman says. “Ten years ago, everybody was new, so the competition was level. Now you have some people who are way out front.”

However, because there are more established companies than when Wiseman started the cannabis license application process for Mary & Main in 2014, “there are ladders to climb where you can get experience,” she says. 

Ahead of her session at Cannabis Conference 2022, where Wiseman will be moderating on a panel of experienced dispensary owners on how to get a retail business off the ground, she offers advice on site selection, hiring, budgeting and more.  

Editor's note: Hope Wiseman will be moderating the session “How to Launch a Medical or Adult-Use Dispensary” from 10:00-11:10 a.m. Aug. 23 at Cannabis Conference, taking place at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. In this session, experienced dispensary operators will weigh in on site selection, how to ensure you have enough capital to sustain your business through common project delays that could otherwise derail your opening plans, and much more.

Visit https://www.cannabisconference.com/ for more information and to register. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 8, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the U.S., announced that it filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 7, 2022, to register a base shelf prospectus and to register for resale select subordinate voting shares of the company. The registration statement is expected to become effective upon its acceptance by the SEC.

Trulieve became eligible to file the S-3 registration statement following one year of reporting under the previously filed registration statement and associated amendments on Form S-1. The S-3 filing provides a shelf registration which may provide the company with additional flexibility in its future financing opportunities.

Editor’s note: Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said publicly that the filing of the S-3 is to provide optionality in the event the company wants to do any type of raise in the future, but there are no plans to use it currently.

The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement. The resale prospectus covers the resale registration by selling shareholders of up to 72,288,199 subordinate voting shares. Selling shareholders may offer, sell or distribute all or a portion of their subordinate voting shares publicly or through private transactions at prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. However, the registration of the securities covered by the registration statement does not necessarily indicate that the company and/or selling shareholders will offer or sell any subordinate voting shares in connection with such registration or within any specific timeframe.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

Trulieve has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the registration of shares to which this communication relates. The company advises reading the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents it has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the company and any applicable offering. These documents are available for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

Arkansas could be the 20th state to legalize adult-use cannabis—and the first among its six neighboring states—this November.

That’s because ballot initiative group Responsible Growth Arkansas submitted more than 190,000 signatures July 8 to the secretary of state’s office for its petition to let voters decide on a constitutional amendment to fully legalize the plant, ABC-affiliate KATV reported.

That’s more than double the 89,151 valid signatures needed—or 10% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election—according to BallotPedia.org.

Former Arkansas state Rep. Eddie Armstrong III, a Democrat who served as minority leader during his statehouse tenure from 2013-2019, filed the initiative and established Responsible Growth Arkansas to support it. For the past four years, Armstrong has served as the CEO and chairman of Chicago-based Cannabis Capital Group, a medical cannabis consulting, investing and advisory firm.

The intent of the ballot measure, the “Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment,” is to authorize adults 21 and older to legally possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis for personal use and to authorize the cultivation and sale of cannabis by licensed commercial facilities. 

Cultivation Licenses

The inaugural set of Golden Bear trophies will be distributed to winners of the 2022 CA State Fair Cannabis Awards this month when the California State Fair hosts its first such cannabis competition. The fair runs July 15 – 31 in Sacramento.

The award divisions include: Outdoor, Indoor and Mixed Light. Within those divisions are more focused categories, “three primary cannabinoids, six terpenes and one co-dominant terpene profile.”

Taking home the Gold for the Outdoor Myrcene category, for example, is Naughty Squirrel Farms’ Lemon Vuitton.

An overarching Best of California division also awards trophies to the very best cultivar in each category—across the three divisions.

See the full list of winners here. 

“Each submission was tested by SC Labs to the highest standards, which generated its own Phytofacts® chemometric report that verified the results by division and category,” according to the state. “Medals were awarded based on overall terpene or cannabinoid expression in each of the ten categories. Terpenes winners were further evaluated by category by considering the ratio of each terpene against the overall terpene concentration in each submission. This ensured that each flower was properly classified and true to its unique makeup.”