MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

One company is working with Purdue University to train canines to detect diseases in hemp and cannabis plants.

Columbus, Ohio-based Bio Detection K9 (BDK9) offers canine and technology-based services to detect viruses and pathogens in human hosts and agricultural settings. The company recently partnered with Purdue University to develop processes for training canines to detect diseases in hemp and cannabis crops.

William Schneider, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at BDK9, says the company’s initial goal was to train canines to detect tree diseases.

“Those projects went particularly well, and then in the process of figuring out how that worked, we came across better methods that allowed us to train dogs to detect pathogens somewhat directly,” he says.

According to its website, since 2011, the company has trained canines to detect the following diseases in agricultural settings: citrus canker, huanglongbing (a bacterial disease of citrus), plum pox virus in peaches and plums, and four separate viral diseases in tomatoes. The company has also trained canines to screen humans for the COVID-19 virus.

Schneider says as BDK9 began to develop these processes, it started to think about what commodities could benefit from these services.

Three Michigan cannabis license holders were issued fines of $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000, according to a June 2022 disciplinary action report released July 7 by the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA).

Green Mitten Agricultural Corp., a Class C cultivation license holder near Bangor, was fined $5,000 for allegedly shipping a fresh frozen cannabis product that weighed roughly 1,391 pounds on the shipped manifest but then weighed roughly 1,226 pounds on the received manifest—a difference of 165 pounds—in May 2021.

The company admitted  it waited approximately six months to ship the package to the receiving establishment and did not reweigh the package prior to shipping, and that the product was not properly stored prior to shipment, according to a consent order and stipulation and formal complaint between CRA and the company.

Cross Country Enterprises LLC (doing business as Exclusive Kalamazoo), a state-licensed retailer, was fined $1,000 for allegedly transferring 240 cannabis packages from its Kalamazoo facility to a Grand Rapids facility in February 2021.

Transferring cannabis product from one provisioning center to another is a violation of Michigan law, which states “a provisioning center license authorizes the purchase or transfer of marihuana only from a grower or processor and sale or transfer to only a registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver,” according to a consent order and stipulation and formal complaint between CRA and the company.

And Exclusive Brands LLC, a vertically integrated company that operates a Class C grower facility and has four retail locations in the state, was fined $10,000 for allegedly having two Metrc statewide monitoring system tags fail compliance testing for Pyrethrins, a banned chemical residue, in January 2020 at its Ann Arbor facility.

Indiana University announced this week that neuroscientists in the IU Gill Center for Biomolecular Science received a $2 million grant from the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse to study the effects of cannabis use in adolescents ages 12 to 14.

Researchers plan to use mice to study the impact of adolescent cannabis use in order to develop therapies to treat any adverse effects in humans. Mice with diverse genetic backgrounds will be studied, as well as both male and female mice, in order to mimic human diversity and to see if there are sex-dependent differences in THC effects.

The neuroscientists will also study the underlying molecular changes that account for behavior changes, such as working memory deficits.

“This is a significant public health concern,” Hui-Chen Lu, director of the Gill Center and a professor in the IU College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, said in a public statement. “Today's cannabis strains are being bred for increased THC content. It’s very different and much riskier than the more traditional strains used in the past. There’s an urgent need to understand the effects of these new strains.”

“One of the functions of the prefrontal cortex is working memory, as well as processes like planning and impulse control,” added Ken Mackie, chair of the Gill Center and a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. “That part of the brain is still developing in adolescence, and developing brain structures are particularly vulnerable to environmental impacts, such as drug use or stress.”

In typical post-legalization fashion, Montana’s adult-use cannabis sales have continued to take over the medical market since the state launched its recreational retail program in January.

Licensed dispensaries reported nearly $17.3 million in adult-use sales in June, a 22.1% increase from January. Meanwhile, medical cannabis sales dipped to $7.6 million in June, a 24.8% decrease from January, according to the state’s Department of Revenue (DOR).

With that inverse relationship continuing a month-by-month trend, adult-use cannabis sales represented 69% of the total retail market in June—up from 58% in January.

Overall, the Treasure State has sold more than $148 million in total cannabis through the first half of 2022 ($93.7 in adult-use and $54.3 million in medical), generating nearly $21 million in estimated tax revenues, according to DOR.

Representing a constant from the previous month, 28 of Montana’s 56 counties participated in the state’s adult-use cannabis retail program in June, while 36 participated in the medical market.

Montana’s four most populous counties accounted for the largest total sales figures for the month: Yellowstone, $4.2 million; Gallatin, $3.8 million; Missoula, $3.4 million; and Flathead, $2.7 million.

CALGARY, AB, July 7, 2022 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - High Tide Inc., a retail-focused cannabis company with bricks-and-mortar as well as global e-commerce assets, has announced that it is further expanding its bricks-and-mortar retail cannabis operations and entering the British Columbia market, through a binding agreement pursuant to which High Tide will acquire two operating retail cannabis stores in British Columbia, six operating retail cannabis stores in Alberta, and one operating retail cannabis store in Ontario from Choom Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries for CAD$5.1 million, pending court approval on July 7, 2022.

"I am thrilled to be announcing this deal today, which represents the third public company whose assets we have integrated into the High Tide portfolio since November 2020, following the acquisitions of Meta Growth and Smoke Cartel. Choom was one of the original and long-standing brands in cannabis retail with a presence across the country and a similar brand personality to Canna Cabana. This will make the integration of Choom into the Canna Cabana brand seamless," said Raj Grover, president and CEO of High Tide. "While Choom had 17 operational stores before entering CCAA proceedings, we are able to acquire the nine locations that we want across three provinces at an attractive price of 3.8x annualized Adjusted EBITDA. With these acquisitions, we are able to bring our innovative discount club model to Vancouver, Canada's third-largest metropolitan area, as well as numerous new markets in Alberta where we do not yet have a presence. I look forward to giving a warm welcome to the team members from Choom as they join the High Tide family."

The stores have the following addresses:

191 West 2nd Avenue in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Vancouver West 2nd Store is located in the trendy Mount Pleasant neighborhood, close to numerous popular restaurants and retail stores, as well as the Olympic Village and Science World.1391 Richards Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Vancouver Richards Store is located in the trendy and densely-populated Yaletown neighborhood in downtown Vancouver.7555 Montrose Road in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Niagara Store is located in Niagara Square, an outlet mall anchored by numerous national big box and discount retailers.115 2nd Avenue West in Brooks, Alberta. The Brooks Store is located in the center of Brooks, close to numerous retail businesses.5308 50th Avenue in Cold Lake, Alberta. The Cold Lake 50th Avenue Store is part of a commercial district in Cold Lake South containing numerous restaurants and other businesses.1020 8th Avenue in Cold Lake, Alberta. The Cold Lake 8th Avenue Store is located on the main east-west street in Cold Lake North, close to several businesses, restaurants, and hotels.320 Centre Street in Drumheller, Alberta. The Drumheller Store is located in central Drumheller, close to a variety of local businesses and restaurants.2719 14th Street SW in Calgary, Alberta. The Calgary Store is located on a well-trafficked road in southwest Calgary and is easily accessible for residents of nearby communities with favorable cannabis demographics, such as Bankview and South Calgary.10140 107th Street in Westlock, Alberta. The Westlock Store is located in the town's commercial center, close to numerous businesses.

For the three months ended April 30, 2022, collectively, the stores generated annualized revenue of CAD$10.2 million and annualized adjusted EBITDA of CAD$1.3 million. The purchase price represents 3.8x annualized adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended April 30, 2022.

Transaction Details

The transaction, which is an arm's length transaction, is subject to, among other things, receipt of required TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) approval, court approval, approval from various provincial regulators, and other customary conditions of closing, and is expected to close in the coming weeks. The consideration for the stores being acquired will be CAD$5.1 million, which is to be satisfied through the issuance of common shares of High Tide on closing of the transaction on the basis of a deemed price per High Tide Share equal to the volume weighted average price per High Tide Share on TSXV for the 10 consecutive trading days preceding the closing. The transaction may close in multiple tranches depending on the speed of provincial regulatory approvals. Inclusive of the stores, following the closing, High Tide will have at least 43 stores in Ontario, 2 stores in British Columbia, 72 stores in Alberta, and 136 stores nationwide.

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Medical cannabis legalization stalled again this year in North Carolina, but legislation made it across the finish line to allow hemp farming to continue legally following the state’s five-year pilot program.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed the North Carolina Farm Act of 2022 into law June 30, according to a Port City Daily report.

The legislation defines hemp as containing 0.3% THC or less, and permanently exempts hemp and hemp-derived products from North Carolina’s controlled substances act, the news outlet reported.

The bill aligns the state’s hemp policy with the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the federal controlled substances act.

The Farm Act cleared the North Carolina House in an 85-26 vote, and passed the Senate in a 41-2 vote, according to Port City Daily.

Adult-use cannabis and medical cannabis are now one and the same in Washington, D.C.

District Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law July 6 an emergency bill allowing all adults 21 years and older to self-prescribe medical cannabis and obtain a medical card, with or without a doctor’s recommendation.

Taking effect immediately, the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Act allows the expanded “patient” base to access one of the district’s seven medical dispensaries to legally purchase cannabis in a workaround of a law that has prevented elected district officials from regulating and taxing adult-use cannabis sales in their jurisdiction for the past seven years.

“We have made it a priority over the years to build a more patient-centric medical marijuana program and this legislation builds on those efforts,” Bowser said in a statement following her signing on Wednesday.

“We know that by bringing more medical marijuana patients into the legal marketplace in a timely manner and doing more to level the playing field for licensed medical marijuana providers, we can protect residents, support local businesses, and provide clarity to the community,” the mayor said. “I applaud the council for moving forward this innovative solution to a complex issue, and I look forward to working with the council and [Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration] ABRA on permanent, more comprehensive medical marijuana legislation in the future.”

The city’s medical cannabis retailers have experienced “substantial erosion of their business to the illegal market,” Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said in April, when a previous attempt to allow adults 21 and older to access medical cannabis without a doctor’s prescription failed.

WALTHAM, MA – June 28, 2022 --PRESS RELEASE-- Vantage Builders, Inc., a commercial contractor specializing in pre-construction, construction management and design-build services, has announced that it completed the build-out of a high-end recreational cannabis dispensary for Zahara Cannabis, located at 70 Frank Mossberg Drive in Attleboro.

Zahara means “most exquisite flower” and the design of the dispensary reflects the name. The dispensary, Zahara’s first retail location, opened on June 13. Zahara’s customers are able to purchase a wide range of cannabis products, including flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, topicals, tinctures and concentrates. Zahara’s knowledgeable budtenders work closely with each customer to ensure they receive the products best suited for their needs and preferences.

“We are excited that our store is open and serving customers who are passionate and discerning about their cannabis products,” said Michael Kochekian, General Manager, Zahara Cannabis. “We already feel a strong connection to the Attleboro community and are committed to making a positive impact in the area. We greatly appreciate Vantage Builders’ expertise in helping to get us up and selling on time and within budget.”

Vantage Builders followed plans by 2WR + Partners architects on the 6,000-square-foot project. Zahara’s dispensary features a reception area, product displays, a sorting/fulfillment room, point of sales areas, several offices and storage space. The Vantage team completely transformed the former warehouse facility into a high-end retail location.

The dispensary has a very open atmosphere, intentionally designed to make all customers, regardless of their level of experience with cannabis, feel welcome and relaxed. Zahara’s colorful branding is displayed throughout.

The product display areas feature custom millwork that showcase Zahara’s full range of offerings. Product menus and information are displayed on large monitors. Five point of sales areas, featuring intricate millwork, ensure that customers are quickly and efficiently served, without feeling hurried.

The Parent Company (TPCO) is bringing its brands and products to Maryland after entering into a brand licensing and cultivation and production agreement with Curio Wellness.

TPCO products are expected to launch in late 2022 in the state, according to a company release, with products initially available at Curio’s Far & Dotter dispensaries and wholesale distribution across the state to follow. Initial TPCO brands to be offered in Maryland include Caliva Mirayo by Santana, Monogram, Deli, and more, with product offerings including flower, prerolls, vapes, and edibles.

RELATED: Curio Wellness Names Greg Miller as President of Retail

This marks San Jose-based TPCO’s first expansion outside of California.

“We are thrilled to complete our first out-of-state expansion and excited to introduce Maryland to our high-quality branded products,” said Troy Datcher, CEO and Chairman of The Parent Company. “Curio’s premier indoor-grown cannabis, cGMP certification, and proven execution make them a great partner to provide Maryland’s patients with access to our well-known California brands.”

Corn, soybeans and cannabis: Those are Illinois’ three most valuable crops, with the latter responsible for $2.8 billion in adult-use sales since the state launched its recreational retail market in 2020.

While Illinois’ corn/grain market had an $11.8-billion production value in 2021, and soybeans represented an $8.9-billion market value, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), cannabis was next in line in the Corn Belt state.

In 2021, Illinois adult-use cannabis sales were just shy of $1.4 billion, according to monthly figures from the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

But 2022 sales are on pace for a record haul. Adult-use retailers reported $126.8 million in June, bringing the year-to-date total to $750.6 million, representing a 20% increase from the first six months of last year.

While June 2022 sales dipped 2.3% from the previous month, Illinois’ adult-use retail market recorded its largest grossing four-month stretch—from March to June—since the program was established.

Sales figures for the second half of 2022 have the potential to go even bigger.

New Mexico’s adult-use cannabis sales surpassed $21 million in June and, including medical sales, the state’s licensed dispensaries sold nearly $38 million worth of cannabis products last month.

The state’s adult-use sales, which first launched in April, reached $21,201,007.71 in June, according to data from the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department’s (NMRLD) Cannabis Control Division (CCD).

Medical sales accounted for $16, 525,897.79 last month, bringing the state’s total cannabis sales to $37,726,905.52 in June.

RELATED: New Mexico Adult-Use Sales Hit $1.96 Million on First Day

“One year ago, on June 29th, Gov. [Michelle] Lujan Grisham signed legislation that created the Cannabis Regulation Act,” CCD Acting Director Carolina Barrera said in a public statement. “As adult-use sales remain steady, this new industry is bringing new economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and communities across New Mexico.”

The Arizona auditor general issued an update to a 2019 audit last week that says the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has been slow to enact changes to the state’s medical cannabis fund that were recommended three years ago.

The recommended changes are meant to address the misallocation of funds that were used to pay some department employees’ salaries, according to an Arizona Mirror report.

The 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA) legalized medical cannabis in the state, and since it is a voter-approved initiative, money in the medical cannabis fund—generated by medical cannabis certifications, dispensary licensing fees, civil penalties and donations—can only be used for specific purposes outlined in the law, the news outlet reported.

When voters approved Proposition 207 in 2020 to legalize adult-use cannabis in Arizona, $45 million shifted from the medical cannabis fund to various state agencies to implement the adult-use program, according to the Arizona Mirror.

While the fiscal year-end balance in the fund increased each year between 2016 and 2020, it has since decreased from its peak of more than $91.7 million at the end of fiscal year 2020 to an estimated $48.2 million for the most recent fiscal year that ended June 30, the news outlet reported.

Two groups are working to bring competing adult-use cannabis legalization measures to Oklahoma’s November ballot, and one, Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws, submitted signatures to the Secretary of State this week.

The campaign, which was required to gather 94,910 signatures to get its initiative before voters this fall, submitted roughly 164,000 signatures July 5, according to The Oklahoman.

“We’re expecting Oklahomans to say yes to this,” Senior Campaign Adviser Ryan Kiesel told the news outlet.

RELATED: Oklahoma Cannabis Advocates Begin Gathering Signatures to Send Adult-Use Legalization Measure to November Ballot

The statutory measure, State Question 820, would legalize adult-use cannabis for Oklahomans 21 and older. It would levy a 15% excise tax on adult-use sales, and the tax revenue generated would be split among Oklahoma’s General Revenue Fund, municipalities that host adult-use dispensaries, school districts, the court system and drug treatment programs, according to The Oklahoman.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 6, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, announced the opening of its Trulieve medical dispensary in Hurricane, W.Va. Located at 2 Putnam Village Drive Suite 2-3, the new dispensary will open its doors at 10 a.m. July 6. This is the company’s sixth retail location in West Virginia and will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Grand opening festivities will be held July 9 throughout the day to include partner giveaways, deals and specials, and all registered patients will receive a 25% discount. On-site medical care specialists will be available to assist with medical card registration and certification for West Virginia patients.

“We are excited to expand medical cannabis to Hurricane while creating jobs in the area,” Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said. “In less than a year, West Virginia’s medical cannabis program has already added nearly 10,000 patients, and we look forward to supporting this thriving community. Trulieve is committed to providing the best quality services and products for the state’s registered medical cannabis patients while strengthening community connections in this developing market.”

Trulieve patients across West Virginia can choose from a large selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods, including flower, concentrates, tinctures, topicals, ingestibles and more. Designed to meet every patient’s needs, the company’s portfolio of in-house brands includes Cultivar Collection, Momenta, Muse, TruFlower and more.

Last November, Trulieve opened West Virginia’s first dispensary and has since expanded its store hours to welcome patients seven days a week. The company has already opened four new dispensaries in the state this year, with plans to open three additional dispensary locations by the end of the year in Milton, Huntington and Belle.

For more information on store locations, visit https://www.trulieve.com/dispensaries/west-virginia.

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TORONTO, July06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --PRESS RELEASE-- Tilray Brands, Inc.(Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY), a globalcannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company, today announced thatits cannabis brand Good Supply has expanded its product offering in Québec withthe launch of Hash-Infused Pre-Rolls, in collaboration with the SociétéQuébécoise du cannabis ("SQDC"). The new infused pre-roll categorycaters to consumer demand for higher and consistent potency pre-roll options inQuébec.

Unlike astandard cannabis pre-roll, Good Supply's Infused Pre-Rolls combine the brand’sstrains, Jean Guy and Starwalker Kush, with a proprietary premium hash blend.The infused pre-rolls offer an average THC level of around 26% withapproximately two-thirds dried flower and one-third powdered hash and comes ina package of 3 pre-rolls.

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When Colorado legalized adult-use cannabis in 2012, and rolled out commercial sales in 2014, the emphasis on social equity was not what it is today. But that hasn’t stopped the Centennial State from filling in the gaps. 

The Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) department, which works to ensure an inclusive and innovative economy for all city residents, businesses and neighborhoods, is launching a targeted entrepreneurial program for aspiring cannabis business owners that is specifically designated to boost ownership among individuals most impacted by prohibition and enforcement policies.

The Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance Program is funded by $500,000 of Denver’s cannabis retail tax revenues and seeks to train and elevate residents who meet Colorado’s definition of a social equity applicant in the cannabis industry.

The program’s 10-week curriculum will include subject-matter experts on topics such as the history and politics of the industry, compliance, delivery, and hospitality, as well as marketing and best practices. Those interested in the program can learn more and register here. (The deadline for registration is 5 p.m. July 15 with the initial training session occurring on July 23.)

Through a competitive bidding process, city officials chose The Color of Cannabis (TCC) as a partner for the program. The Denver-based education center is woman-owned and experienced in providing a pathway in helping cannabis newcomers understand and navigate entry into the industry, including regulatory, legal, financial and logistical challenges associated with the space.

“We are pleased to bring our commitment to greater ownership equity in the cannabis industry to this historic program,” TCC founder and CEO Sarah Woodson said in a June 23 DEDO press release. “We’ll serve several small-group cohorts over the next year and surround them with advice, mentoring, information, and encouragement.” 

Brittney Griner sent a letter to President Biden during the 4th of July holiday weekend, making a direct appeal for her freedom from Russian detention.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and 8-time WNBA All-Star, is currently on trial for possession of vape cartridges at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia. Her trial began on July 1, and she has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17.

She is currently facing up to 10 years in prison. Furthermore, fewer than 1 percent of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted and, unlike the U.S., acquittals can be overturned, according to The Washington Post.

“…as I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner writes. “On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran. It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.

RELATED: Brittney Griner’s Drug Charge Trial Set For July 1 in Russia

Griner continues: “I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter isn’t ready to give up on cannabis banking reform just yet.

After his Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act suffered its most recent defeat last month when lawmakers removed the measure from the America COMPETES Act, Perlmutter, a Democrat from Colorado, introduced the legislation as an amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), according to The Dales Report.

RELATED: UPDATE: Rep. Perlmutter Makes Final Push on SAFE Banking

This is the second consecutive year that Perlmutter has included SAFE Banking in the defense spending package.

The SAFE Banking Act, which would prohibit federal banking regulators from penalizing financial institutions for providing banking services to state-legal cannabis businesses, has passed the U.S. House six times, including twice as a standalone bill, but has stalled each time in the Senate.

Lacking the big-buck backing of past donors, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana likely won’t have the needed signatures to put a pair of complementary legalization measures before voters this November.

Each of the campaign’s two petitions had about 67,000 signatures as of July 1, campaign chairwoman Crista Eggers said in a press release from the group, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

The grassroots initiative effort needs roughly 87,000 valid signatures (7% of Nebraska’s registered voters) for each measure by a July 7 deadline to appear on the state’s ballot. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana is aiming to turn in 110,000 signatures per petition to provide a cushion for those that are not validated—either from ineligible handwriting or from signees who are not actually registered to vote.

“I cannot be more clear,” Eggers said in the release. “We have not reached the threshold we need, we are not working on overage, and without tens of thousands of Nebraskans signing this weekend we may not be able to submit our signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 7th.”

Eggers, whose 7-year-old son, Colton, suffers from up to 100 epileptic seizures a day, implored fellow Nebraskans to sign the petitions during a press conference June 22, when the group had roughly 60,000 signatures for each measure.

RELATED: Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana About 50K Signatures Short

Securing a cannabis business license is one of the most critical—and perhaps one of the most daunting—first steps in launching a business in this increasingly complex and competitive industry.

Here, Mackenzie Ditch Wilcox, Associate Director – Compliance/Legal at PharmaCann Inc., a vertically integrated, multistate cannabis operator headquartered in Chicago, shares insight into key components of the application process, including recruiting a team, securing real estate, establishing relationships with the local community and making your application stand out from the crowd.

Editor’s note: Mackenzie Ditch Wilcox will speak at Cannabis Conference from 11:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, on the “ALL ACCESS PASS: Create A Winning License Application” session alongside Green Rush Consulting writer and business adviser Debby Goldsberry and Tri(chome)angle owner and lead consultant Greg Huffaker. This can’t-miss session will cover how to make your application stand out from the crowd with takeaways for any new or expanding business. Visit www.CannabisConference.com for more information and to register.

Melissa Schiller: What are some of the most important components of writing a cannabis business license application? What should applicants prioritize?

Mackenzie Ditch Wilcox: I would say [they should prioritize] the different elements of the application and [understand] the weight of each element, really thinking about leveraging real estate, leveraging community, [and] focusing on where you can set yourself apart, especially in a merit-based application that has some objective and subjective scoring.

MS: What are some strategies for recruiting team members that can win over regulators?

MW: I would say [applicants should think] about balancing two main fronts. One is the necessary experience, whether that’s in cannabis itself or that’s ancillary businesses. If you’re trying to open a cultivation facility, if you have experienced horticulturists or agriculture-based individuals or security individuals, leverage those different experiences and try to find people with well-rounded backgrounds, ideally with some sort of cannabis or similar regulated industry.