MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

MIAMI, Florida, June 23, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Ayr Wellness Inc. (Ayr), a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator (MSO), announced the opening of its 48th Florida dispensary, located in Longwood, a northeastern suburb of Orlando.

The new dispensary spans 2,300 square feet of retail space, including an active drive-thru station. Product offerings will include Ayr’s full line of concentrates, edibles, vapes, and a growing selection of high-quality flower, including the recently launched Kynd whole premium flower and Later Days whole flower.

“We’re excited to continue our expansion in Florida, celebrating our 48th store opening,” said Jonathan Sandelman, Ayr founder, chairman and CEO. “Since acquiring Liberty Health Sciences just last year, we have added 17 new stores across the state and provided more choice to the market via the introduction of a wide selection of products from our national brand portfolio. We will continue to grow our presence during the second half of this year.”

In February 2021, Ayr purchased Florida-based Liberty Health Sciences (LHS), which included 31 dispensaries across the state. Since then, the company has opened 17 additional locations. Ayr is in the process of relocating its Dania Beach dispensary, which is expected to re-open in early July.

In 2021, Ayr relocated its U.S. headquarters from New York City to Miami, underscoring its commitment to the region. 

For more information about Ayr Wellness or to locate your nearest dispensary, please visit https://ayrwellness.com.

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NEW YORK, TORONTO and HERZLIYA, Israel, June 23, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - InterCure Ltd. announced the successful opening of the first flagship Cookies store in Austria located in the Neubau district of Vienna. 

The flagship location offers Cookies’ unique CBD menu, available for the first time in Europe, as well as clothing and lifestyle products. In the future, as regulations are evolving, pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis will be available for Austrian patients, including Cookies EU-GMP THC products.

The Vienna launch represents the spearhead of expanding into additional European countries, following the successful collaboration between the two companies in the global pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis markets, including Israel.

“We are proud to make another big advancement in the expansion of our winning model into Europe and deliver on our promise to supply the highest quality and reliable cannabis products to every territory with a supportive regulatory framework,” said InterCure’s Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Rabinovitch. “We look forward to welcoming Austrians and the millions of tourists who visit Vienna to the first Cookies location in the country. I am grateful for the amazing work of our teams in Europe and partners at Cookies who helped make this successful launch and look forward to the many more to come across the continent.”

“Bringing the Cookies brand and its products to Vienna is a core part of our global expansion strategy. By partnering with a global partner like InterCure, we can share cannabis-based medicine and culture from California to Europe,” said Parker Berling, Cookies president.

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Louisville, Colorado, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- CEA Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: CEAD, CEADW) (“CEA Industries” or the “Company”) subsidiary, Surna Cultivation Technologies LLC (“Surna”), a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems engineering and technologies company, today announced it has entered into a letter of intent to provide products and mechanical engineering services over five phases with Greene Brothers Farm, Inc., a family owned and operated farm that is developing a 26-acre site exclusively for indoor cannabis cultivation. CEA Industries anticipates contract revenues of approximately $10 million over an estimated two to three-year period. The initial contract, valued at $1.2 million, is for the first phase of products and services and is planned to be completed by early Q4 2022.

The project builds out a new all-indoor Cannabis Park, located in Lockeford, Calif., between Stockton and Sacramento, on a 26-acre property once used as a vineyard and wine distribution center. The Greene Brothers Farm Cannabis Park is an ambitious major expansion of the Greene Brothers’ operations that are currently located at a 200-acre farm in Mendocino County. The Cannabis Park will be the new headquarters for the Greene Brothers and will include cultivation, manufacturing, non-storefront retail sales and distribution. Once complete, the Cannabis Park will utilize 371,918 square feet of new structures.

“After a couple of years of planning and working with San Joaquin County, we are beyond excited to realize the dream that started back in 2020,” stated Aaron Greene, co-founder and CEO of Greene Brothers Farm, Inc. “We look forward to creating hundreds of jobs and funding various community improvements that will be enjoyed by our new neighbors with revenue generated from our Cannabis Park and Farmacy Phactory brands. We partnered with Surna because we know they can provide the outstanding engineering, design and equipment that we require in a quick and efficient manner throughout each phase of development.”

Phase 1 is estimated to be online by Q4 of this year. For this first phase, Surna will perform mechanical engineering services that will include the design of exhaust air filtration systems to eliminate odors as well as to provide climate controls systems, its EnviroPro air handling equipment and Surna by Anden dehumidifiers. Phases 2 and 3 are planned for completion in 2023, while phases 4 and 5 are planned for completion in 2024.

“We are proud to have been chosen by Greene Brothers Farm for this multi-million-dollar, multi-phase development project,” said Tony McDonald, chairman and CEO of CEA Industries Inc. “We expect this to be a winning relationship for both of us and we will strive to make this Greene Brothers Farm Cannabis Park an exemplary representation of these types of projects for others in this industry.”

Editor’s note: CBT’s June cover story, “California Cannabis Market at a Crossroads,” prominently features MD Numbers Founders Allen Hackett and Marie Montmarquet, who are on the cover of the print issue. Read it here.

For MD Numbers, it’s been six years of growing—and six years of rolling with many industry changes.

Greenhouse grower Allen Hackett, a founder of the California vertically integrated business, points out that it opened its Salinas grow in June 2016, in the state’s Proposition 215 medical days.

“We never had to stop cultivating while we were getting our license in the county because we had been here paying and abiding by their medical laws [and] rules that they had in place,” Hackett says.

As expected, MD Numbers has dialed in its practices over those years.

“Each plant needs its own amount of space and a certain amount of time in the sun to be able to [meet] whatever goal that you have in your cultivation facility—because people have different goals—whether you're growing for weight or you’re growing for look, smell, terpenes, things like that,” Hackett says.

Pennsylvania dispensaries can once again sell vape products that the state’s Department of Health recalled from its medical cannabis program in February.

The decision came from a Commonwealth Court judge on June 15, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

And it follows a lawsuit that a broad coalition of cannabis industry members, patients, doctors and others called Medical Marijuana Access and Patient Safety brought against the department.

Hundreds of Vape Products Recalled From Pennsylvania’s Medical Cannabis Market: UPDATED

“We are thrilled about this decision,” said Judith D. Cassel, an attorney for the group and partner at Hawke McKeon & Sniscak LLP, according to the paper. “The vapes can go immediately back on the shelves, and the grower processors can continue or commence producing these vapes.”

In a press release, industry group Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition (PCC), claimed that Pennsylvania’s Department of Health could not find an example of a single person who had been harmed during the state medical program’s five-year run.

DENVER, CO - PanXchange, the industry market structure solution and benchmark price provider for US hemp, and the Washington DC-based National Industrial Hemp Council of America announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will support the growth of financial incentives for carbon sequestration for the US industrial hemp market.

“NIHC is a leading and unifying voice for the industry, particularly in regulatory issues for industrial hemp,” said Julie Lerner, founder, and CEO of PanXchange. “Partnering with a strong hemp membership and advocacy organization like NIHC will help grow industrial hemp markets and related climate-smart agricultural practices across the supply chain,” she added.

The two companies said the partnership would allow hemp farmers to take advantage of PanXchange’s deep knowledge of commodity trading and the potential impact of implementing climate-smart practices specifically for hemp growing and processing.

PanXchange is rolling out a transparent carbon program that provides farmers a viable path toward financial rewards for implementing regenerative agricultural practices.  Moreover, Lerner explains that the PanXchange program gives farmers full ownership of the carbon credits earned and full agency to market the credits directly to buyers through its online trade platform.

The company already has 31,000 acres of croplands committed to the program for the 2023 crop year.

“We aim to be the most accessible, economical path towards remuneration for carbon smart agricultural practices for smaller-scale farmers who face barriers to participate in the voluntary carbon credit market,” Lerner said.

FORT SMITH, Arkansas (June 14, 2022) --PRESS RELEASE-- Wana Brands is now available to medical marijuana patients in Arkansas with the launch of Wana Sour Gummies, the company’s classic vegan and gluten-free gummies enhanced with a proprietary blend of more than 30 terpenes. In partnership with River Valley Relief, Wana Brands provides a wide range of gummies in various classes, ratios and doses to help meet the needs of the state’s growing medical cannabis community. 

Both Wana Brands and River Valley Relief share a focus on providing patients best-in-class cannabis products, in terms of innovation, ingredients and flavors. Both companies are committed to utilizing high-quality, organic ingredients. And both focus on developing products with an emphasis on terpenes. Now available in Watermelon Hybrid, Blueberry Indica, Mango Sativa and Blood Orange 20:1 CBD/THC, Wana Sour gummies offer Arkansas patients a variety of consistent and potent options for wellness management. 

“No two patients are alike, and no two patients experience the same concerns even when managing the same condition. It is very important for patients to have options they can trust,” said Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands. “That is just one of the reasons Wana’s Sour Gummies have become a preferred choice all over the country for patients seeking a consistent, reliable effect from an edible. We are very happy to be bringing them to Arkansas patients through our partnership with River Valley Relief.”

Wana products available through Arkansas medical marijuana dispensaries include:

Wana Sour Gummies Watermelon (Hybrid): These refreshingly fruity gummies are infused with a terpene-enhanced hybrid blend to deliver a mild, balanced experience. 10mg THC per piece, 100mg THC per package (10 pieces)Wana Sour Gummies Blueberry (Indica): Infused with a terpene-enhanced indica distillate, these not-too-sweet, not-too-tart gummies can evoke feelings of relaxation and calm. 10mg THC per piece, 100mg THC per package (10 pieces)Wana Sour Gummies Mango (Sativa): Infused with a motivating sativa blend, these tropics-inspired gummies contain notes of refreshing sweetness, elevated by a tangy citrus burst. 10mg THC per piece, 100mg THC per package (10 pieces)Wana Sour Gummies Blood Orange (20:1 CBD/THC): These succulent Blood Orange gummies are infused with only 1 mg of THC, which works within your endocannabinoid system to unlock the full therapeutic benefits of 20 mg CBD... without intoxicating effects. 20mg CBD/1mg THC per piece, 200mg CBD / 10mg THC per package (10 pieces)

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission allows for patients with 18 specific conditions to qualify for a state-issued certification card. Those conditions include cancer, HIV, AIDS, PTSD, Tourrett’s Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease, among others. River Valley Relief is dedicated to making high-quality, safe and affordable medical cannabis products available to the patients of Arkansas. 

“Partnering with Wana Brands not only allows us to bring the best edibles in the nation to Arkansas, but our mutual goals and missions also make us the perfect fit” said Ryan Kenaga, VP of Extraction and MIPS for River Valley Relief. “Both Wana and River Valley Relief are driven by their missions to help make this world a better place. Wana supports the Last Prisoner Project with the goal of releasing prisoners who sit in jail for cannabis charges that are no longer a crime. Similarly, River Valley Relief is working with Arkansas lawmakers to help bring cannabis crime expungement to those who languish right now in Arkansas jails.”

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On June 14, the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office in Kansas released two statements addressing the legality of delta-8 THC in the state.

Both letters are from District Attorney Suzanne Valdez. The first letter addresses Valdez’s opinion on delta-8, while the second letter is designed to be sent as a warning to businesses selling such products.

In Valdez’s first letter, she states that the office will not prosecute businesses for possessing small quantities of THC products; however, she adds that there still “appears to be a great deal of confusion and misinformation regarding the legal status of delta-8.”

Valdez cites in the first letter an opinion released Dec. 2, 2021, by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, which declared that “delta-8 THC is illegal to possess or sell in Kansas under specific circumstances,” Cannabis Business Times previously reported.

RELATED: Confusion in Kansas: State Attorney General Says Delta-8 THC is a Controlled Substance

Schmidt’s opinion reads: “Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8 THC) comes within the definition of a Schedule I controlled substance and is unlawful to possess or sell in Kansas unless it is made from industrial hemp and is contained in a lawful hemp product having no more than 0.3% total tetrahydrocannabinols (THC). Unlawful hemp products include cigarettes, cigars, teas, and substances for use in vaping devices. Delta-8 THC derived from any source other than industrial hemp is a Schedule I controlled substance and unlawful to possess or sell in Kansas. Other federal and state laws and regulations place additional limits on the legality of products containing THC and other cannabinoids.”

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Many New Yorkers are waiting with bated breath to legally purchase adult-use cannabis  once the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) gives the go-ahead. I’ve seen it a few times, in Colorado and Massachusetts: the anticipation, comradery, exhaustion and simultaneous annoyance of higher prices due to taxation and waiting on line the first day of legal cannabis sales. But do consumers know what those first 200 retail dispensaries across New York will actually look like? Well, look to our northern trés chic neighbor, Montreal, and their government-operated stores.

Following the April 9 New York state (NYS) Budget Bill, which provided $50 million in public funds and statutory powers to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), NYS published a Request for Proposal, ending June 13, for prevailing contractors to provide fully furnished, “turn-key” dispensaries, fully equipped with POS systems, security, safes, cameras, bathrooms, offices, etc. For those envisioning funky, innovative and unique stores, DASNY will likely render these first 200 dispensaries fairly uniform inside and out, with the exception of a so-called “Branding Wall” for the license holders to get creative with.

Retail Details

DASNY’s May 13 Design-Build Services for Select Retail Cannabis Dispensaries Request for Proposal RFP #7586 offers a sneak peek at the first 200 NYS adult-use retail dispensaries.

According to the RFP (request for proposal), DASNY will act as agent for New York’s Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, LP (NYSECIF) to identify suitable commercial retail properties for dispensaries, and design and outfit these leased premises based on forthcoming retail dispensary security regulations. NYSECIF will then sublease these properties to prevailing retail license applicants to operate. Prevailing proposers should be selected by July 11 to start the design and construction of cannabis dispensaries throughout New York state.

These dispensaries will be “equitably dispersed across” 10 geographic regions throughout New York state, according to NYSECIF, with New York City being Region #1. DASNY “anticipate[s] that approximately 150 dispensaries will need to be completed across the State," with the heaviest concentration in the NYC metropolitan area, including Long Island and Westchester. Rough approximations in other parts of the State include 20 to 25 in Western New York, 15-20 in the Hudson Valley/Capital District region, 5 to 10 in the North Country, and 5 to 10 in the Southern Tier region of the State.”

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico (June 16, 2022) –PRESS RELEASE-- Wana Brands has expanded its international presence to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, launching with Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies, the company’s innovative and popular fast-onset infused cannabis edible line featuring “happy hour”-inspired flavors. 

Providing a novel edible experience with an onset time of 5-15 mins and Delta-9-THC effects (similar to an inhalation effect) lasting up to three hours, the new Wana product line features an all-natural recipe, with no high fructose corn syrup. Each gummie offers 10mg of THC, with 10 gummies per package. Traditional edibles have an onset time of up to two hours, with effects lasting up to six hours. 

“Launching a cannabis edible in a new market serves up a host of challenges, including identifying the right manufacturing and distribution partners,” said Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands. “Fortunately, we are partnering with BioCann Caribbean, which has a very strong team dedicated to quality and consistency, making them an ideal partner. The BioCann team possesses a keen attention to detail that can be seen in all aspects of their operation, which ensures that patients of Puerto Rico will enjoy the high-quality products Wana fans expect.”

In a multicultural nation where English and Spanish languages are both official languages of the country, it is critical that any brand entering the market offers respect and inclusivity. For a cannabis brand, that means not only ensuring that customer-facing materials are offered in both languages but that retailer and manufacturer training information and materials are also available in both languages, according to Whiteman. Recognized across the industry for its comprehensive printed and video training materials, Wana Brands completely revised its video training tools and marketing material specifically for Spanish-speaking audiences in the island nation.

“Both BioCann and Wana Brands share a passion for making clean, high-quality products available to patients,” said Nicolas Moreda Algeria, Senior Project Manager of BioCann Caribbean. “We are grateful to have a partner whose commitment to quality is as strong as our own, and we can see Wana’s commitment in their approach to training and working with partners. We are looking forward to a long relationship together to serve the communities in Puerto Rico.”

The first fast-onset gummie available in the country, the following Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies are now available in Puerto Rico, including:

WNBA player Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia on drug smuggling accusations has been extended again, this time through at least July 2, according to a CNN report.

Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury, has played in Russia for the last seven off seasons. She was taken into custody in February for allegedly carrying cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage at the Sheremetyevo airport, near Moscow.

RELATED: Top US Basketball Player Detained in Russia for Cannabis

Griner’s alleged offense could carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

In March, TASS, a Russian state-owned news agency, reported that Griner’s pretrial detention would be extended until May.

After Illinois’ craft grow cannabis licensees’ operations were placed on another hold in the wake of litigation brought by unsuccessful applicants, a judge has lifted a temporary restraining order and allowed the licensees to proceed with their business plans.

Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Balogh issued the order June 6 to block all craft grower licensees from operating until a settlement was reached in a new lawsuit, which was filed June 3 by Sustainable Innovations Inc. and 11 other unsuccessful craft grow license applicants.

The lawsuit challenged the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s (IDOA) licensing process, which the plaintiffs alleged violated the state law that authorized the craft grow licenses in the first place.

The IDOA issued the first round of craft grow licenses last year, and state law required the department to award the second round of licenses by Dec. 21, 2021.

Unsuccessful applicants then filed litigation to challenge the licensing process, and subsequent court orders mandated that the additional licenses could not be awarded until the lawsuits were resolved.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 16, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, announced the opening of a new medical dispensary in New Port Richey, Fla., located at 5422 US Hwy 19. 

The dispensary opened at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 16, 2022. Grand opening festivities will run all day and include numerous partner giveaways, music, food trucks, deals and specials, and all registered medical cannabis patients will receive a 25% discount. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup. As always, all first-time guests are 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 communities where we operate, 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 the largest selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods, including smokable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers and more.

Designed to meet every patient's needs, Trulieve's portfolio of in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk and Modern Flower. Patients also have access to beloved brands such as Bellamy Brothers, Bhang, Binske, Blue River, Black Tuna, DeLisioso, Love's Oven, O.pen and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.

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WAKEFIELD, Mass,, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- CuraleafHoldings, Inc. (CSE: CURA / OTCQX: CURLF), an international provider of consumer products incannabis, today announced the opening of its Lancaster dispensary. Curaleaf Lancaster is the company'sfifth new location to open within the Keystone State this year, expanding itsretail presence to 17 locations in Pennsylvania and 134 nationwide, with moreexpansion planned in the state for 2022.

Curaleaf Lancaster offers a curated selection of products across its brandportfolio spanning Grassroots, Select and Curaleaf. Patients can choose from awide array of premium cannabis products, including Select Elite, Select EliteLive, Grassroots full-spectrum and strain-specific RSO, Grassrootsfull-spectrum and strain specific RSO capsules, Grassroots pre-packaged flower,Curaleaf pre-packaged flower, Grassroots concentrates and Grassroots THCtablets.

The company will celebrate the dispensary's soft opening on June 16,followed by a grand opening event on June 23.Curaleaf also commemoratedits latest dispensary opening by making a $5,000 donation to the LancasterCounty Food Hub, a local nonprofit that offers free food, clothing and shelterto community members.

"Pennsylvania has become one of the fastest growing medical markets inthe nation and we are proud to be able to widen access to patients across thestate," said Matt Darin, Chief Executive Officer of Curaleaf."Curaleaf Lancaster is the company's first dispensary in Lancaster County.It will allow us to introduce ourselves to new communities while supplyingquality products and helping patients make informed decisions about incorporatingmedical marijuana into their lives."

In addition to Curaleaf's latest locations, the company also serves patientsin Altoona, Bradford, Brookville, City Avenue, DuBois, Erie, Gettysburg,Greensburg, Harrisburg, Horsham, King of Prussia, Lebanon, Morton,Philadelphia, State College, and Wayne. This summer, Curaleaf plans to open alocation in Allentown, further expanding its footprint in Pennsylvania to 18locations.

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Sacramento officials have introduced a measure to create a fund for children and youth services using city local cannabis tax.

The ‘Sacramento Children / Youth Health & Safety Act,’ introduced by Sacramento Kid’s First, a youth advocacy coalition, in conjunction with Mayor Darrell Steinberg, and Sacramento City Councilmembers Mai Vang and Jay Schenirer, would “require the city to invest the equivalent of 40% of revenues generated by the city’s local cannabis tax from our unrestricted general fund into the Children’s Fund,” the proposal states, adding that the measure would not increase local residents’ taxes.

According to Engage Sac, the City Council is expected to vote in July to put the proposal on the November ballot. If approved by voters, it would go into effect July 1, 2023, with roughly $10 to $12 million allocated towards children and youth services annually.

“Just as we use tobacco tax revenue to support tobacco prevention and health services, we are asking the city to use cannabis revenue to fund youth substance abuse prevention, youth mental health and support for homeless and foster youth,” the proposal states.

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Grown Rogue COO Tom Fortner has retired.

Fortner, who came out of retirement to join the multi-state operator in June 2021, completed his one-year contract and will return to a life of sailing, according to a company release. Grown Rogue says this departure will reduce corporate expenses by more than 10%.

“Tom came out of retirement to help us streamline our operations by creating efficiencies, disciplines and standardization across our approximately 200,000 square feet of cultivation in Oregon and Michigan,” said Obie Strickler, CEO at Grown Rogue. “I want to thank Tom for all his efforts over the past year and wish him well as he goes back to his love of sailing full time.”

RELATED: Grown Rogue Looks East

Adam August, CFO of a Grown Rogue subsidiary, will transition to senior vice president of Grown Rogue.

Medical cannabis patients throughout Brazil may soon have the option to supply their own needs in a country where home cultivation has been repeatedly denied by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA).

The Sixth Panel of the Superior Court of Justice—the country’s top court—issued a 5-0 ruling June 14 to authorize three patients involved in litigation to grow cannabis and extract its oil for medical treatment, The Associated Press reported. The decision will likely set a precedent for patients throughout the most populated nation in South America: Brazil has roughly 212.6 million people.

The majority shift in supporting medical cannabis legalization began nearly a decade ago in Brazil: A 2014 survey indicated that 57% of the population was in favor of legalization, according to the International Drug Policy Consortium.

Judge Rogério Schietti said the Brazilian government’s failure to take a scientific approach to medical cannabis prompted the court panel’s action, according to the AP.

“The discourse against this possibility is moralistic. It often has a religious nature, based on dogmas, on false truths, stigmas,” Schietti said. “Let us stop this prejudice, this moralism that delays the development of this issue at the legislative [level], and many times clouds the minds of Brazilian judges.”

While the AP reported Tuesday that Brazilian law currently limits the medical use of cannabis-derived products to imported goods, other reports contradict that statement.

Cannabis data and business intelligence company New Frontier Data has released a new report titled, “Millennials as Cannabis Consumers: Attitudes & Behaviors of America’s Largest Generation.”

There are about 72 million Millennials in the U.S., according to a press release from New Frontier Data. Members of this group were born between 1981 and 1996, and many of them have children and are in the workforce.

“Millennials came of age when cannabis-related social attitudes and policies were changing rapidly,” Gary Allen, New Frontier Data’s CEO, stated in the release. “As young adults, they watched the normalization of cannabis use mitigate negative stereotypes, and they have played a leading role in the emergence of the legal cannabis economy, both as participants in the market and as champions for change.”

Here are some findings from the report, which is available for free download here:

Nearly half of Millennials spend who purchase cannabis between $50 and $200 per transaction.More Millennials choose cannabis over sleep medication compared with other age groups and recognize what New Frontier Data calls “sleep-related minor cannabinoids” such as CBN and THCP.Sixty-six percent of Millennials state that cultivar identification is a key determination when making purchasing decisions, with that percentage being more than 20% higher than the share of Gen X consumers that do the same.]]>

BOCA RATON, Fla. and NEW YORK, June 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- springbig, a provider of SaaS-based marketing solutions, consumer mobile app experiences, and omnichannel loyalty programs to the cannabis industry, and Tuatara Capital Acquisition Corporation (“TCAC”) today announced that they have completed their previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”).

The Business Combination was approved at a special general meeting of TCAC shareholders on June 9, 2022. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, TCAC has changed its name to SpringBig Holdings, Inc. The ticker symbols for TCAC’s common stock and warrants have been changed to “SBIG” and “SBIGW,” respectively, and will begin trading today on the Nasdaq Global Market.

springbig is the largest customer loyalty and marketing platform in the cannabis industry and is the provider of choice and trusted partner to many leading cannabis retailers and brands across North America. The company serves over 1,300 clients with more than 2,400 retail locations, through its suite of category-leading solutions designed to increase customer retention, build customer loyalty, and boost brand awareness through digital marketing and communications and industry-leading reporting and analytics.

Jeffrey Harris, chief executive officer and co-founder of springbig, said: “We are thrilled to close this Business Combination and further springbig’s evolution – not only as a public company, but as a trusted and distinguished technology and software leader serving the growing North American cannabis ecosystem. Looking ahead, we will strategically position and adapt our industry-leading offering alongside the maturation of the cannabis sector, including expanding our engagement with major brands. Additionally, we will continue exploring avenues for growth, both organically and through M&A.”

Harris concluded, “I would like to congratulate and thank all those involved in this transaction, including our passionate and dedicated team. I could not be more excited for the future of springbig and look forward to generating sustained value for our shareholders, customers, and consumers, as we accelerate our growth strategy as a newly public company.”

Arkansas retailers recorded over $22.4 million in medical cannabis sales for May, averaging roughly $724,200 spent daily across 38 dispensaries.

Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), told News 5 that May sales were lower than April, which brought in $24 million.

"Although sales in May were slightly lower than April, the state surpassed a significant milestone as more than 100,000 pounds of medical marijuana have been sold since the first dispensary opened in May 2019," Hardin said, adding that patients collectively purchased 3,917 pounds of cannabis in May alone, bringing the total number of pounds purchased since 2019 to 102,710.

The total number of pounds sold in May also decreased compared to April, which recorded 4,213 pounds. State tax collection on medical cannabis sales also dipped slightly from nearly $3 million in April to $2.7 million in May; however, May's number is up from March, which banked $2.4 million in medical cannabis sales tax, according to the news outlet. The 4/20 holiday was one factor that may have attributed to the medical cannabis sales increase in April.

Despite May’s slight dip, Hardin told the news outlet that if Arkansas' medical cannabis sales continue at this pace, they will be comparable to 2021 sales, "which totaled $264 million at the end of the year."

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