MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
The Minnesota Legislature approved a suite of changes to the state’s hemp industry May 22, including legislation that will allow up to 5 mg of hemp-derived THC in food and beverages, according to the Star Tribune.
The bill allows the sale of the THC-infused products to adults 21 and older, the news outlet reported. The legislation aims to clear up a gray area in state law that legalized hemp and hemp extracts containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC but left uncertainty regarding delta-8 THC, which has been widely sold in an unregulated market in Minnesota.
“Overall, I think it’s a way in which Minnesotans are going to be able to check out what it’s like to have legal products being sold on shelves in a non-gray market,” Kurtis Hanna, lobbyist for the Minnesota chapter of NORML, told the Star Tribune.
Additional law changes passed by the Legislature aim to crack down on delta-8 vapes by applying the 0.3% limit on THC to “any tetrahydrocannabinol,” according to the news outlet.
The Legislature also passed labeling and age requirements for CBD and THC products, the Star Tribune reported. The legislation requires edibles to be sold in child-proof, tamper-evident packages with a label that says, “Keep this product out of reach of children.”
On the strength of collaboration between legislative chambers as well as with the state’s governor, Rhode Island is positioned to cross the adult-use cannabis legalization finish line and launch commercial sales this year.
The reform momentum comes after state Sen. Joshua Miller and Rep. Scott Slater—both Democrats—advanced identical bills in their respective chambers, with lawmakers from each body passing the Rhode Island Cannabis Act behind overwhelming majorities on May 24.
The House passed the legislation on a 55-16 vote, while the Senate approved it on a 32-6 vote, sending the bill to Gov. Dan McKee’s desk. The Democratic executive is expected to sign it and make Rhode Island the 19th state to legalize adult-use cannabis.
“The act before us was introduced after months of collaboration between the House and the Senate, as well as numerous stakeholders,” Slater said Tuesday evening on the House floor. “We did this in collaboration with the governor’s office, the courts, the attorney general, the Office of Cannabis Regulation and the Department of Health.”
Slater and Miller first introduced the act in March but then unveiled a key amendment May 17, after considering written and verbal testimonies during the committee hearing process.
The underlying proposal did not change. The legislation still includes provisions to legalize the sale and possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis by adults 21 and older, with no more than 10 ounces for personal use kept in a primary residence, to allow the home cultivation of up to six plants (three mature), and to regulate a licensed industry. But the amendment offered a new provision to provide automatic expungement of records for those with previous cannabis convictions.
SALINAS,Calif., May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --PRESS RELEASE-- LowellFarms Inc. (CSE: LOWL; OTCQX: LOWLF), aCalifornia-born innovator in cannabis cultivation and maker of the legendarybrand Lowell Smokes, is announcing the acquisition of advanced pre-rollproduction equipment and capabilities from Canadian cannabis brand All Good Collective. Theacquisition will accelerate Lowell Farms’ ability to offer end-to-endautomation of large-scale pre-roll production.
“At Lowell, weare committed to bringing to market the absolute best cannabis smokingexperience possible and that journey led us to All Good Collective,” saysLowell Farms Inc. Chairman of the Board George Allen. “In addition to being afar superior product than anything we have seen in the category, the equipmentfrom All Good will allow us to scale production and achieve a pre-rollprice-point that rivals the cost of flower.”
As part of thetransaction, Lowell Farms Inc. will manufacture and sell All Good Collective’ssuccessful line of pre-rolls from Canada into the California cannabis market,where they will be sold alongside Lowell’s existing line of award-winningproducts. Lowell intends to offer production capacity to other cannabis brandsseeking to showcase their flower in this exciting new format.
Thetransaction will be treated as an asset acquisition. Lowell will issue acombination of stock and cash upon delivery of the equipment with anapproximate current value of US $4.1m as consideration. Lowell anticipates thatthe transaction will close this summer.
]]>BOSTON, May25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- Lantern, the leading on-demand cannabis e-commerce marketplace and home deliveryplatform in the U.S., today became the first marketplace to launch adult-usecannabis deliveries in Denver, Colorado. Lantern has been serving Coloradoconsumers since March 2021 when it became the first platform to launchon-demand delivery in Aurora.
Lantern's Denver marketplace is launching in partnership with localdispensaries including Frost and Strawberry Fields and their courier partner,Grn Bus. In Aurora, Lantern is also expanding its coverage with the launch ofits partnership with GoodChemistry. Customers over the age of 21 can now orderfrom a wide selection of high-quality cannabis products on LanternNow.com and have their favorite recreationalproducts delivered to their doorstep. The company has broadened its deliveryzone to two of the most populated cities in Colorado and is supported by acohesive network of business partners. Lantern was originally incubated out ofDrizly Group, the most popular and reliable online alcohol delivery platform inNorth America. Denver is Drizly's third largest market, and thewell-established consumer trust will provide a pathway for Lantern to buildtrust with Denver's cannabis community.
Following the launch, Lantern will add more local dispensaries over thesummer, with Colorado Harvest, Mighty Tree, and Higher Grade expected to beavailable in the coming months.
"We are excited to offer modern and personalized cannabis retailexperiences in one of the most established markets in the country," saidMeredith Mahoney, Co-founder and CEO of Lantern. "Lantern's latestexpansion is possible thanks to our reliable partners at Grn Bus, Frost,Strawberry Fields, and GoodChemistry. Collaborating with local businesses withdeep community relationships allows us to drive brand awareness organically andbuild long-lasting connections with new audiences."
Lantern is committed to working with community organizations to create acomprehensive social equity program that will benefit entrepreneurs throughoutthe country. Thus far, the company has launched social equity-focused incubatorprograms in Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. In Denver, Lantern hascontinued to support The Color of Cannabis, an advocacy group that leads a10-week course to help entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds navigatethe cannabis industry.
]]>BOCA RATON, Fla., May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, has announced its financial results for the first quarter 2022 ended March 31, 2022. All financial information is provided in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
First Quarter 2022 Highlights
Total revenue of $61.9 million, an increase of 48.5% year-over-yearAdjusted gross profit(1) of $25.5 million, an increase of 33.1% year-over-yearNet loss of $14.3 millionAdjusted EBITDA(1) of $1.1 million, or 1.7% of revenueCash and cash equivalents were $76.2 million as of the quarter endFirst Quarter 2022 Operational Highlights
Completed the acquisition of The Apothecarium(2) in Las Vegas, Nevada, an operating adult-use and medical retail dispensaryDebuted a series of cannabis brands and product launches in Massachusetts, beginning with the launch of flower brands The Bank and SèchèClosed a non-brokered private placement, for total proceeds of approximately $13.7 millionPlaced on The Globe and Mail’s Third-Annual Women Lead Here benchmark of executive gender diversityAnnounced that Jim Cacioppo, chief executive officer, chairman and founder, purchased 66,800 Class B Subordinate Voting Shares of the company in the open market for an approximate amount of $220,000Recent Developments
Awarded a provisional medical marijuana dispensary license in Ohio, establishing the company's fifth vertically integrated state-level operationExpanded the company’s vertically integrated footprint in Nevada with the completion of the NuLeaf, Inc. acquisition, adding a 27,000-square-foot cultivation facility, 13,000-square-foot processing facility, and three adult-use and medical retail dispensaries in the stateLaunched the company’s first line of solventless cannabis extracts in the Pennsylvania market under its award-winning The Lab brand, comprised of high-quality live rosin vapes and concentratesOpened the 32nd retail location nationwide and 3rd BEYOND / HELLO dispensary in CaliforniaClosed on the purchase of land adjacent to the company's Toledo Ohio grow facility which will allow Jushi to significantly expand its cultivation footprint at the Ohio grow facility, subject to regulatory approvalsManagement Commentary
“Despite the seasonal weakness in the first quarter and a series of challenges including the loss of store hours due to Omicron, snowstorms and the Pennsylvania distillate cartridges recall, I am pleased with our first quarter performance and the progress we have made in positioning our business for the long term,” said Cacioppo. “We remain focused on investing in our businesses, including building out our store base, significantly expanding our cultivation and processing facilities in both Pennsylvania and Virginia, scaling our wholesale channel in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and integrating our two recently acquired businesses in Nevada. At the same time, we have taken decisive steps to manage our costs across all operating units and are encouraged by the initial results. I am confident that our investments into the business and the cost savings measures we have recently implemented position us to achieve accelerated growth and profitability through the balance of the year.”
Lakewood, Co. (May 24, 2022) – PRESS RELEASE – Ajoya is celebrating the grand opening and official ribbon cutting for the expansion of its Lakewood dispensary, which now includes an adult-use component. This dispensary is located two blocks west of Colfax and Kipling.
“Lakewood has been a great home for Ajoya and we’re grateful for the opportunity to expand our store there,” said Joey Gindi, CEO and co-founder of Ajoya. “With this expansion we’re not only providing the community with more job opportunities, we’re also creating a positive atmosphere for consumers and patients alike to purchase their medicine.”
This expanded dispensary, which is located two blocks west of Colfax and Kipling, will continue to serve medical patients and will now be able to accommodate adult-use consumers as well. It will feature special elements such as an express counter, a space for a future community garden out front for neighbors to take advantage of and a moss wall to bring a fresh, green component.
“Ajoya has made a commitment to support our community and we are delighted to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion,” said Madison MacDonald, vice president of the West Metro Chamber. “This dispensary has been a fantastic addition to Lakewood and we look forward to watching the company continue to thrive.”
This dispensary is approximately 3,500 square feet and boasts a unique and modern design, and was revamped by Roth Sheppard Architects. It is located at 11950 W. Colfax Ave. in Lakewood and is open 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Ajoya is currently in search of a local artist to paint a large mural on the outer wall as well. To apply, please email [email protected].
]]>WAKEFIELD, Mass., May 24, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Curaleaf Holdings Inc., a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis, announced that Tyneeha Rivers has been appointed to the role of Chief People Officer for Curaleaf, a new position.
The move follows the recent announcement of Matt Darin being named CEO, replacing Joe Bayern, who will be launching a new CPG focused division of the company.
Rivers will lead the company’s Human Resources department and help advance strategic HR operations, talent acquisition, talent management, diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership development, training programs, employee relationship management, compensation and benefits, job design and succession planning.
Darin said, "This is an incredibly exciting time for Tyneeha to join us, and I am thrilled to welcome her to my executive leadership team. With over 20 years of global Human Resources expertise in senior positions for distinguished organizations, Tyneeha has a proven track record of building winning team cultures that positively impact business results. This is a critical focus for us at Curaleaf as we move the company forward. My goal is not only to be the leading global cannabis company, but also the place to be for the most talented, motivated, and passionate team members in the industry, bar none."
"I am honored to join the Curaleaf team at this exciting time in the company's evolution and rapid growth," Rivers said. "Curaleaf has established itself as a leader in the cannabis space, not just in revenue or retail footprint, but in talent and commitment. I look forward to partnering with the entire Curaleaf team to continue focusing on strategic HR operations and the investment in the company's people, without whom this exponential growth would not be possible."
Rivers brings more than 20 years of experience in corporate human resources, leading HR for various prominent organizations such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Properties, The Galman Group, Philadelphia 76ers, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Greater Philadelphia YMCA, and most recently, chief people officer at Curio Wellness. Rivers currently serves as board president of Second Chance Mission, an organization established to help survivors of substance abuse, domestic violence, bullying, life-altering illness, and other hardships.
MIAMI, Florida, May 24, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Ayr Wellness Inc., a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator, announced that the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) approved the company for adult-use cannabis sales in the Garden State.
Ayr currently operates medical dispensaries in Woodbridge, Union and Eatontown, located in Central New Jersey. The company's three retail locations are the maximum allowable dispensaries under current state law.
"We are thrilled to be approved for adult-use sales in New Jersey and to have all three dispensaries cleared simultaneously to open for adult-use," said Jonathan Sandelman, Ayr founder, chairman and CEO. "To date, Central Jersey has the lowest number of dispensaries per capita, leaving its population under-served compared with the rest of the state. New Jersey is expected to become a highly influential state for the U.S. cannabis industry, and we are honored to help shape the market landscape from its early stages."
"This is a significant milestone for Ayr, and I am so proud of our team for making it a reality," said Julie Winter, Ayr's vice president of retail operations in New Jersey. "We look forward to opening our doors to adult-use customers while continuing to provide excellent service, quality and choice to our medical patients."
Adult-use sales in New Jersey officially began five weeks ago. BDSA expects New Jersey to be the third-largest contributor to overall U.S. sales growth by 2026, projected to generate annual revenue of $2.3 billion in total legal cannabis sales.
For more information about Ayr Wellness, please visit https://ayrwellness.com.
]]>In rare form, a Democratic governor vetoed legislation that aims to legalize the possession of 1 ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older in Delaware.
Gov. John Carney, who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in November 2024, sent House Bill 371 back to the state General Assembly without his signature on May 24.
That bill received three-fifths majority support in the House via a 26-14 vote May 5, as well as three-fifths majority support in the Senate via a 13-7 vote May 12, indicating that the legislation has enough clout behind it to override Carney’s veto.
In a veto statement released Tuesday, Carney said he recognizes the positive effects that medical cannabis can have for people with certain health conditions and continues to support that industry in Delaware.
“That said, I do not believe that promoting or expanding the use of recreational marijuana is in the best interests of the state of Delaware, especially our young people,” he said. “Questions about the long-term health and economic impacts of recreational marijuana use, as well as serious law enforcement concerns, remain unresolved.”
The vetoed legislation would not implement a commercial cultivation and retail industry but rather allow for the simple possession and transfer of 1 ounce or less of cannabis between those 21 and older, as long as no money is involved in the transfer.
What keeps the illicit cannabis market thriving, even in states with legal and regulated adult-use sales?
A new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs points to higher prices and inconvenience associated with legal cannabis sales as barriers that send consumers to illegal providers instead, according to a press release announcing the report.
Investigators from the University of Waterloo in Ontario analyzed data from the 2019 and 2020 International Cannabis Policy Study, where participants reported how much of the cannabis they used in the past 12 months was purchased from legal sources. If respondents entered a value less than 100%, the survey prompted them to select from a list of reasons why they purchased cannabis illegally.
The number one answer in Canada in 2019 and 2020 for why respondents purchased cannabis on the illicit market was that “legal sources had higher prices,” with 35.9% of respondents choosing that answer in 2019 and 34.6% selecting it in 2020, according to the press release.
Convenience ranked highly as well, with 10.6% to 19.8% of respondents selecting either “legal sources were less convenient” or “legal stores were too far away/there are none where I live” as reasons for their illegal cannabis purchases.
Allegations of rules violations against an Oklahoma City-based medical cannabis testing laboratory have resulted in a suspended license as state regulators have recalled 99 products.
The Oklahoma Commissioner of Health issued an emergency order May 20, temporality suspending Scale Laboratories’ testing license in connection with the alleged violations after three inspections by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) last month.
Scale is the trade name for Shiv Krupa LLC, OMMA License No. LAAA-C8NH-JZ02.
In addition to the suspended license, OMMA officials issued the 99-product recall May 19 for medical cannabis products related to the lab’s alleged violations. That recall includes flower, concentrates/extracts, infused prerolls, trim, vape cartridges, ice water hash and live rosin.
The full list of the 99 products with batch IDs is available here.
“We are first and foremost concerned about the health, safety and welfare of patients who might consume harmful marijuana products,” OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry said in a news release.
LAFAYETTE, Colo., May 23, 2022 -- PRESS RELEASE -- urban-gro, Inc., a fully integrated architectural design, engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPC) design-build firm specializing in horticulture, and more specifically, indoor controlled environment agriculture (CEA), announced the hiring of Arie Kamp as Managing Director of its Netherlands-based European entity, urban-gro Europe B.V.
Bradley Nattrass, chairman and chief executive officer of urban-gro, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Arie to our executive team. He brings extensive experience as a leader in the horticulture space, especially around automation and system integration within indoor CEA. In addition to his valuable experience within the European market, the breadth of his relationships and deep knowledge in facility logistics automation will further enhance the expansion of our service capabilities for our North American clients. We are looking forward to his contributions as we continue to bolster our reputation as the premier turnkey solution provider in the indoor CEA industry.”
Kamp brings over two decades of combined agriculture, technology, and sales experience to urban-gro. Most recently, Kamp was the Director of the Fresh Produce and Logistics unit of Viscon Group – a leading horticulture systems integrator based in the Netherlands. During his more than 25-year tenure at Viscon, Kamp has participated in a variety of roles, helping propel Viscon into the European agriculture powerhouse that it is today.
Kamp stated, “I am excited to join the urban-gro team and bring my experience in AgTech to energize urban-gro’s European growth strategy. Europe has a long history of driving CEA innovations and recent consumer visibility of the improvements in product quality is enticing significant capital investment in the industry. With urban-gro’s full suite of capabilities and an underserved market, I see a compelling opportunity to service clients and provide needed expertise to help accelerate the indoor CEA industry in Europe."
The Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has issued three more cultivation licenses for individuals looking to participate in the state's nearing adult-use market, bringing the total to four.
The CCB issued the first license to an indoor grower in Rutland County May 16—well after the May 1 deadline.
According to WCAX, all four licenses have been awarded to social equity applicants.
“They have been torn from their communities, they have been incarcerated, and really putting them at the forefront of the market,” said James Pepper, chair of the CCB. “Trying to correct some of those harms or at least mitigate some of the harms that were caused by cannabis prohibition.”
According to the news outlet, 22 out of 104 retail applicants have been pre-qualified thus far; however, official retail proposals are not expected to be accepted until Sept. 1–exactly one month before adult-use sales are supposed to launch.
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Kansas won’t be keeping up with the Joneses when it comes to cannabis policy reform for yet another legislative session.
State lawmakers adjourned from their final day of work for the year on May 23, as a medical cannabis proposal was left on the table by the Senate, which has continued to stall on making meaningful advances in recent years.
That inaction comes as medical cannabis is legal in 37 states, including a trio of Kansas neighbors: Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Despite multiple efforts in Kansas to legalize medical cannabis this legislative session, including a House-passed bill that never gained traction in the Senate, and a Senate bill introduced by Republican Sen. Rob Olson in March, priorities were elsewhere when legislators wrapped up 2022 business on Monday.
Olson, who chairs the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, which met Monday morning, issued a statement apologizing for the lack of movement on legalization.
“Unfortunately, due to the heavy load of the committee, I regret and take responsibility for not getting this measure across the finish line this session,” he said. “I am proud of what has been accomplished since the beginning of this session, but not convinced that we have been able to fully take into account all the complexities presented by all the potential patients, experts (medical, law enforcement, industry, etc.) and agencies that will be responsible to regulate the recommendation, cultivation, production, distribution and safe consumption of substances that come from the cannabis plant.”
AKRON, Ohio, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Klutch Cannabis, one of Ohio's Medical Marijuana Cultivators and Processors, announced today that its sister company, The Citizen by Klutch, won two dispensary licenses in the Ohio Board of Pharmacy's second request for applications, which concluded in a Special Board meeting on Monday, May 16th, 2022.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy, which is charged with licensing and regulating medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, received almost 1,500 applications for a total of 73 available dispensary licenses. The Citizen by Klutch turned in 73 individual applications in its pursuit of these licenses--more than any other applicant in the state.
The Citizen by Klutch dispensaries will be located at:
401 Cherry Avenue NE in Canton, Ohio. 5152 Grove Avenue in Lorain, Ohio.The stores will feature a wide variety of Klutch-branded products, as well as Kiva Confections' line of award-winning edibles, which Klutch manufactures under an exclusive license in Ohio. Dispensary menus will also feature a full line of premium products manufactured by other state-licensed Cultivators and Processors. The company also announced the hiring of two pharmacists, Rony Sinharoy and Lauren Delande, who will each serve as Director of Retail Operations for The Citizen. The pair have extensive experience standing up and operating Dispensaries in Ohio and in other states.
"As a 100% Ohio-owned and operated cannabis company, we see these retail licenses as a critical component of our business model," said Klutch Cannabis founder and CEO Adam Thomarios. "Building on the significant momentum we have in the market, the addition of retail will finally give us the opportunity to speak directly with patients and to have control over how our products are marketed and sold. We have assembled an amazing team, and our sole focus now is on channeling the same level of quality our products are known for into a unique and patient-focused retail experience. Our team worked tirelessly to get us here, and I am extremely proud of their hard work and dedication. We have a lot to look forward to."
Both stores are tentatively slated to open before the end of the year. All new licensees have until February of 2023 to receive a certificate of operation. For more information, please visit www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/dispensaries.
]]>NEW YORK, May 20, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - LeafLink, the world’s largest online wholesale cannabis platform, announced its innovative logistics and payments tools will become available to Colorado’s cannabis industry in June. Beginning next month, cannabis brands, retailers and distributors across the Centennial State will have access to LeafLink’s innovative transportation and payment tools, as well as brand and retail fulfillment offerings. Colorado was the first state where LeafLink launched its marketplace, now the world’s largest cannabis wholesale marketplace processing more than $5 billion in orders annually, when the company was founded in 2016.
“LeafLink is excited to bring our innovative logistics and payment tools to Colorado’s cannabis industry. Our mission is to provide all cannabis companies--from local businesses to industry leading MSOs--with the tools to manage their businesses effectively and accelerate growth. Through our technology-enabled solutions, LeafLink will help brands and retailers across Colorado efficiently create orders, fulfill them, handle transport, and seamlessly process payments so they can focus on doing what they do best and grow their businesses,“ said Ryan G. Smith, co-founder and CEO of LeafLink.
LeafLink’s full service platform, including its marketplace and transportation and payment solutions, currently serves enterprises across the country in California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Michigan and Missouri. The company’s offerings are built specifically for each market and include solutions that enable brands to increase reliability, efficiency and transparency in shipping; retailer-focused solutions for warehousing, fulfillment and restocking of inventory; and technology to help streamline inventory operations and increase margins.
LeafLink is also committed to bringing critical liquidity to the cannabis market. The company previously raised a $250 million credit facility for this purpose, and its payment tools allow buyers and sellers to make and receive payments on their schedule. Tens of thousands of companies utilize LeafLink’s platform, with nearly 1,000 utilizing LeafLink’s logistics and payments offerings, including industry-leading brands and multi-state operators (MSOs) such as Ascend Wellness, Columbia Care, RevClinics, March and Ash, Cannacraft, BellRock Brands, and Summit Brands.
“The Summit team is extremely excited for the launch of LeafLink Logistics in Colorado. LeafLink has a proven track record of providing innovative solutions to the unique challenges that face our burgeoning industry. From B2B transactions, tracking inventory and accounts receivable, to streamlining payment processes, LeafLink has been the industry leader and a trusted partner in simplifying our business. As anyone operating in a highly competitive market knows, the process of order fulfillment, generating manifests, and maintaining expeditious, professional delivery of products to our customers is paramount to growing your business. LeafLink's simplification of this process through integration with their platform will save us time, money, and ensure our brands are being properly represented from the time they leave our warehouse to the time they arrive to our customers,” said Cooper Gillespie, director of sales and marketing for Summit Brands.
Many growers entering commercial cannabis from legacy markets or ornamental horticulture come armed with ideas that cannabis requires complicated, labor-intensive nutrient routines. But as commercial cultivation has evolved, so has knowledge about cannabis nutrition at scale.
Growers desiring to simplify their grow—and their nutrient routine—can find support in the science of plant nutrition and a sounder, simpler nutrient product lineup.
The Trend Toward Simplification
Agronomist Jean-Pierre Fortin and horticulturist Shaye Donald have unique perspectives on the complex nutrient programs many incoming growers bring to commercial cannabis grows. As members of the technical services team at Hawthorne Gardening Company, they help growers of all kinds understand plant nutrition, simplify nutrient product lineups, and enjoy the results.
Fortin believes that marketing tactics—rather than plant nutrition—tend to propel many complicated nutrient routines.
“When you look at some of these programs that use so many different products and add up everything they’re adding, we very often can say we can do the same thing with three or four different products,” he says. “It really comes down to the nutritional needs of the plant.”
Fortin stresses that growers from all backgrounds are looking for simpler, more efficient, more cost-effective nutrient programs. One grower, he recalls, used university-devised nutrient formulations requiring 14 different soluble salts: adding more variables into the plan than what otherwise might be necessary for cultivators.
It’s been nearly a decade since Washington and Colorado became the first U.S. states to legalize adult-use cannabis—and almost four years since Canada led the way with nationwide legalization. For commercial cultivators, today’s landscape bears little resemblance to those early days. Current trends in commercial cannabis nutrition are very different from when it all began.
Systems Approach to Growing
With the increase in highly controlled growing environments and technological advances, growers are gravitating toward a more holistic, systems-based approach to growing. Horticulturist Shaye Donald and agronomist Jean-Pierre Fortin, members of the professional technical services team at Hawthorne Gardening Company, work directly with commercial growers to help fine-tune growing practices and product use as part of a comprehensive approach.
While cultivators in the past heavily emphasized nutrition, Donald explains that perspectives are changing. Though nutrition remains integral, it’s being seen as part of the broader whole. More growers are focusing on the integrated growing environment, with nutrition being one piece that works in concert with growing media, irrigation, fertigation, and other aspects of the grow.
“Plants, like any living organism, are complex, and so the environment in which they grow isn’t just one piece. It’s a system where they’re all interconnected and affect each other,” Donald says. At Hawthorne, the concept behind this trend is driven home with the Hawthorne 360 initiative. “It’s all about recognizing that this is a system, so we need to take the systems approach to it,” he adds.
Nutrient-Based Crop Steering
Donald shares that crop steering—managing setpoints or inputs throughout the growing process to trigger specific plant responses—is another emerging trend.
“Crop steering is the human aspect of changing these setpoints to get a response that we desire,” he explains.
LOS ANGELES, CA - May 24, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Cure8, a cannabis IT and security services provider in North America, announced today that it was expanding into the Florida cannabis market, one of the world’s largest, with the acquisition of the Coral Springs-based cannabis IT services firm Real Cloud Pros (RCP).
“We see a lot of opportunity in the Florida market,” said Cure8 CEO and CTO Eric Schlissel. “Even with recreational sales remaining illegal for now, it’s still the third largest market in the U.S. with over $1.3 billion in revenues in 2020 and over 400 active dispensaries.”
Schlissel added, “Our services will help the state’s MSOs maintain compliance, stabilize costs, and continue to grow. We’ll also help smaller operators use technology and IT best practices to survive, compete, and punch above their weight. And when new medical and recreational licensing opportunities open up eventually, we’ll be well-positioned to help those licensees get set up and grow quickly.”
Cure8's cannabis IT services include point-of-sale (POS) system installation, surveillance system design and installation, managed IT services (24/7 monitoring, management, and support of a client's IT), cyber security assessments and consulting, cloud consulting and management, and hardware procurement.
Cure8 has supported scores of cannabis dispensary, processing, and grow locations since 2016, working for leading brands such as Canopy Growth, Tokyo Smoke, Superette, and performing artist Drake-affiliated Bullrider.
Ridgeland was one of the first two cities to opt out of participating in Mississippi’s forthcoming medical cannabis program when its board of aldermen made that decision March 1, well ahead of the May 3 deadline to do so.
Overall, officials from 10 counties and 17 municipalities in the state chose not to allow medical cannabis businesses in their jurisdictions.
But Ridgeland, a city of roughly 24,000 people in the Jackson metropolitan area, might be coming off of that opt-out list sooner rather than later.
On May 21, city residents began receiving knocks on their doors in a signature-gathering effort represented by contractor Voters Choice, the Madison County Journal reported.
That boots-on-the-ground endeavor comes more than two months after the Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association began hosting signature drives March 12 in hopes of bringing medical cannabis to Ridgeland.
Despite the votes of elected city aldermen, 20% or 1,500 of registered voters (whichever is fewer) in state municipalities may petition to put a question on their local ballots in a special election to override an opt-out.
