MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
Hawaii’s medical cannabis industry recently expanded with a new dispensary opening and two companies launching the sale of edible products.
The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) has approved Maui Grown Therapies’ third retail location in Pukalani, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The new dispensary will open March 25, the news outlet reported, after it passed its final DOH inspection.
Maui Grown Therapies operates two other medical cannabis dispensaries in Lahaina and Kahului, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii’s medical cannabis market is also expanding to include the sale of edible products such as chocolates, beverages, brownies and cookies.
LANSING, Mich. — PRESS RELEASE — LIV Cannabis Co., which is committed to connecting people through safe, high-quality cannabis products, today announced the grand opening of its Lansing location to serve patients and adult-use customers in Greater Lansing and beyond. The new location at 6283 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. is part of the company’s statewide expansion and commitment to serving the unique, individual needs of cannabis consumers.
The store’s grand opening celebration continues through April 7, and includes discounts on several brands including Common Citizen, MKX, Kiva Confections, Dixie Brands, Mary’s Medicinals and High Life Farms.
“At LIV, we are proud to be a Michigan-based, community forward cannabis company, and we are excited to provide our safe, high-quality cannabis products to patients and adult-use customers in Lansing,” said Dennis Zoma, LIV Cannabis co-founder. “Lansing has welcomed us with open arms, and we look forward to creating job opportunities, helping grow the local economy and giving back to this vibrant community in the months and years ahead.”
The Lansing LIV Cannabis location is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. LIV Cannabis plans to open a cannabis consumption lounge on the property adjacent to the Lansing store next fall. The company also has locations in Ferndale and Battle Creek, and will soon be expanding into Lake Orion, Detroit, Pontiac and Westland as part of the company’s statewide expansion.
While offering quality products at competitive prices, LIV Cannabis also takes great pride in promoting inclusivity, proven accessibility, continued education and building a culture of care.
Among three high-profile bills aimed at broad federal cannabis reform introduced this Congress, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act is on course to be the first to receive a floor vote.
Sponsored by U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., the bill, which aims to remove cannabis from the U.S. Controlled Substance Act, was first introduced in July 2019 and was passed by the full lower chamber via a 228-164 vote in December 2020. That marked the first time a full body of Congress voted on a broad cannabis decriminalization measure.
RELATED: U.S. House Passes MORE Act
But the previous version of the bill ultimately made it nowhere in the Senate with then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in the driver’s seat.
Now, the House Rules Committee announced March 24 that it will hold a hearing on the current version of the MORE Act, House Bill 3617, at 2 p.m. March 28. In addition, the legislation was also placed on the House calendar of bills expected to be considered by the full chamber next week.
The announcements come after more than 20 chief executives from top cannabis companies and various state and advocacy group leaders met with 60 congressional leaders last week in Washington, D.C., urging them for immediate action on reform. U.S. Cannabis Council CEO Steven Hawkins was among the executives leading the charge on Capitol Hill.
LOS ALAMOS, NM and SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, March 21 /PRNewswire/ PRESS RELEASE -- UbiQD, Inc., a deep tech company specializing in nanomaterials innovation, and Heliene Inc., a customer-first provider of North American made solar modules, today announced the initiation of a joint development agreement to embed UbiGro® sunlight optimizing technology in Heliene’s photovoltaic modules.
“As energy costs continue to rise, the controlled environment agriculture industry will have to utilize energy sources more efficiently,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. “Greenhouses and photovoltaics generate hundreds of billions of dollars of value from sunlight, and our plan is that with our agrivoltaic modules, the whole will be greater than the sum of the parts.”
While WNBA all-star center and Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner remains in Russian custody for allegedly carrying cannabis vape cartridges in her airport luggage last month near Moscow, her current condition is now known.
RELATED: Top US Basketball Player Detained in Russia for Cannabis
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed March 23 that an official from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow had visited Griner Wednesday morning (Eastern Time) to check on her condition.
“The consular officer who visited with Brittney Griner was able to verify that she is doing as well as can be expected under these very difficult circumstances,” Price said in a press conference. “We’ll continue to work very closely with her legal team, with her broader network to see to it that she is treated fairly and that her rights are respected.”
He added that it’s the State Department’s expectation that Wednesday’s checkup is not a one-off visit.
Griner, 31, who plays basketball overseas during the WNBA offseason, was detained after an airport screening in February near Moscow, but her detention by Russian authorities did not come to light until March 5, after she was identified by Russian state-owned news agency TASS.
In an effort to recoup lost revenues, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) auctioned off a commercial property March 23 that was seized in connection with illicit cannabis retail operations.
The property, in Whittier, a city southeast of Los Angles, was part of an investigation into illegal cannabis sales, which uncovered that operators at the site owed more than $850,000 in unpaid taxes, according to a CDTFA news release.
The March 23 auction marked the second time this month that CDTFA officials used seized property to partially reclaim unpaid taxes from illicit cannabis sales. On March 2, the department sold a property in Compton for $256,000 in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
While CDTFA officials hoped the March 23 auction would provide $220,000 in revenue from the Whittier property, that sale exceeded expectations at $330,000, the Whittier Daily News reported.
“Unlicensed cannabis operators not only undercut legitimate businesses, but they also cheat California communities out of revenue for vital programs,” CDTFA Director Nick Maduros said in the news release. “These businesses are not licensed under the laws approved by California voters, and many of their products are unregulated.”
Taxable sales of cannabis, cannabis products and tangible personable property at licensed adult-use dispensaries netted nearly $1.3 billion in total tax revenue in 2021 in California.
How would interstate cannabis commerce impact California’s cannabis industry?
State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) believes the ability to import and export California’s state-legal cannabis products to other states would benefit California’s economy and give the state a competitive edge.
Caballero introduced Senate Bill 1326 Feb. 18 to authorize cannabis imports and exports, as well as allow the governor to enter into trade agreements with other U.S. states.
“S.B. 1326 is an essential step to ensure that California can fully capitalize on, and remain a leader in, the national cannabis market,” Caballero said in a public statement. “California can and should lay the groundwork for a multi-state legal cannabis market which will benefit our rural economy and our workers. This strategy can be replicated on a national scale and it’s my hope that S.B. 1326 will give California a competitive advantage.”
The legislation requires trade agreements between California and other states to include public health, safety and labeling standards; a system to regulate and track cannabis products; and the collection of applicable taxes. It would also require any products imported from out of state to be tested, packaged and labeled in compliance with California law.
PITTSBURGH,March 24, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – The National Cannabis Risk ManagementAssociation (NCRMA) announces the launch of a new health insuranceprogram for cannabis companies—Health ReLeaf.
Over thepast decade, premiums and deductibles have risen faster than workers' wages,and as a result, NCRMA and My Benefit Advisor have partnered on a solution. Throughthe launch of Health ReLeaf, they're helping cannabis companies takecontrol. By knowing the health plan's data and spending, Health ReLeaf can helpcannabis businesses make decisions in the best interest of their company andemployees. The health plans put businesses in control of the outcomes and giveemployees the relief they've been looking for.
"Employersare aware of the challenges associated with controlling health carespending," said Brian McLaughlin, market leader for My Benefit Advisor."My Benefit Advisor is excited about the opportunity to partner with theNCRMA to give their members the chance to take control of their health carespending. The ReLeaf program gives employers the data and tools to manage costswhile providing the employees the benefits they deserve."
"Oneof the most significant risks faced by cannabis companies is talentoptimization," said Rocco Petrilli, NCRMA chairman, "locating andplacing 'the right people in the right places' is the challenge of the moment.Once this is accomplished, retaining these employees takes center stage. HealthReLeaf benefits will provide employees with the security of solid medicalcoverage and will work to keep this valuable workforce in place andproductive."
The newprogram offered to NCRMA company members leverages a different approach byfunding the known risks and insuring the unknown. Health ReLeaf's process integratesemployee health assessment to identify known risks. The offering is madespecifically for companies working in the cannabis industry. It offers fullprotection from all volatile claims. By identifying these known risks, HealthReLeaf can save businesses up to 20% within the first year.
TheHealth ReLeaf brokers are ready to dually work as risk managers to identifyreductions in claims, high-cost specialty drugs, fraud, and waste.Additionally, the program helps cannabis companies implement measures to reduceknown risks through abuse prevention, promotion of general wellness, andprimary care utilization.
]]>A trio of investors in Georgia-based multistate cannabis operator Parallel are not pleased with how their investment dollars were spent.
In a complaint filed March 8 in Florida federal court, TradeInvest Asset Management Company (BVI) Ltd., First Ocean Enterprises SA and Techview Investments Ltd. take aim at the company, formerly known as Surterra Wellness, and its former CEO, William “Beau” Wrigley Jr., heir of the Wrigley chewing gum fortune.
The trio of investors have leveraged allegations of securities fraud, claiming that Wrigley convinced them to invest in a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE) issued by Parallel during a go-public combination with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) affiliated with music industry mogul Scott “Scooter” Braun, which ultimately failed.
“Wrigley, the Chairman of the Company and its CEO during the relevant period, along with the other Securities Defendants, fraudulently induced the SAFE Plaintiffs, by means of myriad misrepresentations and omissions about the Company’s true financial condition, to invest in a so-called ‘SAFE’—a Simple Agreement for Future Equity—issued by the Company,” the plaintiffs allege in the complaint. “Wrigley and the Securities Defendants initially portrayed the SAFE as a way to maintain planned investments in operating and capital expenditures pending consummation of an announced public merger through a SPAC. … Thereafter, once the merger talks terminated, the Securities Defendants sold the SAFE as a way to ‘bridge’ the Company’s operating and capital expenditures through the second quarter of 2022, by which time an alternative sale could be consummated.”
The complaint describes a SAFE as a relatively new type of security that converts investors’ cash investments to equity in the issuing company under specified conditions.
Out of all the industries affected by the pandemic, tourism was among the hardest hit. The Las Vegas tourism economy, specifically, suffered nearly $34 billion in losses in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by Applied Analysis for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
With such a significant impact on the local economy, we investigated if cannabis purchasing patterns in Las Vegas and Nevada were also affected – and they were indeed. We analyzed Nevada cannabis purchasing habits in three time periods: 2019 (pre-pandemic), April 2020 to September 2020 (the height of pandemic impact on tourism in Las Vegas), and from May 2021 to December 2021 (when tourists began returning to Las Vegas at a more normal rate).
We also compared the Market Share by Category and Competitiveness by Category during these periods to provide a more thorough analysis of how the pandemic impacted purchasing habits in Las Vegas over those three time periods.
Analyzing COVID-19’s Impact on Visitors and Wholesale Sales in Las Vegas
In 2021, 63% of all wholesale cannabis sales in Nevada occurred in Las Vegas, compared to 58% in 2019. While only 21% of the state's population lives in Las Vegas, the city generates more wholesale cannabis volume than the rest of the state combined, driven by the number of tourists. This disparity became even more significant in 2021, despite sales growing both within the city and in the rest of the state.
Across the early months of the pandemic, sales declined in both Las Vegas and the rest of the state, as did visitor volume. Cannabis sales in Las Vegas began to decline earlier than the rest of the state, dropping 21% in March 2020 while Nevada as a whole saw 0.3% growth in the month. However, that trend soon shifted, as both the city and state saw dramatic sales declines in April, decreasing by 48% in Las Vegas and 68% in the rest of the state month-over-month.
Starting just one month later in May, sales surged in Las Vegas by 27.8% in May and 76.2% in June MoM and recovered to pre-pandemic levels in the rest of the state. This trend held until September 2020, when sales decreased by 10.9% MoM. Cannabis sales in Las Vegas continued to decline throughout the remainder of 2020, while the rest of the state saw early declines between August and October, then a 14.5% increase in sales from November to December.
Pennsylvania medical cannabis dispensaries have recorded record sales throughout the past 12-plus months, in part because retailers are getting more bang for their buck.
While wholesale dry-leaf cannabis prices dropped from $10.65 per gram in January 2021 to $6.65 in February 2022, representing a 37.6% decrease, retail cannabis prices dropped from $14.90 per gram to $13.40, or a 10.1% decrease, according to a Health Department presentation during the state’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board (MMAB) March 22 meeting.
All the while, Pennsylvania dispensaries have recorded month-on-month sales increases throughout the past year, compared to every timeframe from the previous 12 months. For instance, December 2021 featured a record of more than $135 million in medical cannabis dispensary sales, while December 2020 sales were less than $100 million, according to the Health Department presentation.
In particular, the 37.6% decrease in wholesale prices compared the to 10.1% decreases in retail prices wasn’t adding up for John Collins, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Medical Marijuana, a position he’s held in the Health Department since August 2016. He plans to retire later this year.
While presenting the data during the advisory board meeting Tuesday, he called the trend “troubling” and said any savings in wholesale costs should be enjoyed by customers, The Tribune-Democrat reported.
“There is a significant opportunity to pass along savings to patients. Speaking for them, they should demand this be passed to them,” Collins said, adding that the advisory board should scrutinize why retail prices aren’t falling at the same rate as wholesale prices.
Veritas Fine Cannabis launched its first pheno hunt of 2022 as part of a partnership with Native Roots Cannabis Co.
Veritas is allowing consumers to pheno hunt its Muffinz Breath cultivar through a limited number of boxes available exclusively at select Native Roots locations in Colorado. Each box contains three phenotypes of Muffinz Breath, which Veritas says is a hybrid cultivar featuring pine and citrus flavors with notes of fruit, as well as a custom gold four-chamber grinder, lighter and rice rolling papers.
RELATED: How Veritas Uses Limited-Edition Product Drops to Connect With Customers
This marks the second collaboration between Veritas and Native Roots this year.
“Veritas and Native Roots share a similar mindset and approach to cannabis,” said Jordan Plunkett, marketing director for Veritas Fine Cannabis. “We share a belief that cannabis brings communities together wile elevating experiences. We made the decision to partner with Native Roots on this year’s pheno hunt following the success of the recent live resin cartridge release, and we know this partnership will continue to be fruitful.”
RELATED: Best Cannabis Companies to Work For – Cultivation | #4 Veritas Fine Cannabis
(DENVER) March 22, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Simplifya, a regulatory and operational compliance software platform serving the cannabis industry, announced it launched a suite of cannabis compliance solutions for businesses in Connecticut, expanding the reach of the company’s footprint to 25 states. The suite of services includes Simplifya Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Simplifya Smart Cabinet and Simplifya Self Audit, which have been specifically designed to help cannabis businesses stay up to date and remain compliant under Connecticut’s laws, as well as manage risks in a cost-effective way.
Connecticut began its medical marijuana program in June 2012, a year after Gov. Dannel Malloy signed legislation decriminalizing the plant statewide. Then, after three separate bills for adult-use cannabis were proposed in 2018 but stalled out, the Constitution State passed adult-use in 2021. However, the state has yet to fully implement the system. Connecticut is aiming to commence retail sales by the end of 2022, and has opened its first application round for certain adult-use licenses.
“Our mission is to simplify regulatory compliance for Connecticut operators, especially during a time when the state is expected to see significant regulatory changes,” said Simplifya CEO and co-founder Marion Mariathasan. “As Connecticut prepares for adult-use cannabis, our suite of compliance solutions will help ensure new and existing businesses are running efficiently, effectively and legally, producing documents for an inspection at a moment’s notice and easily streamlining cannabis compliance efforts, so operators can spend more time on what they’re really passionate about: cannabis.”
Simplifya Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Simplifya SOPs are designed to help ensure cannabis businesses are efficiently, effectively and legally running. They outline best practices and processes for the clients’ entire organization. While creating the correct SOPs can be long and arduous, Simplifya’s team of analytical and regulatory experts developed both generic and license-specific SOP bundles, which include everything cannabis businesses need to immediately get up and running. SOPs also ensure cannabis compliance by providing a comprehensive base, which can be used as is or customized to meet the client’s specific needs. If there are changes, Simplifya’s team also automatically updates the specific SOP and sends clients a notification.
Simplifya Smart Cabinet: Ninety percent of cannabis compliance is documentation, including keeping and organizing documents, making sure no documents are expired and being able to produce documents for inspection at a moment’s notice. Simplifya Smart Cabinet is a user-friendly and convenient online document storage hub that helps eliminate the worry and stress of organizing and storing critical documents. Smart Cabinet provides businesses with a cheat sheet of every document needed based on their license, an intuitive interface, complete control over who has the ability to access these documents, the flexibility to assign documents to employees and reminder features for when a file needs to be updated.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) has rounded up the cannabis laws that lag the furthest behind public opinion in a new report.
The project commemorates the 50-year anniversary of a report issued by the Shafer Commission, which investigated the effects of cannabis use on specific communities and concluded that small amounts of cannabis do not harm society and therefore should not result in criminalization or jail time.
The report, titled “Behind the Times: The 19 States Where a Joint Can Still Land You in Jail,” examines the federal government and states that have not yet decriminalized the simple possession of cannabis, including:
AlabamaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyOklahomaPennsylvaniaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingThe report examines the states’ penalties for simple possession, arrest rates and racial disparities in arrests.
MPP led a national virtual press conference, as well as virtual press conferences in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Texas, to detail the findings of the report.
Cannabis businesses hoping to set up shop in Detroit will have to wait a while longer.
The Detroit City Council postponed a vote March 22 on an ordinance to allow the adult-use cannabis industry to operate within the city after making changes to the proposal, according to the Detroit Free Press.
RELATED: Detroit Ordinance to Allow Adult-Use Dispensaries Advances
Council members approved amendments to the proposed ordinance that would increase the total number of adult-use dispensary licenses available from 76 to 100 and create a lottery system to award licenses to applicants who have not yet locked in a business location, the news outlet reported.
The changes set off a new public comment period, which is scheduled for April 5, the same day City Council is expected to vote on the revised ordinance, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Boulder, Colo. (March 23, 2022) – PRESS RELEASE – Wana Brands, a cannabis-infused edibles brand, announced today it has appointed Sandy Li to the role of Chief Financial Officer, as the company continues its expansion into new markets as well as innovating an ever-growing list of new products. Li will be based in Boulder and will report to Wana Brands CEO Nancy Whiteman.
“Sandy is a transformational business leader who possesses a strong strategic and business acumen backed by real-world experience in driving growth and strong profitability,” Whiteman said. “As we expand our presence in new markets, Sandy’s experience in the complex financial challenges of multinational and cannabis industries will be invaluable.”
Li has deep expertise in driving significant strategic transformations through M&A, international business expansion, new business development and ERP implementations. As Wana Brands’ CFO, Li will oversee all of the company’s financial operations including financial strategy and finance IT operations. In addition, as a key member of the leadership team, Li’s guidance will create opportunities as the company expands both nationally and internationally.
“I’m delighted to join Wana, a company that I have long admired for its trusted and innovative products, strategy entering new markets and commitment to racial justice within the cannabis industry,” Li said. “I look forward to working with Nancy and the team to move Wana forward on its financial and operational goals during this exciting time in Wana’s growth.”
Prior to joining Wana Brands, Li was Vice President of Finance, head of FP&A and Treasury at Parallel, one of the largest privately held multi-state cannabis operators in the United States. Before entering the cannabis industry, she held a variety of senior leadership positions at both public and private companies. Li also spent several years running her own computer hardware and software company in China. Li holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business in finance, strategy and entrepreneurship, and a Master’s degree in finance from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics. Sandy is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada.
CHICAGO, March 23, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Cresco Labs Inc., a vertically integrated multistate operator and the No. 1 U.S. wholesaler of branded cannabis products, released its financial results for the three months and year ended Dec. 31, 2021. All financial information presented in this release is reported in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted, and all comparisons to prior quarters and the prior year are made on an as-converted basis under U.S. GAAP.
The Company announced today it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement pursuant to which Cresco Labs will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Columbia Care.
Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Highlights
Record revenue of $822 million, an increase of 73% year-over-yearGross profit excluding fair value mark-up for acquired inventory of $430 million, or 52% of revenue, and up 104% year-over-yearRecord adjusted EBITDA1 of $194 million, an increase of 219% year-over-yearEnded the year with over $224 million of cash on handFourth Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights
Record fourth quarter revenue of $218 million, up 34% year-over-yearRecord fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA1 of $57 million, or 26% of revenue, an increase of 90% year-over-yearWholesale revenue of $101 million, maintained position as No. 1 seller of branded cannabis products in U.S. with leading share in the flower, concentrates, and vape categoriesRetail revenue increased 10% sequentially, to $117 million, an average of $2.8 million per storeSame-store-sales increased 28% year-over-year, 1% sequentiallyExcluding California, revenue grew 6% sequentiallyRecord cash flow from operations of $38 million1 See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of the full press release for more information regarding the company’s use of non-GAAP financial measures.
Management Commentary
HAZEL PARK, Mich., March 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Hot Box Social, the state's first licensed consumption lounge, will open this month for private events. Located at 23610 John R in Main Street Hazel Park, Hot Box Social is a relaxed gathering space for meetings and special events where cannabis can be consumed in a safe and supportive environment. Capacity is approximately 200 people for private indoor events. The plan is to open the 3,000-square-foot indoor lounge to private events first, and to the public later in 2022. The 5,000-square-foot back patio will also be available later in the summer.
Owned by Trucenta, which also operates the award-winning Breeze recreational provisioning center in Hazel Park, Hot Box Social will eventually feature both indoor and outdoor spaces.
As a licensed consumption lounge, cannabis products must be delivered from a licensed dispensary and used onsite. Cannabis experts will be available to help guests understand how to make an informed decision on the best product for them to consume. Local caterers and food trucks can also be hired for a wide variety of event experiences.
"We are honored that Michigan has awarded us the state's first license for a consumption lounge," said Nowfal Akash, Trucenta's chief information officer. "Our plan is to first use the space for corporate, social and special events. Come summer, we'll start scheduling events so the public can experience Hot Box Social with consumption-friendly activities like social gatherings, educational opportunities and arts-focused activities.
"Our hope is that Hot Box Social will be used to bring a new experience for companies hosting brainstorming meetings, friends who are gathering for private parties, and one-of-a-kind fundraisers to raise money for nonprofit organizations," Akash added.
The Georgia Senate is standing behind its proposed solution to the state’s stalled medical cannabis program.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee scrapped a House proposal to revive the program March 22 while approving a version that the full Senate passed last week, according to a Capitol Beat report.
RELATED: Georgia House and Senate Advance Two Different Bills to Revive Medical Cannabis Program
Georgia’s roughly 20,000 registered patients have spent years in regulatory limbo that allowed them to possess, but not legally purchase, medical cannabis oil containing a maximum of 5% THC.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation in 2019 to legalize the production and sale of the oil, and a new regulatory body, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, licensed six companies last year to serve the market.
If elected Ohio’s next governor, John Cranley has an ambitious goal of creating 120,000 new jobs that pay at least $60,000 per year to help expand the state’s middle class. And he wants to do it in four years.
But the gubernatorial primary candidate for the Democratic ticket is banking on legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state to help get it done.
Announcing his run for office in August, Cranley said 30,000 of the new jobs he hopes to create would be through projects aimed at advancing manufacturing, adding high-speed broadband, and investing in a new energy economy, cleaner water, and safer roads and bridges.
“And when we legalize marijuana, we will use the money to pay for it,” he said.
More specifically, Cranley’s campaign website states he “will pay for these jobs by reprioritizing JobsOhio money, legalizing and taxing recreational marijuana, and utilizing existing capital improvement funds and annual line items as debt service for the additional bonds needed for rapidly achieving universal broadband, clean water, and safer roads.”
In addition, Cranley’s criminal justice reform policy includes decriminalizing cannabis use statewide so that laws are not “unfairly applied to communities of color across Ohio.”
