MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
OTTAWA, June 28, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – HEXO Corp. announced closing of the previously disclosed transaction to purchase its first U.S. production facility through a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary. The 50,000-square-foot facility in Fort Collins, Colo., will provide U.S. consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and consumers access to the Powered by HEXO technology and products.
“The Colorado facility will allow us to successfully execute on our U.S. strategy, which includes supplying high-quality Powered by HEXO technology and leveraging our intellectual property portfolio across the United States,” HEXO CEO and co-founder Sebastien St-Louis said. “The facility will also provide us with the necessary infrastructure to continue expanding our joint-venture with Molson Coors to create Truss CBD-infused beverages, while also creating the necessary capacity to support future, non-beverage CPG partnerships.”
RELATED: HEXO Corp. Announces C$925M Acquisition Agreement With Redecan
The Colorado production facility, HEXO’s first in the U.S., is zoned for production of a full range of cannabis products and offers a variety of operational capabilities. The site is located along primary shipping routes and will be retrofitted to support Powered by HEXO initiatives across the country, in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Powered by HEXO is the trusted solution for leading CPG companies to safely enter the cannabinoid market, combining HEXO’s expertise in cannabis with CPG partners’ expertise in their industries to co-develop best-in-class cannabinoid-infused products.
]]>With a stroke of his pen last week, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont finally brought to fruition a goal that activists have been chasing for years: legalizing cannabis statewide. The newly signed bill allows adults to carry up to an ounce and a half and store up to five ounces at home or in their car’s trunk or glove box.
Advocates for cannabis equity are satisfied with the final legislation, but the road to get there was a bumpy one. And while the passing of legalization in Connecticut is a significant victory, there’s still a long way to go toward ensuring the state creates a fair industry.
Industry lobbyists closely involved in the state’s legislative process talked to Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary about the bill’s winding path to becoming law and the debate between the legislature and Lamont over the definition of equity.
How We Got Here
Despite Connecticut passing decriminalization in 2011 and establishing a medical program in 2012, efforts to pass adult-use legalization had stalled in recent years. In 2018, a legalization bill passed a House committee vote but failed to advance further. The next year saw another legalization bill and even more debate, but lawmakers ultimately failed to drum up enough votes – despite the support of Lamont, then the newly seated governor.
In 2020, Lamont proposed a legalization framework that was gaining legislative support until the coronavirus pandemic forced the session to end early. This year, with tri-state neighbor New York passing legalization in March and the effects of COVID-19 lessened by vaccine rollouts, cannabis advocates were confident they’d finally make it across the finish line.
CHICAGO, June 25, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – Joshua Joseph, one of the former co-founders of Grassroots Cannabis—which sold to Curaleaf for $850 million in July 2020—has officially returned to the cannabis industry. Joseph, along with a partner, recently entered the Maine cannabis market with an investment made to Silver Therapeutics of Maine, which includes three dispensaries and one grow and processing facility. They anticipate the openings of the three dispensaries in 2021 and are on the search for a state-allowed fourth dispensary location.
Joseph will bring his expertise to Silver Therapeutics while sitting on the company's board, assisting in roll-up strategies, sourcing tuck-in acquisitions and capital raising across the country.
While spending the last year remaining focused on Frontline Real Estate Partners, which he is the majority shareholder in, and while also solidifying his Nashville, Tenn.-based family office, Big Plan Holdings, Joseph has spent considerable time investing in and advising multiple cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) companies nationwide, including a women-owned luxury beauty and lifestyle subscription box, 3rd Eye Hi.
"After taking some time to grow our family company, it is incredibly exciting to be returning to the cannabis industry,” said Joseph, founder of Big Plan Holdings. “We are thrilled to become part of the growing cannabis communities in Maine and are looking forward to additional strategic market entry points. Our goal is to find our next new location as soon as possible."
To further capitalize on the rapidly growing cannabis industry, a wholly owned subsidiary of Big Plan Holdings acquired a single-tenant property located in Macomb, Ill., that features a long-term lease with Windy City Cannabis. Joseph also invested $6.5 million in multistate cannabis operator Ascend Wellness Holdings.
ST. LOUIS, June 24, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough of the Western District of Missouri granted the compassionate release motion of cannabis offender Eric Scott McCauley of Columbia, Mo. McCauley was sentenced in 2012 to 23 years in prison for cannabis and money-laundering felonies.
In his order, Bough stated, “Upon review of the record, the court finds further incarceration is not needed to reflect the seriousness of [the] defendant’s crimes, promote respect for the law or provide just punishment for his offenses. [The] defendant has already spent over 12 years in prison. Although the nature and circumstances of [the] defendant’s crimes were serious, the court agrees with [the] defendant that ‘the 12 and a half years [he] has spent in prison is long enough to reflect the seriousness of his offenses, promote respect for the law and provide just punishment for his offense.’”
In response to the ruling, McCauley’s attorney, Barry Grissom, said, “The First Step Act of 2018 allowed for federal judges to take a second look at unduly harsh sentences of individuals like Mr. McCauley and determine if extraordinary and compelling reasons justify reconsideration of continued incarceration. We are grateful that Judge Bough saw fit to order the release of my client after more than a decade served.”
McCauley’s release was supported by Mission Green, a cannabis-offender release, expungement and clemency campaign spearheaded by non-profit The Weldon Project.
Weldon Angelos, a presidential pardon recipient and founder of The Weldon Project, has been advocating for McCauley and others who are serving time for cannabis offenses, in hopes of getting the necessary attention and action from the Biden administration.
RELATED: New Coalition Launches to End Cannabis Prohibition, Bridge Across Ideological, Party Lines
On June 21, U.S. DistrictJudge Nanette K. Laughrey ruled against Missouri's residency rules and removedthe state requirement that medical cannabis businesses must be majority-ownedby individuals who have lived in the state for a minimum of one year.
Laughrey said that theresidency requirement violated the U.S. Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause,which refers to the prohibition implied in the Commerce Clause "againststates passing legislation that discriminates against or excessively burdensinterstate commerce," according to Cornell Law School.
According to Law360, Laughrey ruledthat it was unclear how Missouri's residency policy fulfilled its goal ofkeeping medical cannabis from being trafficked out of the state. She added thatfor the one-year residency requirement to pass, the state must prove it wastailored to advance a legitimate local interest; however, she said the MissouriDepartment of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) and the state's cannabisregulator did not meet that requirement.
Laughrey said the court didnot accept the MDHSS claims that the residency requirement would ease the need to secure an application's out-of-state records just because that applicant lived in Missouri for one year, Law360 reported.And the court added that if the department had a legit interest in keepingmedical cannabis from being interstate trafficked or diverted into the illicit market,there are other ways to do that besides discriminating against out-of-state businessowners.
"It is no easier for aperson who has lived in Missouri for less than a year to drive from Missouri toKansas with medical marijuana in their trunk than it is for a person who haslived in Missouri for a year and a day," Laughrey wrote in her decision."And it is no more difficult for a long-time Missouri resident to smugglemarijuana out of the medical system and into the recreational market than it isfor anyone else."
Essentially, the court orderprevents the state from improperly burdening interstate commerce and similarpolicies in city and state-regulated cannabis industries, according to Law360.
]]>While delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) continues to be a hot topic in the cannabis industry, the conversation surrounding the cannabinoid has shifted to state talks of regulation.
As previously reported by Hemp Grower, 15 states have already issued bans on delta-8, while six additional states have pending legislation on the cannabinoid and other related THC isomers.
RELATED: More States Take Action Against Delta-8 THC
Ohio is the next state to follow in the footsteps of those regulating delta-8, as the Ohio Department of Commerce released a set of regulations on delta-8 in medical cannabis products on June 15.
Before the release, the content of delta-8 in medical cannabis products did not have to be accurately depicted on the label. Now, under the new guidance, the exact amount of delta-8 must be listed on the product label, and "Delta-8 THC" must be entirely written on the packaging; "Delta-8" or "D8" are not permitted.
Cultivators, processors and testing laboratories must now test for delta-8 or any related THC isomers and analogs and report the results to the department's inventory tracking system, the guidance states.
WAKEFIELD, Mass., June 24, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – Curaleaf Holdings Inc., a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis, announced the opening of Curaleaf Edgewater Park, the company’s second dispensary in New Jersey and 107th dispensary nationwide.
In addition, Curaleaf announced that its second New Jersey cultivation facility, located in Winslow, completed its first harvest and is now fully operational. The new site has tripled the company’s cultivation capabilities to serve both the existing New Jersey medical market and the forthcoming adult-use market.
“We are thrilled to grow alongside New Jersey’s flourishing medical community and expand access to best-in-class cannabis products to patients in Edgewater Park,” Curaleaf CEO Joe Bayern said. “We continue to work closely with state leadership and regulators to create a successful and sustainable adult-use market, and our expansion positions us to meet the market’s increasing needs while creating hundreds of new jobs in the state.”
Curaleaf Edgewater Park is a 7,640-square-foot dispensary conveniently located off the Burlington Pike at 4237 Route 130 South and is open to all patients with a valid medical card. Curaleaf has been serving New Jersey’s medical community since the opening of its Bellmawr dispensary in 2015, and the company anticipates opening a third dispensary in Central New Jersey later this summer. Patients will have expanded access to Curaleaf’s diverse line of award-winning product offerings including branded flower, vapes and ingestible products.
On June 25, Curaleaf will hold an opening day ceremony featuring a ribbon cutting, swag bags for the first 500 patients, and raffles for a store credit and gift basket. New patients will have access to an exclusive 20% discount on first purchases through July 6. In addition, Curaleaf Edgewater Park is making a $5,000 contribution to Ladies in Transit Holistic Community Development Corporation, which provides families and individuals with programs and services to transition from hardship to economic stability.
“We are committed to both serving our patients and being a good member of our local communities,” Curaleaf Northeast Regional President Patrik Jonsson said. “We’re proud to open our new location in Edgewater, and we look forward to making an impact in the community through Curaleaf's Rooted in Good program.”
Proposals surrounding adult-use cannabis legalization are queued up in Pennsylvania, but legislation has yet to be formally introduced in either chamber of the state Legislature.
State Reps. Jake Wheatley and Dan Frankel, both Democrats, teamed up in a June 21 memorandum to all House members announcing their proposed legislation, “The Cannabis Regulatory Control Act,” which aims to legalize the possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis or 5 grams of concentrate for personal use for adults 21 years and older in the commonwealth.
Their initiative comes on the heels of a bipartisan proposal by state Sens. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, and Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, who announced in February their plan to sponsor adult-use legislation in the upper chamber. Four months later, they have yet to formally introduce a bill.
RELATED: Pennsylvania State Senators Team Up to Introduce Bipartisan Adult-Use Cannabis Legislation
Wheatley and Frankel said in their June 21 memo that the House bill they intend to sponsor would build on Pennsylvania’s current medical cannabis infrastructure, creating a legal and regulatory framework structured to control the cultivation, processing, transportation, distribution, delivery and sale of cannabis and cannabis products.
The framework would include a legislatively appointed seven-member Cannabis Regulatory Control Board (CRCB) to serve as the primary overseer of the industry. The board would work to adopt a schedule for the review, approval and issuance of licenses for cultivators, processors, microbusinesses, retailers and transporters.
While Pride month parades, community festivals and other celebrations have been underway all month long, many more events are set for this weekend before June winds down.
Dispensaries across the country have been commemorating the month to honor and recognize the LGBTQ+ community with special events and promotions, but there are other ways the cannabis industry promotes inclusion behind the scenes all year long. However, there is also still more work to do.
In this special guest interview, Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary asked three cannabis industry leaders from the LGBTQ+ community to share insights on how the industry can better support LGBTQ+ employees and customers, improve equity and elevate diverse perspectives and ideas. Excerpts from the conversation with Ian Hackett, chief marketing officer and head of compliance for Napa Valley Fumé, Clifton Lambert, director of human resources with Jushi Holdings Inc., and Niki Mohrlant, senior director of operations for Jushi's Beyond/Hello dispensaries, are below.
Q: What has your experience been working in the cannabis industry?
Clifton Lambert, director of human resources, Jushi: “It's been overall positive. When you come into cannabis, you have to have a very different mindset. The people in this industry are really passionate about what we're doing and understand how important cannabis is to the LGBTQ+ community. Being a part of the LGBT+ community myself, you do feel that you're not always recognized the way you want to be. But cannabis just kind of opens up that door because of the connection between cannabis and that community. I've been able to be more myself with Jushi than many other places. People embrace it. And I think that we set the tone from the get-go to let people know that we welcome all kinds and encourage you to be yourself. We want you to feel comfortable here.”
Niki Mohrlant, senior director of operations, Jushi: “To Clifton’s point, I would say it is super accepting. But also I think at this point in my own career, there's this point of getting in positions where you can be the voice in the room and elevate others. And I think that because cannabis has just such a wide range of different people from all different sorts of backgrounds, for me, it's just been this unique place to say, ‘Hey, you know, if we're designing a dispensary, have we thought about genderless bathrooms?’ I don't need to be the gay person in the room. I need to be the person who's thinking without making assumptions. I've always been welcome to be that person who says, ‘Hey, it, it may not be broken, but we need to fix it.’ And we need to think about who is receiving this, what that journey is, whether it's our customers or team members or our partners within the organization, what are the optics? How do we make decisions? How do we make considerations for every group and everybody all the time? And sometimes it’s hard. But the one thing that I try to encourage not only my peer group, but anybody around me is like, if you have something to say, you should say it. Then when people have ideas, saving space for them to be heard. And the cannabis industry is ripe for that.”
Louisiana medical cannabis patients will now have access to smokable cannabis products, as Gov. John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 391 into law on June 22.
This move follows Edwards signing a legislation to decriminalize cannabis on June 15.
RELATED: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards Signs Cannabis Decriminalization Bill Into Law
Under the previous legislation, medical cannabis patients could not access whole-plant flower, and smoking was prohibited; however, patients could vaporize cannabis preparations using a “metered-dose inhaler.” A “meter-dose inhaler” is a device that is typically self-administered by the patient and delivers a specific amount of medication to the lungs, according to the bill text.
The new measure permits physicians to recommend medical cannabis to patients in raw or crude form (or flower) and limit dispensing of certain forms of medical cannabis. It establishes medical cannabis rules and regulations for the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, the bill text states.
Under the new legislation, pharmacies can dispense up to two and a half ounces of raw or crude cannabis every 14 days for therapeutic use to patients 21 years and older.
The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) has come out in support of hemp-derived delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
In a news release, the association took the position that all hemp-derived cannabinoids were made federally legal by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill), and delta-8 should therefore be regulated, yet permitted for production and sale, across the U.S.
The association backed its stance with a legal opinion analyzing the legality of the contentious cannabinoid, which was penned by attorneys Rod Kight and Philip Snow of Kight Law.
Delta-8’s legality is still being debated among legal experts. While it comes from legal hemp, it is often converted from cannabidiol (CBD) or delta-9 THC. Because of this, some interpret delta-8 to fall under “synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols.” In its final rule on hemp released in August 2020, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) clarified synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols are to remain scheduled substances despite their delta-9 THC content.
RELATED: Dealing With Delta-8 the ‘Riskiest Thing You Can Do’ in Cannabis: Q&A with Rod Kight
“Businesses, farmers, and consumers all deserve regulations that support the exploration of the hemp plant’s full potential. This isn’t just about one minor cannabinoid —the list is over a hundred already and growing,” said Jody McGinness, HIA’s executive director, said in a news release. “Fortunately, the industry has all the expertise legislators could need, and those manufacturing leaders and scientists are engaged and ready to help create productive policy solutions.”
The issuance of adult-use cannabis licenses in New York may be delayed as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Senate leaders are reportedly in conflict over who should lead the Office of Cannabis Management (OMC) and Cannabis Control Board (CCB).
As previously reported by Cannabis Business Times, Cuomo signed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) into law in March, making New York the 17th state to legalize adult-use cannabis.
The OMC and CCB were created under the MRTA to oversee the state's adult-use cannabis market and enforce a comprehensive regulatory framework for adult-use, medical and cannabinoid hemp. The OMC is "governed by a five-member board, with three members appointed by the governor, one appointed by each house," Cannabis Business Times previously reported.
According to Politico, lawmakers have argued that the Cuomo administration has taken little action to prepare for the state's adult-use cannabis market. The governor has yet to enact any MRTA provisions or nominate an OMC executive director and CCB chairperson, which are the first steps to a marketplace being established and licenses being issued.
The debate between Cuomo and Senate leaders has left some industry stakeholders questioning Cuomo's motives and commitment to establish a recreational marketplace, Politico reported.
"I think he's still quite ambiguous about the state moving forward, despite the fact that he negotiated the bill and he signed the bill," state Sen. Liz Krueger said in an interview.
CORONA, California, June 23, 2021 - PRESS RELEASE - Advanced Container Technologies (ACTX) announced it has packaging solutions that will keep products, including cannabis, fresher for a longer period of time.
According to an article in Packaging Digest, cannabis is particularly sensitive to degradation if exposed to the environment.
"Cannabis flower is sensitive to moisture, oxygen and light. These ambient conditions can undercut the flower's effectiveness, flavor and aroma—the very characteristics consumers want and expect. Product integrity hinges on packaging that provides ample protection from these environmental threats," according to the publication.
"Finding a pack that protects against light is fairly straightforward, but safeguarding flower from degradation related to oxygen and moisture is more challenging. Protecting the flower's terpenes is essential. Terpenes are volatile organic compounds that give cannabis flower its aroma and flavor, and influence its effects," the article stated.
ACTX acquired the patented Medtainer to address these concerns specifically. The Medtainer is air-tight and moisture-proof to significantly help prevent the degradation of cannabis flower and preserve the natural aroma, terpenes and cannabinoid compounds.
The Medtainer uses FDA-approved medical-grade plastics and also features a unique built-in grinder.
NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 - PRESS RELEASE - Columbia Care, a cultivator, manufacturer and provider of cannabis products in the United States, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Medicine Man Denver, a vertically integrated cannabis company that has been serving the Denver metro area since 2009.
"The acquisition of Medicine Man further solidifies Columbia Care's position as a scaled retailer, cultivator and manufacturer in Colorado, the world's second-largest cannabis market. Medicine Man is outperforming the broader Colorado market, with sales growth of 42% in 2020, versus 24% for the state and 64% year-to-date through May, versus 25% for the state. The acquisition will add one cultivation facility and four dispensaries, including one co-located adult-use and medical location and three adult-use facilities to Columbia Care's national footprint.
"We have great admiration for what Medicine Man's leaders, Sally Vander Veer and Andy Williams, have built over the past 12 years through their tireless leadership, local and state-level advocacy and exceptional business acumen and vision,” said Nicholas Vita, CEO of Columbia Care. "Medicine Man will further cement our position as the leading vertically integrated operator in Colorado, in tandem with our ongoing integration of The Green Solution and will have a positive impact on our financial performance for years to come. We are also confident that the strong alignment of values between our two companies will help Columbia Care continue its growth in Colorado sustainably and responsibly. We are thrilled to bring one of Colorado's longest-running and most highly respected cannabis companies into the Columbia Care family."
Medicine Man brings a highly experienced and talented team of executives and employees that further bolsters Columbia Care's strong talent pool. The company's founders and management team are pioneers of Colorado's legal cannabis industry. Over the past 12 years, they have built a widely regarded, highly profitable business that has earned strong loyalty amongst its customers and employees. Because of this, Medicine Man has been recognized as a best-in-class retailer, employer and cultivator through numerous awards.
Andy Williams, Medicine Man's president and co-founder, stated: "Since 2009, the Medicine Man family has helped to pioneer the cannabis industry in Colorado. We have done it responsibly and vigorously for our customers, employees and our family. Our industry is changing and growing now faster than ever. We recognize the need to partner with others in order to continue to compete within, and help to responsibly transform, the industry as it grows. We are proud to be joining our businesses with Columbia Care, a true leader in this next phase of growth in the cannabis industry. Columbia Care is made up of people with family business values and has the horsepower to lead the cannabis industry into the future. We are truly excited to be part of this new team."
"Medicine Man is thrilled to announce our partnership with Columbia Care," said Sally Vander Veer, CEO of Medicine Man. "They are an ideal partner, and I am confident in their ability to uphold the higher standards that our family-owned and operated cultivation and dispensaries have built over the past twelve years. I knew this opportunity was the right fit for our family and employees because of our shared commitment to operational excellence, emphasis on employees and culture, and a customer-first mentality. I look forward to a seamless integration and an exciting next chapter of growth and success."
More than a decade ago, Rhode Island state Sen. Joshua Miller chaired a commission that examined cannabis prohibition and the effects of what he called a failed policy.
That was in 2010. When Miller finally had the opportunity to introduce an adult-use cannabis bill Tuesday evening on the Senate floor, the upper chamber spent all of 15 minutes discussing the legislation before approving it in a 29-9 vote.
Sponsored by Miller and nine of his Democratic colleagues, Senate Bill 568 would allow adults 21 years and older to possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis or 5 grams of concentrate and grow up to six plants for personal use. The measure would also expedite the expungement process for those with misdemeanor cannabis records.
“It is a historic day, as it is the first time a bill to legalize and regulate cannabis has reached the floor of either legislative chamber in Rhode Island,” Miller said. “We have arrived at this point about 10 years later than I would have liked, and it is important that we act expeditiously to enact a regulatory framework.”
Miller pointed out that neighboring Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed adult-use cannabis legislation earlier that day. And neighboring Massachusetts opened up shop for adult-use retail in 2018.
DETROIT and PORTLAND, Ore., June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/PRESS RELEASE -- Precision Extraction Solutions and Cascade Sciences today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement to create Sinclair Scientific, forming the largest cannabis and hemp extraction equipment and services company in the world with a large portfolio of technological offerings.
Strategic Rationale and Customer Benefits
The merger of Precision and Cascade, which is subject to final customary approvals and conditions, marks the first major consolidation in the cannabis extraction equipment and life sciences space. The combined Company, as Sinclair Scientific, intends to add more brands to its robust portfolio, including highly innovative and disruptive technologies in furtherance of its growth and to maintain its position as the world's premier purveyor of the most innovative equipment, robust technology, and unparalleled customer service in the cannabis extraction and life sciences industries.
Management Commentary
"This is a major milestone in the cannabis extraction equipment and life sciences space and we are thrilled about the unique opportunities this merger will create for our customers, as well as our employees, business partners, and shareholders," said Marc Beginin, CEO of Precision Extraction Solutions. "Our combined company will have the most respected, recognized, and storied brands in the global cannabis extraction industry, and together we will create even brighter futures. This combination offers significant value to our stakeholders in a company firmly positioned for exponential growth."
Lee Kearney, CEO of Cascade Sciences, added, "Through merging Precision and Cascade, we are creating an unmatched platform for both U.S. and international growth. Our combined brands and businesses mean increased scale, solidifying our position as the world's premier provider of the most innovative equipment, robust technology, and unparalleled customer service in the extraction industries. We greatly admire the business that the Precision team has built, and we are excited to work with them to integrate our two companies and execute on the attractive growth opportunities ahead."
Management and Governance
The Board of Directors of the Company will consist of five members, including two appointed by Precision, two appointed by Cascade, and one mutually approved outsider.
In support of building Sinclair Scientific into the most professionally managed extraction equipment and services provider, the CEOs of both Precision and Cascade have agreed to step down from their management positions. Beginin and Kearney have each taken seats as directors on the newly formed board of Sinclair Scientific, providing counsel and guidance to Sinclair's leadership and supporting the ongoing successful execution of the Company's long-term strategic plan.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PRESS RELEASE--Columbia Care Inc., one of the largest and most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and providers of cannabis products in the United States, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Medicine Man Denver, a premier vertically integrated cannabis company that has been serving the Denver metro area since 2009.
The acquisition of Medicine Man further solidifies Columbia Care’s position as the most scaled retailer, cultivator, and manufacturer in Colorado, the world’s second-largest cannabis market. Medicine Man is outperforming the broader Colorado market, with sales growth of 42 percent in 2020, versus 24 percent for the state, and 64 percent year-to-date through May, versus 25 percent for the state. The acquisition will add one cultivation facility and four dispensaries, including one co-located adult-use and medical location and three adult-use facilities to Columbia Care’s national footprint.
“We have great admiration for what Medicine Man’s leaders, Sally Vander Veer and Andy Williams, have built over the past 12 years through their tireless leadership, local and state-level advocacy, and exceptional business acumen and vision,” said Nicholas Vita, CEO of Columbia Care. “Medicine Man will further cement our position as the leading vertically integrated operator in Colorado, in tandem with our ongoing integration of The Green Solution, and will have a positive impact on our financial performance for years to come. We are also confident that the strong alignment of values between our two companies will help Columbia Care continue its growth in Colorado in a sustainable and responsible way. We are thrilled to bring one of Colorado’s longest-running and most highly respected cannabis companies into the Columbia Care family.”
Medicine Man brings a highly experienced and talented team of executives and employees that further bolsters Columbia Care’s strong pool of talent. The company’s founders and management team are pioneers of Colorado’s legal cannabis industry, and over the past 12 years have built a widely regarded, highly profitable business that has earned strong loyalty amongst both its customers and employees. Because of this, Medicine Man has been recognized as a best-in-class retailer, employer and cultivator through numerous awards.
Andy Williams, Medicine Man’s President and Co-Founder, stated: “Since 2009, the Medicine Man family has helped to pioneer the cannabis industry in Colorado. We have done it responsibly and vigorously, for our customers, employees, and our family. Our industry is changing and growing now faster than ever. We recognize the need to partner with others in order to continue to compete within, and help to responsibly transform, the industry as it grows. We are proud to be joining our businesses with Columbia Care, a true leader in this next phase of growth in the cannabis industry. Columbia Care is made up of people with family business values and has the horsepower to lead the cannabis industry into the future. We are truly excited to be part of this new team.”
“Medicine Man is thrilled to announce our partnership with Columbia Care,” said Sally Vander Veer, CEO of Medicine Man. “They are an ideal partner, and I am confident in their ability to uphold the higher standards that our family-owned and operated cultivation and dispensaries have built over the past twelve years. I knew this opportunity was the right fit for our family and employees because of our shared commitment to operational excellence, emphasis on employees and culture, and a customer-first mentality. I look forward to a seamless integration and an exciting next chapter of growth and success.”
A second citizen-led petition to legalize adult-use cannabis in Florida bit the dust June 17, when the state’s Supreme Court ruled the words “for limited use” were misleading.
The initiative, titled “Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol to Establish Age, Licensing and Other Restrictions,” was geared for the 2022 ballot and also included provisions for home grows—up to six mature cannabis plants per household member 21 years and older.
But in a 5-2 decision last week, Florida’s Supreme Court struck down the proposed constitutional amendment, concluding it was “clearly and conclusively defective” and did not meet certain clarity requirements outlined in Section 101.161 of Florida Statutes.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody first requested the court give an advisory opinion on the ballot proposal’s validity in September 2019. It took the court nearly two years to weigh in.
“Namely, the opponents take issue with the language in the ballot summary that states the proposed amendment would regulate marijuana ‘for limited use and growing by persons 21 years of age or older,’” justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston said in the majority opinion. “They contend that the text of the proposed amendment itself does not limit the personal ‘use’ of marijuana and that the ballot summary therefore affirmatively misleads voters. We agree.”
Canady and Polston also said, “The ballot summary plainly tells voters that the proposed amendment ‘limit[s]’ the personal use—i.e., consumption—of recreational marijuana by age-eligible persons. But the proposed amendment itself does not do so.”
Nearly as quickly as delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) seemed to enter the public sphere, states are taking action to control—and, in some cases, curb—its growth.
In late April, Hemp Grower reported that 12 states had already banned delta-8: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island and Utah. At that time, legislative bans were also being pursued in North Dakota, Alabama and Oregon.
RELATED: States Begin Implementing Delta-8 THC Bans
Since then, three more states have successfully banned the cannabinoid: New York, North Dakota and Vermont. (Officials in Washington have also interpreted the law to say delta-8 is illegal, though that ban is not enforced—more on that below.) That brings the number of states with delta-8 legislation up to 15.
As of June 21, these states have taken action against delta-8 and similar THC isomers since Hemp Grower’s last report:
New York: In May, the New York Department of Health (NYDOH) updated its regulations to clarify that hemp cannabinoid products sold in the state may “not contain synthetic cannabinoids, or cannabinoids created through isomerization, including [delta] 8-tetrahydrocannabinol and [delta] 10-tetrahydrocannabinol,” as reported by JD Supra.
In January 2021, Michael Thompson was freed from a Michigan state prison after serving 22 years of a 60-year sentence for selling cannabis in the 1990s. In recent years, particularly as the state-legal cannabis space rapidly expanded, Thompson became emblematic of the deep wounds inflicted by prohibition—and the lasting impact of the War on Drugs’ nefarious legacy.
On June 19, the trailer for “The Sentence of Michael Thompson” was released. The documentary covers his story and the broader implications of cannabis reform vis-à-vis the criminal justice system. It was underwritten and supported by Cresco Labs, which is embarking now on its Summer of Social Justice initiative.
Chima Enyia, Cresco’s executive vice president of SEED (the company’s Social Equity, Education, Development initiative), says that Thompson’s story helps illustrate the disconnect between the burgeoning industry and the men and women left behind by prohibition policies.
“From the Cresco brand, centering on Michael Thompson, his story unfortunately is not unique,” he says. “There is much more work that needs to be done. What we’re doing cannot be performative in nature. What we’re doing and what this industry is doing cannot be tokenized. We have an obligation to lead corporate America on these issues and to evolve our efforts.”
 
