MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

While The Green Solution is increasing sanitary measures and practicing social distancing in its cultivation and dispensary facilities, CEO Steve Lopez says many of the Colorado-based company’s standard business practices are also helping to keep its employees and customers safe from the global coronavirus outbreak.

“One thing we’ve always been proud of, and we’ve actually taken a little bit of heat for, is that our stores are a little bit too sterile,” Lopez tells Cannabis Dispensary. “A lot of things we’ve done have served us well.”

Roughly two years ago, The Green Solution invested in new packaging equipment for its flower and edibles to eliminate as much human handling of the product as possible. The company traded its resealable jars for packaging with a protective film that seals the product with nitrogen to keep it fresh and sterile.

“Nobody touches that product until it actually gets to [the customers’] home, when they open it,” Lopez says. “It’s not like your typical bud jars that you see at a lot of dispensaries, where people can put their faces over it, grab it or pick it up with tongs.”

While The Green Solution has always worked to maintain sanitary cultivation and retail spaces, the team has stepped up cleaning measures at all facilities in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, and is practicing social distancing to keep space between the company’s staff and customers.

Ayr Strategies, a vertically integrated cannabis firm, has partnered the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) to expand its paid sick leave policy across all businesses under its ownership.

Jen Drake, COO of Ayr, tells Cannabis Business Times that it’s an immediate move to help counteract the encroaching public health crisis brought on by the spread of COVID-19 in North America.

“At Ayr, our most precious assets are our people and clients,” she says. “Through our strong relationship with the UFCW, we proactively worked to develop and implement measures to protect the well-being of our team, our clients and our communities, including expanding paid leave for our employees. We want our employees to know that we are fully committed to their well-being and that financial considerations should not get in the way of them taking care of themselves or their families. This will also help slow down the spread of the virus and protect communities in which we operate.”

The Ayr Strategies portfolio includes: The Dispensary (Nevada), MYNT, CannaPunch, Highly Edible, Dutch Girl, Nordic Goddess, Sira Naturals, KYND and Kanji. For employees who need to take time away from work due to illness (or the possibility of illness), this policy allows some peace of mind in an otherwise trying moment.

“We're tracking developments around COVID-19 on an ongoing basis and remaining in constant communication with employees around protective measures,” Drake says. “One of our most important takeaways from this week is one that we have always been focused on—that it's necessary to build a strong, sustainable, cash-flow positive business that allows us to serve our employees and our communities in time of need.”

Looking ahead as the COVID-19 public health crisis deepens, Drake says that Ayr Strategies is working to ensure that the supply chain remains intact and rigorous—"from keeping stock on the shelves despite potential supply challenges, looking for ways to deliver needed products to patients in a low risk manner—ordering ahead for minimal contact, keeping low concentrations of people in dispensaries, working with regulators on creative solutions for alternative delivery mechanisms.”

People stocked up before lockdowns went into effect, and delivery is strong — but as the coronavirus pandemic progresses, cannabis businesses aren’t in the clear.

On a rainy evening in Los Angeles, the flagship store for Genius, a cannabis brand catering to hipsters and tourists on Melrose Avenue, is empty.

A lone budtender wearing latex gloves stands behind glass display cases in the middle of the showroom, surrounded by vapes and edibles and jars of flower. 

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Mary Jane Gibson ~ RollingStone.com ~ 

Anxiety is a defining element of OCD and can be so all-consuming that it erodes one’s sense of self. There is already considerable evidence that cannabis can help regulate anxiety and stress when delivered in the right dose.

Chances are, you’ve heard OCD used flippantly as a pejorative.

Claiming to have OCD tendencies, or accusing someone else of OCD behavior, makes light of a mental health condition that affects as many as one in forty adults.

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Emma Stone ~ Leafly.com ~ 

Cannabis jobs pay 11% more than the average salary in the United States. Cannabis is hot and the range of cannabis jobs is even hotter.

Cannabis is an industry and the boom in jobs has been huge.

Even with some layoffs and business closures, cannabis is beating the manufacturing industry in job creation.

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Veronica Castillo ~ TheFreshToast.com ~ 

The National Football League is about to make a dramatic change to its drug testing policy thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement that was brokered between players and owners over the weekend.

Under the new CBA, players will no longer face suspensions for positive marijuana tests, and the drug testing period will be restricted to the first two weeks of training camp. The threshold for a positive marijuana test will now rise from from 35 to 150 nanograms of THC, according to ESPN.

“The idea is to focus the drug program on clinical care as opposed to punishment. Basically, if you test positive, your test gets reviewed by a board of jointly appointed medical professionals to determine whether you need any kind of treatment. The NFLPA deal memo also says that ‘violations of law for marijuana possession generally will not result in suspension.’”

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Thomas Edward~High Times

In Las Vegas, Thrive Cannabis Marketplace is expanding its delivery services to maintain retail sales connection with customers who may be hunkering down and socially distancing themselves from crowded spaces during the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.

Compliance Director Ashley Blackwood says that the company saw a “significant uptick” in delivery orders about halfway through last week, around March 11. When the importance of uninterrupted delivery sales became apparent in these otherwise uncertain times, Thrive began to make plans to expand its service even more broadly in the local community.

“First and foremost, we obviously want to make sure our medical patients are served during this time,” she says. “Those who are elderly or immunocompromised in any way still need safe access to affordable cannabis. A service like Thrive’s delivery is absolutely crucial for them during these times.”

Blackwood says that discounted rates are prompting a lot of those higher sales. The company launched a value menu last week. As Blackwood points out, this measure is meant “to help with people’s financial concerns during this time as they’re trying to stock up on supplies—and there’s some layoffs in the Vegas valley. Affordable cannabis seems to be incredibly popular right now.”

The value menu lists items at $20 (tax included) across all product categories: eighth-ounces of flower, edibles, pre-rolls, concentrates and vapes.

The company also launched its new Hustle & Grow lineup, and both the expanded delivery options and value menu rates are helpful methods to raise awareness among customers that this new brand is available.

Arkansas medical cannabis sales have surpassed $50 million since the market launched less than one year ago, according to a local 5 News report.

Department of Finance and Administration spokesperson Scott Hardin told the news outlet that the most recent sales figure comes after several days of an uptick in sales at the state’s 20 operational dispensaries.

Thirteen more retailers have yet to open, 5 News reported.

Arkansans have purchased more than 7,932 pounds of medical cannabis totaling $50.7 million in total sales since the first dispensary opened in May 2019, the news outlet reported.

Following the general trend toward delivery services amid the COVID-19 outbreak (and, thus, the public health necessity), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced this morning that all licensed cannabis retailers may set up delivery services to accommodate sales in this time of social distancing. 

The Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency must approve this measure, a move that's expected today or tomorrow, according to Crain's Detroit Business.

Whitmer's executive order also includes curbside pickup for all licensed dispensaries.

Cannabis dispensaries across the U.S. and the rest of the world are adjusting their approach to public health, fine-tuning interactions with customers and patients to ensure a safe environment for all (including, of course, employees on the front lines of the business).

Blythe L. Huestis, vice president of retail operations for Jushi Holdings, says that the company worked with its team of medical professionals to device best practices in these uncertain times. Jushi Holdings operates dispensaries in New York and Pennsylvania (as the Beyond/Hello retail brand) and in Illinois (as the recently acquired TGC brand, soon to be converted to Beyond/Hello).

“Our efforts are to protect the well-being of our customers and our employees, as well as the communities we work in,” she says.

Jushi’s latest heath and safety policies lean heavily on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bringing effective “social distancing” practices into the retail environment. At the TGS locations in Illinois, for example, point-of-sale devices are kept behind glass partitions—setting up a natural barrier between employees and patients.

But sometimes the face-to-face interaction with patients needs to be done in a closer environment.

“Our Illinois locations have an express space that’s a private room with a few point-of-sales and it is separate from the main sales floor, which ultimately allows for us to service any of our call-ahead patients,” Huestis says. “We want to be mindful of our patients and their health and any compromised immune systems or issues they may have—and also assist with the social distancing efforts.”

SMITH FALLS, ON, March 17, 2020 /CNW/ - Canopy Growth Corporation has been monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and paying close attention to the guidance given by public health bodies around the globe. Canopy Growth's leadership team has made the decision to temporarily close all corporate-owned Tokyo Smoke and Tweed retail locations across Canada, effective at 5:00 p.m. local time today, March 17.

"We have a responsibility to our employees, their families, and our communities to do our part to "flatten the curve" by limiting social interactions. For us, that means shifting our focus from retail to e-commerce," said David Klein, CEO, Canopy Growth. "This is a big decision but it was also an easy one to make – our retail teams are public-facing and have been serving an above-average volume of transactions in recent days. Given the current situation, it is in the best interest of our teams and our communities to close these busy hubs until we are confident we can operate our stores in the best interest of public health."

Canopy Growth also has a responsibility to its customers and medical patients to continue providing access to their desired cannabis products and prescribed medication. The Company has established, fully supported e-commerce platforms available to our recreational and medical customers across the country to provide business continuity for people seeking our products.

The decision affects the 23 corporately-owned stores in Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba as well as the Tweed Visitor Centre in Smiths Falls, ON.

Patients will be able to continue purchasing medical cannabis through Spectrum Therapeutics. Adult consumers within Manitoba and Saskatchewan are able to purchase Canopy Growth products through Tweed and Tokyo Smoke e-commerce platforms, all other provinces and territories will be supported through government-run online retail.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Ultra Health, a New Mexico-based cannabis company with a nationwide presence, successfully exported low-THC, high-CBD cannabis medicine to Israel last week through its strategic partnership with Israeli pharmaceutical group Panaxia. Ultra Health is the first-ever commercial United States cannabis company to export cannabis extracts to Israel.

The high-CBD medicine was created from extracting New Mexico-produced hemp in Bernalillo, New Mexico after Ultra Health and Panaxia US received hemp extraction and manufacturing permits from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). Ultra Health is also a recipient of two continuous hemp commercial research production licenses from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

After being successfully imported into Israel via a permit from the Israel Ministry of Health, Panaxia plans to make the high-CBD medicines available to patients suffering from epilepsy or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many of whom are children. The first suite of products will include sublingual tablets, oral tablets and sublingual drops, with future expansion plans to include inhalable products, ointments and creams.

Upon the successful import of the high-CBD medicines to Israel, Ultra Health agreed to purchase another 1,000 pounds of New Mexico-produced hemp to begin expanding further production and export.

“We are pleased to be able to extend care to our patients in Israel who are in acute need of this kind of medicinal cannabis care,” said Dr. Dadi Segal, Panaxia CEO. “Panaxia’s superb R&D capabilities combined with the added value of a high-quality strategic company such as Ultra Health prove themselves time and again, especially with regard to the high quality of the products and stringent regulatory compliance.”

Cannabis stores in Ontario and Alberta reported “unprecedented demand” as the country hunkers down to fight a worsening coronavirus outbreak, industry sources say.

Executives told Marijuana Business Daily there is no threat to supply chains at this time, and safety measures have been put into place for employees and consumers.

Spiritleaf CEO Darren Bondar said his 46 stores “experienced an unprecedented demand for cannabis over the weekend with sales up 20% over the previous one and a record number of customers served.

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Matt Lamers~Marijuana Business Daily

As governors and mayors across North America order the shutdown of bars, restaurants, and gathering events, cannabis stores are experiencing a dramatic surge in sales that started over the weekend and now continues into the work week.

Consumers are stocking up now, eyeing their potential future over in Europe, where some nations have closed all retail outlets except food stores and pharmacies.

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Bruce Barcott and David Downs ~ Leafly

The Washington Legislature has approved legislation aimed at bolstering social equity in the state's cannabis industry to Gov. Jay Inslee, according to The Daily Chronicle.

The bill would create a task force to help establish a new Marijuana Social Equity Program and would allow the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) to award previously revoked or canceled cannabis dispensary licenses to applicants in the new program, the news outlet reported.

The program would last for eight years and would be available to applicants in communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition that meet specific requirements, The Daily Chronicle reported.

The legislation would also establish a grant program for new licensees, according to the news outlet.

Maine has issued its first round of conditional adult-use cannabis licenses to 31 businesses for cultivation, manufacturing and retail operations, according to a Portland Press Herald report.

The Office of Marijuana Policy granted provisional approval March 13 to one nursery, 10 cultivation operations, four manufacturing facilities and 16 dispensaries, the news outlet reported.

More than 200 applications have been submitted for adult-use cannabis licenses since Maine opened its licensing process in December, according to the Portland Press Herald.

Applicants granted conditional licenses must now obtain local authorization before they can receive a final active license from the state, according to the Portland Press Herald. Maine will not issue these final licenses until an adult-use cannabis testing lab is licensed and operational in the state, the news outlet reported; four labs are currently considering participation in the market, while only one is close to being fully licensed.

Maine voters approved adult-use cannabis legalization in November 2016. The state plans to launch its adult-use cannabis market sometime this spring, according to the Portland Press Herald.

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee has passed two bills to expand access and further research on medical cannabis for veterans.

The Veterans Equal Access Act (HR 1647) would allow Veteran Affairs (VA) physicians to recommend medical marijuana to patients in states where it's legal. Regardless of legality, VA healthcare providers are currently prohibited from completing said recommendations, requiring military veterans to seek care from an out-of-network physician. 

"The reefer madness days are done, and it's time for Congress and the VA to face the facts surrounding marijuana—most pointedly, its medical benefits for veterans," Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Or.), sponsor of the bill and founding co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, wrote in an email. "More and more veterans are reportedly using cannabis to help alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress, chronic pain and several other ailments." 

The VA medical Cannabis Research Act (HR 712), sponsored by Rep. Lou Correa (D-Ca.) would require the VA to conduct clinical trials on the medical potential of cannabis to assist in the treatment of chronic conditions common among veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"My bill puts our veterans first by ensuring the Department of Veterans Affairs takes cannabis seriously and conducts vital medical research into its effectiveness in treating PTSD and chronic pain," Correa said in a statement. "Our veterans are depending on us. We owe it to every veteran to never stop looking for ways to treat their scars."

A proposal to cap the THC content in medical cannabis products for patients under the age of 21 stalled in the Florida House as the state’s 2020 legislative session came to a close March 13, according to a Miami Herald report.

The House unanimously approved a version of a larger healthcare bill without a provision that would have imposed the 10% THC limit, the news outlet reported.

Capping the amount of THC in medical cannabis products was a priority for House Speaker Jose Oliva this year, although the proposal was not as well-received in the Senate, Miami Herald reported.

This is the second year that a THC cap has been discussed in the Florida Legislature. The House considered a proposal last year that would have capped the THC level in whole-flower products at 10%, although the Senate ultimately rejected that measure.