Cannabis Business Times

12/08/2023

A cadre of banking CEOs had a chance to voice support for SAFER Banking in D.C. yesterday. It didn't go well.

The senator, who was the lone Democrat to oppose the legislation during a committee markup in September, pressed the top bankers on the cannabis issue.

12/07/2023

Clock's ticking, President Biden. These six governors are hoping to close the rescheduling conversation in time for champagne on New Year's Eve.

Head executives from Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey and New York penned the letter to the White House.

12/05/2023

Major changes are now on the table for Ohio's voter-approved adult-use legalization measure. Here's what that could look like, if lawmakers get their way: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/ohio-lawmakers-change-voter-cannabis-legalization-measure/

12/05/2023

Flower is king in Flower (and everywhere else...), but kings can be toppled. Here's how the major product categories are shaking out in the Sunshine State. Thoughts?

The Sunshine State’s growing medical cannabis market doesn’t always align with national trends, and it is one to watch as advocates push for adult use.

12/04/2023

Third time's the charm in shipping these Alabama medical cannabis licenses. See the full list of businesses here.

The state’s regulators are hoping the third time is the charm to ignite a commercial marketplace for patients with qualifying conditions.

12/04/2023

Good morning!

12/01/2023

“We’ll be closing our doors effective immediately, and all employees will be laid off,” Interim CEO Chi-Chien Hou told Grassdoor employees Nov. 21. “It is painful news to deliver.”

Interim CEO Chi-Chien Hou delivered the news Nov. 21 to employees, who were all laid off “effective immediately.”

11/30/2023

Issue 2, which Ohio voters approved with 57% support in the Nov. 7 election to legalize adult-use cannabis, could see some changes under legislation introduced this week.

Rep. Gary Click’s House Bill 341 would give local governments the authority to ban cannabis use and home grow, as well as impose additional taxes.

11/30/2023

Following rumblings that a vote on Germany’s adult-use cannabis legalization bill would be postponed until December, government officials have reportedly reached an agreement on the legislation.

The government’s current goal is for the law to take effect in the spring of 2024.

11/29/2023

The New York Cannabis Control Board voted at its Nov. 27 meeting to approve a settlement agreement to resolve a lawsuit that has halted new dispensary openings since August.

The agreement between the Office of Cannabis Management and the plaintiffs, which is pending court approval, would allow licensees on hold under a temporary injunction to proceed with their business plans.

11/29/2023

The team at Autumn Brands is dedicated to creating a natural ecosystem, and that means utilizing a no-spray, 100% biocontrol program for its pesticide-free cultivation practices.

The sixth-generation family operator puts its 100% biocontrol program and sustainability at the forefront of its integrative growing techniques.

11/27/2023

With precise 54-day flower cycles, every Tuesday, a team of about six employees at Clarity Gardens harvests one of seven tiered flower rooms, and 36 hours later, that room is reset with hundreds to more than 1,000 plants within a matter of hours.

Here's how the company has evolved and increased efficiencies to maintain its weekly harvest and repop schedule.

The team at Denver-based Clarity Gardens shows Cannabis Business Times how it has made its weekly harvest and repop processes more efficient while maintaining quality and staying on a consistent schedule.

11/27/2023

After nearly three months and multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services still has not publicly confirmed that it recommended cannabis be reclassified as a Schedule III controlled substance. Matthew Zorn, who filed a lawsuit to obtain the letter, calls the situation "asinine" and "profoundly disappointing."

After nearly three months and multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services still has not publicly confirmed that it recommended cannabis be reclassified as a Schedule III controlled substance. One attorney who filed a lawsuit to obtain the letter cal...

11/22/2023

Known as Green Wednesday, today is one of the biggest sales day of the year for state-licensed medical and adult-use dispensaries in the cannabis industry.

Notably, last year’s 48% holiday sales uptick was largely attributed to consumer purchases of more discrete product categories, such as topicals, beverages and edibles, according to Headset.

But why are these more “discrete” product categories more popular heading into the Thanksgiving holiday as opposed to flower, prerolls or concentrates? Here are a few theories.

While traveling across state lines with cannabis remains federally illegal, doing so doesn’t pose a “security threat” in airports.

11/21/2023

In a tale of two program rollouts, New York’s licensed cannabis dispensaries have reported more than $100 million in adult-use sales so far in 2023, while Missouri stores have surpassed $1.1 billion in total cannabis sales this year.

The Empire State’s regulated adult-use retail market has struggled to pick up steam with a mere 27 operators licensed for commercial sales.

11/21/2023

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) put an embargo on three product batches in the state’s regulated market that it suspects were potentially adulterated.

The Department of Cannabis Control suspects certain products in the state’s regulated market may contain poisonous or harmful substances.

11/20/2023

“How long have we been hearing about SAFE and SAFER? How long have we been hearing about rescheduling? ... This [lawsuit] feels very right to me. It feels logical. There's a process, which cannot be skirted, so it's not hoping that somebody calls our bill. It's not hoping that the DEA and the FDA and everybody works together—when have they ever done that? I'm really just hoping that we're on the right path here.” -- Meg Sanders, CEO of Canna Provisions and one of several Massachusetts cannabis operators who joined a lawsuit against the U.S. attorney general over the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act on state-legal cannabis businesses.

Massachusetts cannabis operators and lawyers who filed a lawsuit against the U.S. attorney general over the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act say they can’t wait—or count on—legislative action for relief.

11/17/2023

The report examines details leading up to a Massachusetts cannabis flower production technician’s death, and says the case illustrates “missed opportunities for prevention.”

11/17/2023

Researchers at North Carolina State University compared plants grown under a traditional 12/12 photoperiod in flower, the more common method used in cannabis production, and those grown using a night interruption strategy. Here are their findings, plus tips to ensure your cannabis plants are receiving optimal light.

7 tips to ensure plants are getting the right amount of light through the vegetative and flowering stages to avoid mishaps.

11/16/2023

Up until now, there have only been two licensed cannabis operator's in Georgia's medical market.

The four awardees have been vying for a market entrance for years and hope to join Trulieve and Botanical Sciences—the state’s only current operators.

11/16/2023

More licensing opportunities are opening up in Maryland, an adult-use cannabis market that is on track to hit $1.1 billion in sales by 2024.

Regulators will accept applications for 179 new licenses through Dec. 12.

11/15/2023

Those vying for an adult-use cannabis business license in New York have about a month left to submit an application to be considered in this next round. Mackenzie Ditch Wilcox of PharmaCann shared her top 5 tips for creating a winning license application.

What would you add?

Mackenzie Ditch Wilcox, Director of compliance/legal at PharmaCann, offers insight into securing real estate, hiring, engaging with the local community and ensuring your application stands out from the crowd.

11/15/2023

While Texas regulators have no immediate plans to expand the state’s medical cannabis program, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has received more than 130 applications from those looking to open a dispensary.

The Department of Public Safety received 132 applications during an application window that ran from January through April.

11/15/2023

Despite 57% of voters in Ohio supporting an adult-use cannabis legalization measure on Nov. 7, Gov. Mike DeWine indicated Monday that legislative changes to the approved initiative are coming.

The state’s lawmakers indicated that some provisions in Ohio’s legalization initiative are not in the best interests of the state.

11/14/2023

In his latest CBT column, Kenneth Morrow of Trichome Technologies explores how AI could alter cannabis cultivation and post-harvest procedures.

What's your take on the role of AI in cannabis?

How might artificial intelligence alter cannabis production and post harvest?

11/14/2023

TOMORROW: Don't miss this webinar with cannabis cultivation experts Michael Williamson and Anders Peterson of PIPP Horticulture as they dive into the nuances of operating a single vs. multi-tier cannabis grow facility. They'll discuss vertical cultivation best practices, covering veg strategies, process flow, plant training, genetics, harvesting techniques, and more, including questions from you. Register at the link below to join!

https://gie-net.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Mm2hDP0eTTOjAPwdH3jdwA #/registration

11/13/2023

When it comes to LED rebates, many growers may be leaving money on the table.

According to Cannabis Business Times 2023 State of the Cannabis Lighting Market research, made possible with support from Fluence, more than half (56%) of participants have not explored light-emitting diode (LED) rebates. A quarter (24%) of those participants said they are aware but haven’t investigated the utility savings, while nearly a third (32%) said they weren’t aware of these rebates at all.

Cannabis cultivators who are in the know and companies that do take advantage of these state-based programs have the opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of dollars—and sometimes more—in LED retrofits and installations.

Here are 8 considerations when pursuing these programs:

Utility incentive programs vary by state, but horticultural lighting programs are becoming more common and can cover significant portions of the investment.

11/13/2023

Thank you to all who have served or are serving, including Wanda L. James, who is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and is featured on the November/December cover of Cannabis Business Times.

Read more about her story and the Simply Pure brand expansion here:

With the launch of Simply Pure Trenton, Wanda James and Simply Pure licensee partner Tahir Johnson are bringing the Colorado brand to the East Coast.

11/11/2023

As we honor those who have served or are currently serving today, one cannabis entrepreneur and veteran is celebrating the launch his business. Congratulations to The Cannabis Place, which announced its grand opening earlier this week, intentionally timing the first day of sales around Veterans Day.

“We picked this week to open. It is symbolic in many ways. I am an Iraq veteran, we have the Marine Corps Birthday and Veterans Day, to add the opening of Jersey City’s first service-disabled veteran owned business to this makes this week even more special to us and our team,” said The Cannabis Place founder and CEO Osbert Orduña in a press release.

Read more about the company here.

The Cannabis Place has announced the grand opening of its New Jersey flagship dispensary location this Thursday, Nov. 9, at 4:20 p.m.

11/10/2023

Green Thumb Industries - GTI CEO Ben Kovler took a swing at the federal government during the company’s third quarter earnings call Nov. 8, the same day that a new poll showed a record number of Americans in support of cannabis legalization.

The multistate operator remains bullish on Maryland after reporting record revenue for its third-quarter earnings.

11/09/2023

Vertical cultivation can help growers increase efficiency, lower production costs and expand without requiring a building renovation. In the competitive cannabis market, producing high-quality plants economically is essential to success. But there are unique operational considerations in multi-tier grows compared to single-level cultivation.

Next week, PIPP Horticulture cultivation experts Michael Williamson and Anders Peterson will be diving into best practices for operating an indoor vertical cannabis farm and answering your questions about how to thrive in this growing environment.

Learn more and register for the webinar here: https://gie-net.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Mm2hDP0eTTOjAPwdH3jdwA #/registration

11/09/2023

Cannabis Business Times published the first State of the Lighting Market, in partnership with Fluence, in 2016. Comparing data from that first study to the now eighth report shows how dramatically the industry has evolved when it comes to lighting practices, vertical cultivation and more.

Read findings from the latest report in the November/December issue via the link below.

Analysis by Jolene Hansen

LEDs continue to dominate lighting choices for commercial cultivators for veg and flowering in 2023.

11/08/2023

Medical cannabis sales have been slow going in Georgia, which passed a law in 2015 to allow registered patients to possess low-THC oil but did not legalize commercial cannabis production and sales until four years later, in 2019.

After a tumultuous licensing process and a string of legal challenges that repeatedly stalled the program, regulators in September 2022 awarded two companies, Botanical Sciences and Trulieve, licenses to grow, manufacture and sell cannabis oil that contains no more than 5% THC.

Senior Digital editor Melissa Schiller reached out to representatives from the state's two licensed companies, who share what it's been like to launch the medical program.

Representatives from the state’s two licensed operators reflect on the launch of medical cannabis sales at independent pharmacies.

11/08/2023

BDSA projects Ohio's medical cannabis sales to reach $520 million this year, and more than $1 billion when combined with the forthcoming adult-use market by 2027, according to a press release. The announcement comes a day after voters in Ohio resoundingly approved Issue 2, a measure to legalize adult-use cannabis, making the state the 24th in the nation to usher in cannabis reform.

After Ohio's cannabis legalization victory Nov. 7, BDSA estimates that combined medical and adult-use sales will hit $1.65 billion in 2027.

11/08/2023

While there is much to celebrate about the resounding adult-use cannabis legalization victory in Ohio, which passed by a nearly 57% to 43% margin, medical cannabis operators in the state say the effort to establish a regulated market with safe access is not yet over.

“I could not be happier to see Ohio join the list of states that has finally decided that it is time to end prohibition,” said Geoff Korff, CEO and chief operating officer of Galenas, an Akron, Ohio-based medical cannabis cultivation company that also has operations in Michigan. “Now we need to make sure that we are holding our elected officials accountable to the language of Issue 2 and see that it goes into effect as written.”

Leaders from Ohio's cannabis industry and those working on national policy reform explain what comes next:

Eight years after a previous ballot measure failed, the Buckeye State is now the 24th in the U.S. to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older.

11/08/2023

BREAKING: Ohio becomes the 24th state to legalize adult-use cannabis, according to unofficial election results.

Eight years after a previous ballot measure failed, the Buckeye State is now the 24th in the U.S. to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older.

11/08/2023

Ohio's cannabis legalization measure is off to a hot start with 57% in support and 18% of votes counted! Follow along right here for live updates. 👇

The Buckeye State could be the 24th in the U.S to legalize adult-use cannabis eight years after voters rejected a previous measure.

11/07/2023

Election Day is here, and voters in Ohio are considering Issue 2, a ballot initiative that would legalize adult-use cannabis consumption and sales. As the only major cannabis reform measure in the U.S. today, all eyes are on this crucial outcome.

Find all of Cannabis Business Times coverage here leading up to Election Day, and come back this evening for live updates as the results roll in.

https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/tag/ohio-election/

11/07/2023

In the latest "On Drugs" newsletter, lawyer and cannabis reform advocate Shane Pennington explains why comments from a senior legal adviser from the U.S. Department of State during a United Nations meeting addressing member states' noncompliance with obligations under a 1961 drug treaty could be a positive sign for Schedule III. (And he provides the timestamp where those comments in the four-hour meeting begin, if you want to tune in.)

Thanks to Shane and Matt Zorn for sharing this post with CBT!

In Vienna, a U.S. state department legal adviser champions member-state discretion over domestic drug policy, potentially removing the obstacle the Single Convention drug treaty could pose to cannabis reform.