New Innovative Tech Is Changing Cannabis Finance

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New, Innovative Tech Is Changing Cannabis Finance by Patricia Miller

The Emerging Markets Coalition (EMC) is a member-driven advocacy and educational organization for financial services in highly cash-based and underserved markets. Our first targets are the cannabis-related industries (hemp, CBD, cannabis).

EMC advocates and drives for the normalization of financial services — enabling these businesses to operate as do other legal businesses in a growing, regulated, emerging market.

Why was EMC founded and why did we choose to drive innovation in one of the toughest markets to bank?

Because the EMC co-founders have done this before — in an industry that was where cannabis is today — highly cash-based, with much misinformation driving unfair vilification of the industry and businesses.

Through a coalition like EMC, we went proactively to legislators, regulators, law enforcement, the IRS, consumer groups, and media to share the facts.

This proactive transparency fueled the passing of federal legislation, regulation, and tax treatment that was workable for all, and media coverage that focused on facts vs fallacy.

That industry now has normalized financial services and we’re seeking to collaborate with  cannabis industry leaders to do the same here.

Financial Innovation in a Partially Legal Industry

Until federally legal, financial institutions will be wary of serving cannabis-related business (CRBs). State chartered banks and credit unions that do serve CRBs are making a risk-based decision that regulators will show leniency given that, while legal in their state, they are conducting business with federally illegal product.

In the current regulatory environment, cash is the primary payment method. It is the only payment method unencumbered by the federal and state disconnect on the legality of cannabis.

It is not, however, without constraints brought on by the alphabet soup of AML, BSA, KYC (Anti-Money Laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, Know Your Customer) with which banks and credit unions must comply.

The compliance burden created by the trifecta of acronyms drives high incremental costs that financial institutions must pass on to their cannabis customers.

To address these costs, financial institutions and FinTechs are seeking technology solutions.  CRBs are also seeking technology solutions to track and trace all aspects of financial flows from seed to sale. 

EMC has members offering industry leading services to both sides of the market to meet compliance requirements in holding and moving money without having to add an army of compliance experts. 

There are risks and costs of running a cash-based business, many of which  can be addressed by enabling electronic payments.

Federally, EMC is driving electronic payments, gaining buy-in from even the most conservative legislators that this will make cannabis transactions “transparent, traceable, taxable.” Legislators especially like that last point, even when we point out this means fairly taxable.  

Allowing credit, debit card, and contactless payments drives costs down, provides an audit trail, and significantly reduces risks of theft.  

The best-known payments alternatives/innovations for CRBs include:

• Cash dispensers/ATMs

• Cashless ATMs (more to come on
this hot topic…)

• Payments via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network

• Crypto

EMC founders have worked with Washington, D.C. regulators in innovation for years. During after-hours discussions, they would share that their biggest fear is that we would “innovate faster than they could regulate.”

Cannabis is similar in that the existing conflicted state and federal legislative and regulatory environments have placed compliance in front of innovation.

Payments Options for Cannabis

EMC is developing national standards and best practices for all things involving cannabis money. The first to be released is cash management, the next is payments. 

Cash Dispensers or ATMs

ATMs are placed in the CRB so customers can access cash to pay for product. The legal rationale is that the transaction is between the customer and the bank — the CRB is not in the primary transaction.

Cashless ATMs

Cashless ATM or Point-of-Sale: a merchant takes an order, rounds up the total to an even number, and then runs a transaction, coded as an ATM withdrawal.

The difference between the amount of the purchase and the ATM transaction is handed to the customer as change. VISA has put these businesses on notice in a memo that states:

“Acquirers will be subject to non-compliance assessments and/or penalties, when they — or their third-party agents — are found in material non-compliance with the Visa Rules,” the memo continues. “When found to have willfully violated the Visa Rules, adversely affecting the goodwill associated with Visa and/or the Plus system, brand, products and services, an acquirer may be subject to further compliance enforcement.”

Translation — cashless ATMs are not permitted by the rules of the major card brands.

Automated Clearing House (ACH)

ACH refers to the process of transferring money between banks without checks, wire transfers, or cards. These transfers are electronic, the funds go directly from the customer account to the CRBs bank account. 

To accept ACH from your customers requires a third-party solution. Customers first register through the third-party system, download the mobile app, and then check in at the dispensary through the app and pay at the POS. There are a few good solutions available, the most agile and compliant of whom are EMC members.  

Crypto

A Motley Fool article shares that crypto can offer cannabis companies:

Non-cash transactions. Accepting crypto/digital currencies as payment avoids cash.

Lower money fees. Some banking services in this space have higher fees. Crypto comes with relatively low fees, without a cannabis premium.

Transparency. Blockchain technology supports a secure and tamper-proof ledger, to help CRBs  track each step in the supply chain.

International. Cannabis companies working overseas can make payments fast/lower cost using digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency may enable  CRBs to minimize their reliance on cash, but this isn’t without challenges. For example, the way cryptocurrencies are taxed is different from regular business income and carries high compliance costs. Volatility is also important to consider as the prices of cryptocurrencies can fluctuate wildly. 

EMC is collaborating with many organizations and companies to drive the normalization of financial services for this market. Learn how you can join in fueling this success at EMCoalition.org

This article was first published in the winter 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Read the full issue here for free.

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How One Company Created a New Standard for National CBD Testing

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How One Company Created a New Standard for National CBD Testing by Jessica McKeil

According to current predictions from market research firm BDSA, the U.S. hemp and CBD market could hit $20.5 billion by 2025. But, the highly variable landscape from state to state threatens this potential growth. This regulatory fragmentation must be resolved before the market reaches the forecasted 40% compound annual growth rate. 

Now, however, the dispersed regulatory puzzle pieces of the U.S. consumer hemp market may be coming together, thanks to the team of scientists at SC Laboratories, Inc. (SC Labs). Inspired by a request from an international retailer, SC Labs has pioneered the first-ever national hemp testing panel. 

With more than a decade of expertise in Oregon, California, and Colorado (pending), SC Labs is an industry leader in education, testing methodology, and consumer safety.

In a recent interview, Alec Dixon, co-founder and director of client relations, and Josh Wurzer, president and co-founder, discussed how these foundational principles formed the basis of the hemp and CBD testing panel — solving the fragmented nature of the American CBD market for the first time.

Josh Wurzer

Very few states are exactly the same. There is no broad consensus.

As many hemp and CBD manufacturers have discovered, the regulations governing CBD in one state don’t easily translate to another. Dixon explained how “each state has its own really unique take on how to regulate cannabis and hemp.” 

From Dixon’s experience, with the increasing acceptance of these products, “we’ve seen this growing interest, especially on the hemp side of various sized clients, who are really interested in selling products that can meet and exceed state-established guidelines in all 50 states.” 

Alex Dixon

Wurzer confirmed that “it’s generally not the state’s responsibility to regulate on such a granular level the specifications for every type of nutraceutical sold within the state.”

However, in other consumer sectors, like cosmetics or nutraceuticals, direction comes via a national regulatory body. With federal CBD regulations slow to roll out, states have largely been left to their own devices for hemp consumer goods.

To complicate matters further, it’s not as simple as adopting a regulatory framework from another sector — say cosmetics or the food industry — and applying it to hemp.

Hemp is already formulated within a wide range of consumer products, from nutraceuticals to beauty products to foodstuffs. The regulations governing the safety of one doesn’t always work across the board.

No Shortcuts: A Methodical Approach to a Nationally Applicable Testing Panel

SC Labs began working on a comprehensive list for the first truly national hemp panel in the spring of 2021, after a request from a large multinational supermarket.

Aiming to bring a line of CBD products online across all 50 states, the retailer needed guidance on current testing standards. How could they bring a hemp-derived product to market and ensure it would meet all available consumer safety standards?

On the surface, this seemed like a simple task: identify which states even had requirements for hemp-based products.

But, as SC Labs quickly found out, it was a massive undertaking, requiring a dedicated, full-time researcher since its inception. The initial phase of the research process uncovered the fact that nearly 50% of states had relevant guidelines. 

The second step proved significantly more complex.

SC Labs then began the process of systematically reviewing each state’s requirements for the specifics. For example, what were the detailed regulations, what tests were required, and what were the requirements for those tests? 

Finally, layered on top of each state’s hemp and CBD testing protocols are the state-level laboratory licensing and accreditations, which also vary from state to state.

A lab working in Maine may not meet the accreditation and licensing standards of one in Colorado — meaning the test results also wouldn’t translate well. 

Every state may have started from the same place, but as SC Labs discovered, each tended to add a bit of local emphasis, a different layer of administration. Researching, compiling, and analyzing a puzzle of regulations was no small feat. 

Dixon spoke to several notable curve balls. He detailed that California “took a really progressive approach in how they were going to be regulating microbiology in cannabis testing.”

On the flip side, Colorado was the strictest for pesticides in hemp, while Connecticut focused on mycotoxins. In Wurzer’s words, “Very few states are exactly the same. There is no broad consensus.”

The Comprehensive Quality Assurance Test Package for Hemp

SC Labs worked with this vast accumulation of data to distill it into a set of requirements that would work across the country. The end result? The Comprehensive Quality Assurance Test Package. The panel covers five distinct categories, plus a final foreign material inspection. 

How SC Labs displays test results for Whole Foods’ products.

Cannabinoids:

The detailed panel tests for 15 cannabinoids, including the main active ingredients: CBD and THC. Minor cannabinoids and manufactured cannabinoids, like Delta-8, are also covered. 

Chemical Contaminants:

The panel tests for 104 chemicals, including pesticides, miticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, plant growth regulators, and other chemical residues. 

Microbiological:

The microbiological requirements include testing for mold, yeast, and other living pathogens, including specific species of microorganisms linked to adverse health outcomes. Mycotoxins are also included here.

Water Activity:

An in-depth water activity component measures water content in relation to the risk of mold. Specific formulations can lead to greater risk, depending on ingredients. 

Heavy Metals:

The heavy metals panels cover the big four: lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. 

Finally, A National Solution for CBD and Hemp

This single panel meets the hemp and CBD testing requirements for all 50 states.

In addition, it has received ISO accreditation and meets quality testing standards from organizations like United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP).

It has also passed necessary state-level certifications (required in Colorado). 

Will SC Labs comprehensive testing panel finally nationalize the American CBD market?

With consumer safety and product quality top of mind, this is genuinely the first-ever nationally applicable hemp testing panel, designed to work across all markets. 

As products start hitting shelves across the country — proven via the robust panel developed by SC Labs — the next evolution of the U.S. hemp and CBD market may well be upon us. ϖ

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New Law Releases Thailands Cannabis Criminals and Allows Home Grow

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New Law Releases Thailand’s Cannabis Criminals and Allows Home Grow by Johnny Green

Thailand is implementing a very unique and bold approach to cannabis policy. On June 9th a new law goes into effect that will, among other things, legalize home cultivation for every household in the nation.

Thailand will launch a registration program in which households can sign up to cultivate low-THC cannabis and make use of harvests in various ways, including eventually selling it to the government.

To assist in helping households participate, the government is offering extremely low-interest loans to aspiring cultivators and distributing over one million cannabis seeds to households across the country.

Additionally, as announced this week, Thailand will also be releasing thousands of people currently serving time for cannabis offenses. Per Bangkok Post:

Ongoing trials and detention in connection with cannabis-related offences will be cancelled once revised restrictions take effect on Thursday, according to the Office of the Judiciary.

The production, import, export, distribution, consumption and possession of cannabis — except for its psychoactive substances — will be formally legalised on June 9 when a Ministry of Public Health announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Feb 9 takes effect, said Sorawit Limparangsri, a spokesman for the Office.

Cannabis-related offences that resulted in court cases and detention prior to June 9 will be cancelled, with any bond payments to be returned. People incarcerated in related trials serving jail time due to an inability to pay fines will also be released, according to the agency.

In addition to people being freed from prison and current prosecutions being abandoned, people previously convicted of some cannabis offenses will have those prosecutions removed from their records.

People awaiting trial will still have to show up to court as a procedural requirement, however, it’s only so that a judicial review can be performed to ensure that the case is eligible for dismissal.

It’s worth noting that not every case involving cannabis will be eligible for release, dismissal, and/or expungement. Some cases that involve cannabis also involve other offenses, so obviously in those instances, the case will remain in the criminal justice system. The same is true for cannabis cases that are beyond the parameters permitted by the new cannabis law.

Still, it’s estimated that over 4,000 cannabis prisoners will be released next week in Thailand, and that doesn’t seem to include pending cases, expungements for people that already served their sentences, and the prevention of future cases. It’s a significant move by Thailand, and hopefully other countries will work to do the same.

This article first appeared on Internationalcbc.com and is syndicated here with special permission.

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Announcing The Third Annual Portugal Medical Cannabis Conference

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Announcing The Third Annual Portugal Medical Cannabis Conference by Sponsored

Can cannabis help children with autism, cancer, epilepsy or even psychosis? Doctors and researchers say yes and they will explain how next week, at Portugal Medical Cannabis Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

The growing trend towards the legalization of cannabis worldwide leaves no room for doubt: cannabis does, indeed, have the potential to treat various pathologies and more and more countries are opting for its regulation.

However, the lack of information and training, particularly among health professionals, still prevents a broad use of this therapy, which can make all the difference in the quality of life of thousands of people.

This year, the 3rd International Conference on Medicinal Cannabis, PTMC, that takes place in Lisbon, on June 16th and 17th, will address the myths and facts associated with cannabis and psychosis, the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in Pediatrics, especially in childhood diseases such as autism, cancer, or epilepsy.

Bonni Goldstein, Pediatrician in Los Angeles, Dani Gordon, Physician in London or Carl Hart, Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at Columbia University, in New York, are just some of the more than 20 speakers who will talk about their experiences and show successful cases of treatment with cannabinoids.

Aiming to promote the access for health professionals and students to this information, PTMC will grant a 75% discount to health professionals or students who send a valid professional card to info@ptmc.pt.

Portugal has established itself in recent years as the center of excellence for medical cannabis in Europe, with 18 companies already licensed and more than 80 with a pre-license granted by Infarmed, being one of the largest cannabis producers in the world and having exported more than 30 tonnes of cannabis flowers in 2021, an increase of 566% over the previous year.

The two day’s event will finish with a business networking sunset party aboard a catamaran on the Tagus River, with a saxophone-DJ duo and an open bar with hemp-infused drinks and dinner.

Portugal Medical Cannabis, organized by CannaReporter, a non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating more and better information about cannabis, has brought to Portugal, since 2018, the most renowned doctors, scientists and researchers, who discussed and demonstrated the latest advances in science regarding medical cannabis.

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What Is the Motivation Behind Unregulated Cannabis Purchases?

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What Is the Motivation Behind Unregulated Cannabis Purchases? by Johnny Green

Legal cannabis is spreading across the planet, and with it, purchasing freedoms for some consumers. Yet, the unregulated market still exists even where cannabis can be purchased legally.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario recently examined the factors that motivate a consumer or patient to purchase unregulated cannabis and why the illicit market still exists in Canada despite legalization, and to a lesser extent, the United States.

By human history standards, cannabis prohibition is a relatively new thing. After all, cannabis is not a new plant and humans have used it for medical and recreational purposes for centuries.

It wasn’t until the last century that political forces prohibited it. Fortunately, three countries have now legalized cannabis for adult use – Uruguay, Canada, and Malta.

Cannabis can be legally acquired in some form in Uruguay and Canada, and soon, Malta.

Out of the three countries, Canada has the most robust industry model.

Cannabis consumers of legal age from anywhere around the planet can come to Canada and make a legal purchase through a storefront dispensary, through the mail, and/or through delivery services.

Similar options have existed in the U.S. at the state level for many years. Researchers have kept a close eye on North America as the “cannabis experiment” has continued to roll out, including researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

Motivating Factors

The average cannabis consumer is more sophisticated now than arguably any other time in human history, and that is largely due to the options available to them, particularly in Canada.

Some consumers want to smoke cannabis flower, some want to vaporize it, and still, many others prefer smokeless forms of cannabis such as edibles and topicals.

Regulated industries boost the options for patients and consumers.

I live in a legal jurisdiction, and the different types of cannabis products and consumption methods are exponentially greater now compared to when there was no regulated market With that being said, the unregulated market still exists where I live, albeit at a much lower level than before legalization.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario looked at consumer data from 2019 and 2020. The data was compiled as part of the annual International Cannabis Policy Study.

Survey data asked consumers about their purchasing habits over the past 12 months, and when they indicated that they purchased cannabis from an unregulated source they were provided a list of reasons to select from regarding what motivated the unregulated purchase.

“‘Legal sources had higher prices’ was the number-one answer in Canada in both years (35.9% in 2019, 34.6% in 2020) as well as in the United States (27.3% in 2019, 26.7% in 2020).

Convenience (both ‘legal sources were less convenient’ and ‘legal stores were too far away/there are none where I live’) was high on the list as well, with the percentage of respondents who named these as reasons ranging from 10.6% to 19.8%.” researchers stated in their press release.

Sensible Regulations To Help Boost Legal Sales

On average, the cost of legal cannabis will always be greater than unregulated cannabis. A legal cannabis company has to pay ongoing licensing and compliance fees, rent on their commercial facilities, and a number of other operational costs that do not exist in the unregulated market. All of those added layers contribute to the overall cost of legal cannabis.

Speaking anecdotally, I am willing to pay extra for legal cannabis being that it is tested and regulated. However, there is a point to how much more I am willing to pay, and I assume many consumers are the same as me in that regard. Paying 10% more is reasonable, however, if legal cannabis costs 2-4 times as much as unregulated cannabis, clearly many people will choose to go the unregulated route.

The second motivating factor identified by the researchers, convenience, is much easier to address from a public policy standpoint.

Boosting the ways in which consumers and patients can legally acquire cannabis helps a considerable amount. Conversely, the fewer ways people can legally acquire cannabis the more it creates opportunities for unregulated sources to fill the void and meet the demand.

Jurisdictions that choose to cling to prohibition or hinder safe access do so at their own peril.

Lawmakers around the world need to do everything that they can to strike the right balance between regulating cannabis, generating public revenue, and implementing sensible regulations that help keep the cost of legal cannabis down as much as reasonably possible.

Everyone needs to temper their expectations when it comes to getting rid of the unregulated market. Just as there will always be a market for unregulated alcohol, so too will there always be an unregulated market for cannabis, at least to some degree.

This article first appeared on Internationalcbc.com and is syndicated here with special permission.

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The Home Grow Just Became More Sophisticated

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The Home Grow Just Became More Sophisticated by Ebby Stone

As more states legalize cannabis across the nation, a new hobby is on the rise. In-home cultivation is more accessible than ever. States from New York to New Mexico have legalized personal cultivation and thanks to advances in technology, anyone (of legal age) can give it a try. 

In New York state, adults 21 and over can grow up to six plants in their residence (12 if there are multiple adults in the home). For many, the biggest question is not if they’ll grow, but how to do it.

Many metropolitan residents have the will but not the space to cultivate. Closets in New York City are seldom walk-ins and yards are virtually non-existent. Plus, in a small space, discretion is crucial.

Nobody wants their home to smell like a grow room. 

Innovations in in-door growing technology are making these concerns obsolete.

The Armoire by Green Goddess Supply was designed to be odorless, elegant, and to blend seamlessly into the home. CEO Eric Robichaud said The Armoire was created to help people become self-sufficient. 

“We’re a small, scrappy start-up, and the founders have spent millions of dollars and over 6 years of our lives inventing, patenting, and bringing The Armoire to the market. We use them ourselves and are incredibly passionate about helping our customers and teaching them how to grow at home,” Robichaud said.

This discrete system blends into the user’s interior design and is available in several finishes. 

“Our furniture-inspired looks make this an attractive, stealthy option that doesn’t have to be hidden,” Robichaud said.

“The product isn’t built from wood or metal, but a special synthetic material that is anti-mold, anti-mildew, won’t rust, and has the highest possible rating for fire retardancy. It was built with ergonomics in mind and our unique, proprietary grow protocol makes it incredibly easy for the beginner to master right out of the box.”

That’s not a promise most grow machines will make. You can plant a seed, but you can’t force it to grow. Every Armoire purchase includes ninety days of Concierge Service. Customers are encouraged to call, ask questions, and participate in video walkthroughs with techniques and tips. 

“We’re on a mission to empower the average home user to take control and grow their own clean, organic flower at home — quickly, easily, and inexpensively,” Robichaud said.

Each state is developing their own protocols for safety and quality. While those regulations are refined, growing at home can offer a quality-controlled alternative to dispensary cannabis. 

“For those who are health conscious or health-challenged, being able to ensure clean, organic flower with no mold or pesticides is important,” Robichaud added.

Innovations like these are creating an entry point for people across the country to grow their own sustainable, high-quality cannabis.

As Robichaud emphasized, “We’re making it more accessible to the casual home consumer who doesn’t want to get a PhD in botany to figure it all out.”

This article was first published in the winter 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Read the full issue here for free. Images courtesy of Green Goddess Supply.

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Changing the Trajectory of the Medical Cannabis Revolution

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Changing the Trajectory of the Medical Cannabis Revolution by Andrea Morhardt

Medical cannabis is gaining traction and acceptance. Studies show it can ease physical ailments like chronic pain and muscle spasms. It can also help relieve emotional and mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.

The benefits of medical cannabis are being proven, with more studies emerging every day.

Plus, according to the National Library of Medicine, patients undergoing chemotherapy find relief and see remarkable results when using cannabis as an anticancer agent.

Despite this progress, many obstacles to medical cannabis access remain in the way. 

In addition to legal and legislative barriers, many physicians are not yet convinced that the health benefits of medical cannabis outweigh the risks.

According to one study, “Colorado Family Physicians’ Attitudes Toward Medical Marijuana,” nearly all physicians agreed on the need for further medical education about medical cannabis.

Patients will have to overcome these obstacles to gain full access to medical cannabis and the relief it can provide. That day will come, but progress is slow going. That’s why medical cannabis advocates are creating a movement to accelerate that progress. 

What is a medical cannabis advocate?

A medical cannabis advocate works to ensure safe and legal patient access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. Advocates work to overcome various barriers to access by creating momentum in multiple ways:  

• Developing policies to open up access to medical cannabis for more patients and researchers

• Facilitating legislation, education, and research

• Breaking down political, social, and legal barriers 

• Firing up grassroots movements

• Partnering with medical cannabis providers and insurance agencies to
create innovative solutions

Drivers of the Medical Advocacy Movement

Every day, notable new developments pop up in the medical cannabis revolution. Patients are demanding alternatives to traditional pharmaceutical remedies. Federal approval is on the horizon.

Plus, insurers are seeing the benefits of medical cannabis — both in costs and outcomes. 

Medical cannabis advocates see the writing on the wall. They feel that patients today deserve the same options that patients a decade or two in the future will enjoy.

These advocates sense the gravity of the situation for so many patients today. And they realize there is no time to waste.

Patients Want Access

Anne Davis is a successful attorney, mother, and community leader in New Jersey.

She is also a national expert on medical cannabis and a sought-after presenter for healthcare law and advocacy initiatives.

She was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

Shocked by the diagnosis, Davis conducted thorough due diligence about treatment options.

Many of the traditional medications offered to her would result in unfortunate side effects and harm vital organs.

As a result, frequent lab testing was recommended to monitor those organs. 

To avoid both scenarios, Davis decided to use her professional knowledge about medical cannabis.

The decision to ignore the traditional pharmaceutical treatments, however, was not supported by her physician. 

“I knew from my years in the industry cannabis was effective and had zero side effects.

I was well aware of the research that indicates cannabis has neuroprotective qualities, in addition to symptom relief. For that reason, I decided to use it every day as part of my treatment plan,” Davis said. 

Studies indicate that Davis’ story is more common than you might think.

A survey of MS patients conducted in 2019 showed that more than 40% of patients said they used medical cannabis in the past three months. Of course, MS patients are not alone.

According to Statista, 51% of cancer patients report that medical cannabis manages their symptoms very well.

Medical Cannabis Is Likely to Receive Federal Approval

Although the federal government continues to label cannabis an illegal substance and employers and insurance companies don’t cover cannabis like other medicines, all signs indicate change is coming. 

The SAFE Banking Act now allows banks and other financial institutions to provide support services to cannabis companies without the risk of violating the law. The Act will help cannabis companies more easily operate their businesses.

In September of 2021, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee voted to advance the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act. This bill would federally legalize cannabis. The bill would also remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

According to the latest Gallup poll, 68% of Americans support marijuana legalization.

Medical cannabis advocates realize there are still hurdles to overcome and they are working to bridge the gap. Until cannabis becomes legal at the federal level, patients who can afford it are paying out-of-pocket to get their hands on medical cannabis.

That’s how badly they want to avoid traditional medicine and its side effects. For patients who can’t afford to pay out of pocket, insurance agencies may soon be coming to the rescue.

Insurance Coverage Is on the Horizon

Bennabis Health is the first health care plan in the nation that covers medical marijuana. The company has been marketing its proposal to workers’ compensation carriers.

Wondering why they think they have a chance? We’d all like to think that insurance companies put patients first. But demutualization has driven insurance companies to become laser-focused on the bottom line. 

However, the good news for medical cannabis is that it makes sense from a profitability perspective. A recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that cannabis enables employees to return to work sooner.

Claims data shows that employees who used cannabis for pain management filed 20% fewer medical claims.

Of course, the efficacy of medical cannabis is just as important. The results of various new studies are emerging and they continue to be quite encouraging.

Consider a new study reported in Frontiers in Psychiatry about medical marijuana and depression. The study found an increasing number of patients who failed to respond to traditional anti-depressants are now using medical cannabis to find relief.

Medical cannabis users experience less severe symptoms of depression than non-users. Further, medical cannabis users reported improved quality of life, better sleep, and less pain.  

Medical Cannabis Advocates: Moving Public Policy Forward

For decades, young people have been advocating for cannabis — both recreational and medical. Since the 1990s, groups like Students for Sensible Drug Policy have been developing strategies and solutions to overcome challenges facing the medical cannabis market. 

Other advocacy groups like the Americans for Safe Access, Veterans Cannabis Project, and The Cannabis Patient Advocacy Association are fighting for cannabis patients. 

These groups are creating forward momentum every day. They now have a seat at the table when it comes to decisions that will impact the future of the cannabis market. Their voices are growing louder and they are being heard. 

This article was first published in the winter 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Read it here for free.

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Have We Lost Focus on Why Social Equity Programs Were Established?

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Have We Lost Focus on Why Social Equity Programs Were Established? by Gia Morón

Since the emergence of the legal cannabis industry, community leaders from marginalized communities have called out the imbalance and lack of representation of ownership.

These advocates created a new awareness that, in addition to safe and legal access, a focus needed to be placed on social equity, justice, and reinvestment as an integral part of any new legislation. But it has been an uphill battle. 

As more states legalize medical and adult-use cannabis, Black and Latinx cannabis activists continue to highlight unfair processes and selections of licensees.

Diverse application teams and advocates remain committed in lobbying for change in these patterns of injustice.

It is a cycle seen too many times state over state, and industry leaders are raising their voices louder to demand fair and equitable opportunities pushing for new or amended legislation.

Issues often lie in how policy is written, what’s included, and what’s left out of legislation. 

As we see today, states are beginning to respond to advocate demands for social equity and justice. In my home state of New York, for example, several organizations, including Women Grow, came together to push for change.

After several years of lobbying, the Marijuana Regulation Taxation Act (MRTA) passed. 

This piece of legislation was critical for impacted communities across the state. The bill offered social equity applicants options at various entry points in the soon-to-be-legal New York adult-use market. Like many states, New York’s current entry price is astronomical for the average person.

So, where would that leave a start-up business owner, who has no access to the kind of capital and other resources needed to ensure success in this emerging market?

New York currently has ten medical license holders. Only one company is women owned and led. All of the current license holders will have access to the New York adult-use market when it officially launches in the near future.

To date, among license awardees in New York, there is not a single person of color. Yet the state remains one of the most diverse in the country with over 300 languages spoken. 

It was the advocates who worked tirelessly with NY legislators Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Senator Liz Krueger — who sponsored the MRTA bill. In March of 2021, the MRTA passed in New York, making history. Social Equity was a big part of this bill, with 50% of the adult-use licenses earmarked for social equity applicants.

While traditional vertical licenses will not be awarded, the structure was broken down to create affordable options for smaller operators. This bill also includes micro licenses and cooperative options. Other states saw this as a breakthrough in the framework of how social equity can work for the people most impacted.

New York is still awaiting regulations for operators but this bill serves as a first step in a better direction for applicants.

Why is this important?

When the industry discusses the so-called war on drugs, it is actually referring to a war on people — predominantly Black and Latinx from low-income communities.

Through advocacy, cannabis social equity was developed to ensure that people and communities most harmed have an opportunity to participate in the expanding number of states we see entering into this market.

According to an article in Cannabis Industry Journal, “Where Are We Now? Social Equity in the US Cannabis Industry,” of the 19 states with adult-use cannabis, 13 have social equity programs created to help marginalized people enter and lead in the industry. 

In its 2021 Jobs Report, Leafly touches on Black ownership in the industry, citing racial disparity as the major challenge. Today, there is about 2% Black ownership of plant touching (cultivation and dispensaries) businesses in the U.S., and of that, less than half of the owners are full vertical businesses with a fraction of that percentage operating in multiple states.

While Latinx ownership may be slightly higher, the percentage has yet to reach double digits. For further clarity, there are over 35,000 cannabis businesses operating in the U.S., with a combined ownership of Black and Latinx businesses they still do not make up 10% of the national market share.  

Listen to the people doing the work.

As we look at the industry today versus 3-5 years ago, social equity has made progress, but the criteria for equity seems to be changing. Why?

Recently, former Massachusetts cannabis regulator Shaleen Title authored a report that was released by Ohio State University — Moritz College of Law: Fair and Square: How to Effectively Incorporate Social Equity Into Cannabis Laws and Regulations. It is an outlined framework for regulators.

Big cannabis businesses could also benefit from the report and use it as a guide when considering how to best support social equity programs. 

Replicating failing programs will not correct our growing social equity gap. The people who are in communities working with the people and relaying messages to legislators can offer the best insight to addressing what is beginning to sound like a diluted definition of social equity.

These programs were put in place as a response to the impact of the war on drugs on specific communities. 

The first three points of Title’s report speak to the demands of impacted communities: governments need to acknowledge they created the problem and be responsible for repairing; social equity is everyone’s responsibility to repair; and the most important point she makes is, “speak to the communities directly impacted.”

How can we effectively improve programs if we are not connecting with the impacted community? It’s the most important voice missing from the table. Translation is lost if all parties are not heard.

Stay focused. Include instead of exclude.

Policymakers and businesses cannot lose sight of why social equity programs were created. They are necessary and a must for people who feel voiceless in a rapidly growing industry that has historically excluded and persecuted them.

There are lives and livelihoods at stake. Impacted communities must be given the opportunity to build businesses and create generational wealth in an industry that criminalized neighborhoods, for a product once deemed illegal, and today is seen as one of the fastest-growing and most profitable markets. 

Collectively we have an opportunity to build a stronger foundation by uplifting the people who have been pushed aside.

These programs have yet to be perfected, but there is still time to keep working on improving. We must be the architects of this blueprint. We must include the people most harmed.

This article was first published in the winter 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Read it here for free.

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Brazilian Medical Cannabis Consumption Increases 110% in One Year

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Brazilian Medical Cannabis Consumption Increases 110% in One Year by Johnny Green

Brazil is moving rapidly into the global cannabis arena. Currently, the country imports 18 cannabinoid drugs. Last year 40,191 people filed permits to individually import cannabinoids for personal, medical use. The year before, only 19,150 applications were filed. And between 2015 and 2021, a total of 75,203 applications were granted.

Brazil is not so quietly now grappling with where to go with cannabis reform, even as medical use soars in the country.

The current president, Jair Bolsonaro, is vigorously and vocally against any kind of cannabis reform. However, he is being challenged on this stance, both by the populace itself and now by candidates challenging him in this year’s presidential race.

Given the changing climate, whoever wins will almost certainly be dealing with the issue of domestic cultivation and processing. Currently, there are only a few projects authorized to cultivate medical cannabis, and most of this is for research purposes.

This will probably start to change, particularly as it is much cheaper to cultivate cannabis domestically than to import it. Especially in a country like Brazil.

Questions About Sustainability

Brazil has a climate well suited to the cultivation of cannabis. However, there are a few looming problems in the entire legalization discussion.

The first is sustainability. Brazil is already facing record levels of deforestation. The outdoor cultivation of cannabis would, in all reality, increase the pace of the same unless effective regulation of the industry takes place. How likely that is in the current environment is debateable.

One of the primary causes of deforestation is the use of fragile rainforest land to cultivate illicit crops including drugs.

It is also highly unlikely that cultivation would occur only for domestic use.

A Latin American Revolution

Brazil may be one of the larger Latin American countries to consider cannabis reform, but it is far from the only one. That is what makes reform here inevitable, beyond the use of the drug for medical purposes by citizens.

That is also why the industry must be carefully planned and thought out.

An effective domestic program would have to create jobs and incentivize people not to grow crops on fragile land.

For this very reason, reform in this part of the world may have a much wider impact on the rest of the industry, which is struggling everywhere, with both costs and sustainability issues, starting with the cost of electricity.

But make no mistake about it. Reform is coming to Latin America and Brazil is just moving with the herd.

This article first appeared on Internationalcbc.com and is syndicated here with special permission.

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Fearless Cannabis Predictions for 2022 and Beyond

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Fearless Cannabis Predictions for 2022 and Beyond by Charles Warner

The cannabis industry is rapidly evolving right before our eyes. New states are legalizing and coming online (Montana, New Mexico, and New York), as are countries like Malta and Mexico.

Poll numbers are rising every month showing that people of all walks of life are open to legalization of cannabis and the economic and social benefits that will go with it. 

Republicans have even latched onto cannabis (because they know it is a winning issue), and if the Democrats can’t get it done, watch the Republicans take this issue and make it theirs.

It’s such a winning issue, even the normally conservative-leaning Koch Industries has entered the game to influence change and, of course, make a bunch of money.

Because things are changing rapidly with regard to cannabis and hemp, we at Cannabis & Tech Today want to give you a glimpse into the future.

We have consulted our experts, insiders, and on occasion a trusty Magic 8 Ball that we got at Spencer’s, to bring you Fearless Predictions for 2022 and Beyond.  

With absolutely no surety at all, here are our predictions for your enjoyment. 

2022 

The National Cannabis Party celebrates its one-year anniversary and becomes the fastest growing political party in the United States.

2024 

7-Eleven begins to sell weed in states where it is legal. Amazon and Uber start shipping and delivering cannabis. 

2025  

The first sports stadium to be named after an MSO occurs. Cresco at Wrigley Field becomes the name of the Cubs ballpark for an estimated $150 million a year — and yes, you can buy weed at the ballpark. Take me out to the ballgame is a little different now.

“Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd. Buy me sativa and Crackerjacks, I don’t care if I ever get back…”

2026 

Hemp farmers receive subsidies like oil companies. This helps fuel adoption of hemp as a source for almost everything and creates a huge economic and domestic employment boom.

2028  

Cannabis is legalized in the United States.  

We know — this should happen sooner — but our politicians are too busy gerrymandering districts and “mean tweeting.” It’s not until President Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is sworn in that the People’s President makes cannabis legal across the U.S. …  despite a lawsuit led by Idaho, North Dakota, and other ass-backwards states to prevent legalization.  

2029  

Hemp is officially planted in the White House Rose Garden. 

2030  

Facebook and Google finally stop discriminating against cannabis brands and advertising. 

2040

Covid is finally over. 

Did we get it right? Are we way off? Let us know what you think by tagging us on social with #CannabisPredictions. What’s your vision for the future of cannabis?

This article was first published in the winter 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Read it here for free.

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Tyson 2.0 Launches in Washington State With Exclusive Products

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Tyson 2.0 Launches in Washington State With Exclusive Products by Aron Vaughan

Just like the man himself, Mike Tyson’s cannabis brand is not slowing down. Tyson is contending in many arenas these days, the foremost of which is the cannabis industry.

Now, the former heavyweight champ is collaborating with its exclusive partner, Mammoth Labs, to bring Tyson 2.0’s suite of cannabis products to 16 dispensaries across the state of Washington.

“Tyson 2.0 x Mammoth Labs products will pack twice the punch for Washington cannabis consumers with our high THC strains and superior terpene profiles,” said Mike Tyson, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Founder of Tyson 2.0.

“Cannabis of this craft can truly elevate the mind and spirit. I look forward to sharing my cannabis healing journey with fans across Washington.” 

Mammoth Labs

Mammoth Labs is a multi-state cannabis brand established 2016 in Ellensburg, Washington, and specializes in high terpene concentrates, vapes, infused pre-rolls and edibles.

The company operates out of a 40-acre farm in Washington and focuses on indoor and outdoor flowers with a wide variety of genetics.

Tyson has spoken extensively on his cannabis journey and the positive effects the healing plant has had on his life. The new partnership aims to bring those benefits to more consumers. 

A Dispensary Near You

Dispensaries taking part in the expansion include Cannabis & Glass, Herbery, Zips, The FireHouse and The Station locations starting today.

Through its production partnership with Mammoth, Tyson 2.0 products offered will include 3.5 gram jars of flower in Desert Toad, Southern Toad, Tiger Mintz and Dynamite Cookie; and exclusive concentrates diamonds and sauce in Viper Cookies, Orange Punch, Cake Crasher; and budder in Southern Toad.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the legend, Mike Tyson and the Tyson 2.0 team to bring long-awaited Tyson 2.0 products into the Washington market,” said Connor Jackson, Director of Operations for Mammoth Labs.

“We look forward to further strengthening our relationship with the Tyson 2.0 team as we roll-out products across sixteen dispensaries across Washington and anticipate exciting things to come.”

“We are proud to partner with Mammoth Labs and their team of extraction experts, a company that shares our commitment in delivering high-quality, premium cannabis products known for their efficacy and wellness benefits,” said Adam Wilks, CEO of Tyson 2.0.

“Washington is a key market for Tyson 2.0 and we look forward to meeting consumer demand in the state as we continue to ramp up our nationwide expansion plans and launch exciting new products.”

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Laganja Estranja Launches New Trans Clothing Collection for Pride Month

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Laganja Estranja Launches New Trans Clothing Collection for Pride Month by Aron Vaughan

As we lean into Pride season, it’s the perfect time to feature some of the leading cannabis activists, enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs in the LGBTQ+ community. Drag Race former contestant and Trans woman Laganja Estranja, who will be dropping her new Trans clothing collection this month, is both cannabis advocate and an entrepreneur in the fashion space. 

Cannabis Advocacy 

Laganja was first inroduced to the world as the “Queen of Green” on RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2014. She was outspoken about her cannabis use (which was quite controversial at the time) and is a loud and proud advocate for the plant. 

“My initial reaction back in 2014 was very mixed,” said Laganja in an interview with Cannabis & Tech Today. “I had people who really cherished the work that I was doing and felt that I was really shining a different light on the stoner community. But I also had many people who felt like I was a drug addict who was glorifying something that was dangerous. So, I got it all. But being from Texas, I’m used to this. I’m used to these ideas that people have, and that’s exactly why I chose to be Laganja Estranja was to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk, and show people what it looks like to be a successful stoner in today’s state.”

On June 15, 2021, Laganja Estranja announced to the world that she had come out as Trans. This preceded the most recent season of Drag Race Season 14 where the majority of the contestants also came out as Trans and joined the sisterhood.

Just in Time for June

In celebration of Estranja’s coming out as an out and proud Trans woman, and in support of the Trans community at large, Estranja will be debuting her one-of-a-kind capsule collection in time for Pride and on the anniversary of her coming out. 

Estranja’s Trans clothing line is dropping this month.

“Last year on June 15th, 2021, I shared my truth about my gender identity with the world,” said Laganja.

“Two weeks prior, I had the hard task of telling my parents and the even harder task of letting them know Entertainment Weekly would soon be dropping the news. As a family, we were truly overwhelmed by the response, not just from our close friends but also the world!

“I decided to launch my very own Trans Pride fashion this year on my website. But this year to celebrate my one year anniversary of coming out, I really wanted to focus specifically on Trans Pride. Never in a million years did I think we would reach this point where others, whether Trans or not, would want to wear clothing like this. But as we could see this year on RuPaul’s Drag Race — which had more trans contestants than ever — the community is embracing the T in LGBTQAI+.”

“Laganja is a great collaborator for merch. She sends me ideas and I’m able to spin something up that we both love,” said Laganja’s fashion collaborator Michelle Moross.

“Despite not being a pastel person, I really like the way the Trans collection came out; it’s light and cheerful for summer. I took care to select a variety of gender-affirming styles that would cover the spectrum from feminine to masculine and everything in between.”

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Japan Considers Very Limited Medical Cannabis Reform

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Japan Considers Very Limited Medical Cannabis Reform by Johnny Green

Japan’s Health Ministry is considering reforming the nation’s cannabis laws to provide for the legal use of medical cannabis.

A panel comprised of Japan Health Ministry experts met last week to continue discussions regarding revisions to Japan’s 1948 Cannabis Control Law.

It’s the latest step in what will likely be a very lengthy process to explore legalizing medical cannabis in Japan.

What is being proposed in Japan, if enacted, would only legalize medical cannabis in very limited forms and situations.

Only cannabidiol (CBD) would be legalized, whereas tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) would remain prohibited. Even the limited CBD reforms that are being proposed in Japan are being met with some skepticism among health experts in the country for whatever reason.

June 2021 Report

The discussions currently underway in Japan are the result of a report that was released nearly a year ago in June 2021.

The report, which was compiled by Japan’s Health Ministry, recommended that CBD be allowed to treat refractory epilepsy.

CBD has been found to effectively treat refractory epilepsy, and it is commonly prescribed to help treat the condition in a growing list of countries.

Japan’s current cannabis laws are largely built on the concept of banning parts of the cannabis plant, versus focusing on cannabinoids and limits of cannabinoid content.

Banning parts of the cannabis plant seems to be a common concept in the region when it comes to cannabis policy, whereas in Western countries hemp, which is what CBD is largely sourced from, has a THC percentage limit for both harvests and finished products.

Unfortunately, the ministry panel is also recommending that a new law be created that would harshly punish people for simply using cannabis for non-medical purposes, which is a particularly harsh policy.

It’s unclear how such a cannabis policy would be enforced, however, it’s a safe assumption that people suspected of having cannabis in their system would likely be automatically tested, which would be a massive invasion of privacy and is a policy that is ripe for selective enforcement.

Why Is Japan So Scared Of Cannabis?

People all over the planet, including in Japan, have used the cannabis plant for medical and/or recreational purposes for centuries. By historical standards, the cannabis plant was only prohibited recently, and even then, the enactment of prohibition was based on harmful political ideology and not on sound science.

Cannabis prohibition is one of the most harmful public policies on earth, and that is particularly true in Japan where cannabis prohibition is being used to ruin many lives.

Over the course of the last 8 years, the number of people being arrested for cannabis in Japan has increased, even though cannabis arrests have decreased in many other countries during the same time period.

The rise in cannabis arrests culminated in a record being set in 2021, with a reported 5,482 people being arrested for cannabis offenses in Japan during the last full calendar year.

Roughly 70 percent of the arrests involved suspects that were teenagers or in their 20s.

The rise in arrests is an indication of heightened cannabis prohibition enforcement by Japan in recent years, although Japan’s government is portraying the rise of arrests as being the result of increased consumption rates.

In reality, Japan has one of the lowest cannabis consumption rates on the planet. Consider the fact that only 1.8% of people in Japan report having consumed cannabis during their entire life.

Japan doesn’t have a cannabis use problem. It has a cannabis prohibition problem, and that problem will only get worse if Japan enacts a new anti-cannabis consumption law.

This article first appeared on Internationalcbc.com and is syndicated here with special permission.

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U.S. Hemp Authority Releases 4.0 Standards Await Public Comment

As they have done with Program Standards 3.0 and previous drafts of their certification requirement updates, the hemp industry’s foremost certifying body—the U.S. Hemp Authority—is now opening up the newly drafted Program Standard Version 4.0 for public comment. 

Hemp businesses and consumers continuing to operate under hazy legal provisions on both the state and federal levels rely heavily on the U.S. Hemp Authority certification program to maintain widely agreed-upon standards of legal compliance, product safety, ethical hemp business practices, and more.

Each iteration of the U.S. Hemp Authority Program Standards, despite amendments, seeks to clarify and address the organization’s stance on more topical as well as well-entrenched quality and safety standards, such as rules for synthetic cannabinoid use, hemp product labeling rules, product testing standards, and much more.

Notably, these rules apply to growers, processors, manufacturers, and brand owners alike.

Per the U.S. Hemp Roundtable’s announcement of the Standard 4.0 draft, “U.S. Hemp Authority is calling on the hemp industry—farmers, manufacturers, brand owners, retailers and consumers—to weigh in,” inviting these involved parties to submit comments on the draft to info@ushempauthority.org through June 15th. 

This process of industry engagement, established soon after the organization’s first standard release, ensures that the newly amended standards can continue to protect the hemp consumer without hampering the ability of industry members to continue operating efficiently.

We will continue to update our audience as the U.S. Hemp Authority reports on public feedback and how it will impact the new certification standards. 

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Hemp Legislation Update: Hard-Fought Victories and Ongoing Battles In 4 States

On the state hemp legislation level, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable continues to report on victories, defeats, and compromises in seemingly equal measure, most recently involving four states: Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia, and Louisiana.

Colorado

To crack down on sellers marketing intoxicating compounds as hemp in the state, SB 22-205 in Colorado gave the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment the power to regulate against this practice, including almost $600,000 in funding.

Signed last week by Governor Jared Polis, the bill also authorized a “task force of hemp and marijuana industry representatives and government officials to intentionally study the topic of intoxicating compounds and propose legislative and rule recommendations.”

Alongside these almost unanimously agreed upon provisions, however, were initially included some more restrictive provisions including a 20mg/bottle THC limit, no protection for non-intoxicating CBD products, and more, all of which the Roundtable is proud to report have been compromised on thanks to steady advocacy.

Minnesota

A particularly restrictive bill in Minnesota—HF 3595—was absorbed into HF 4065, a bill that focuses on long-term care consultation services, but not without a number of semi-redeeming compromises to the language.

The amended language enables cannabinoid-containing products complying with the federal THC limit (0.3% by dry weight) to be sold, and THC limits were increased to 5mg/serving and 50mg/package.

Still, the Roundtable promises to “mobilize next year” if HF 4065 is passed, particularly focusing on fair enforcement of the 21-or-older age restriction (such that non-intoxicating hemp products are indeed exempted).

Virginia

More than a year after effectively striking down a 21-and-older restriction on hemp products in Virginia, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable announced that a successor has risen from the ashes in the form of HB 30, a bill that would enforce this age limit regardless of THC amount. 

As they position themselves to apply pressure, the Roundtable makes it clear that the age restriction is the central issue.

Louisiana

Finally, HB 758 in Louisiana is still being nudged in a new direction by hemp industry supporters for its ban on the use of hemp products in food and beverages as well as multiple potentially confusing age restrictions.

To support pro-consumer hemp legislation and hold states accountable for clearer and fairer provisions, we and the Roundtable encourage you to visit their State Action Center.

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Visit Cannabis & Tech Today at Booth #137 During the CWCBExpo

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Visit Cannabis & Tech Today at Booth #137 During the CWCBExpo by Patricia Miller

Cannabis & Tech Today will be at Booth #137 during this year’s CWCBExpo in New York City. Join us June 2-4, 2022 at the Javits Convention Center to receive a free copy of the latest issue.

Plus, ask Cannabis & Tech Today’s Steve Gross how you can leverage premium national media coverage with an exclusive ad package. To schedule a meeting with Steve, call or text 917-628-0361 today as spots are limited.

This year’s CWCBExpo is loaded with powerhouse speakers and informative educational seminars.

Attendees will enjoy everything Cannabis Week in New York City has to offer, including networking events, after parties, and special cannabis-industry discounts all over town.

Who Are the Experts at This Year’s CWCBExpo?

Cannabis is the people’s plant and the National Cannabis Party (NCP) is giving the people a voice in politics.

Join a keynote conversation with legendary MC and Co-Founder of the NCP Redman as he discusses the future of the cannabis space with CelebStoner Editor Steve Bloom.

New York State could be one of America’s most lucrative cannabis markets. WIth all the Empire State has to offer, you won’t want to miss an in-depth conversation with Tremane Wright, chairwoman of the New York State Cannabis Control Board. 

Women are fighting for cannabis legalization all over the country.

As more women-owned businesses enter the space, Gia Morón is offering guidance.

As the president of Women Grow, Morón is one of the premiere voices in the women’s cannabis movement. She’ll be offering her insights in a spotlight conversation during the event.

Attendees can also look forward to market-leading discussions from the CEO of Weedmaps Chris Beals, States Cannabis Policy Reporter for Politico Mona Zhang, Greenlane Holdings CEO Nick Kovacevich, and Co-Host of CNBC’s Fast Money Tim Seymour.

Special Events and Collaboration Opportunities

Thousands of people across the United States would love to open a cannabis dispensary.

It’s a frighteningly huge undertaking, but there are resources available. Calvin Frye is one of America’s first dispensary owners and in a special CWCBExpo add-on workshop, he’ll offer a complete overview of what it takes to become a cannabis retailer. 

Attendees can mingle with female entrepreneurs at the Women Grow Pavillion, showcasing women-owned companies and products.

For those who are thirsty for knowledge, the Education Pavillion will give colleges and universities an opportunity to showcase their cannabis curriculums. 

Stop by the Proud Mary Lounge to mix it up with the LGBTQ+ entrepreneurial community. It’s a safe space to showcase LGBTQ+ products while recognizing Gay Pride Month. 

For those seeking a funny, millennial viewpoint on the feminine side of cannabis culture, She Blaze will be live streaming its podcast straight from the show floor with an irreverent, bold look at the cannabis space.

That’s Cool.. but What About the After Parties?

Check out the NORML FORML, an upscale celebration from New York’s chapter of NORML.

The event takes place June 1, from 7-10pm at the Stitch Bar & Blues on 247 West 37th Street. Grab your tickets directly from NORML FORML.

You can’t have Cannabis Week in New York City without the Weedmaps Networking Mixer.

Attendees to CWCBExpo are asked to stick around after the conference for live music, food, drinks, and socializing at the back of the Exhibit Floor. Tickets are sold separately. 

After making the most of the Weedmaps mizer, head over to “The After” After-Party on the Yotel Rooftop. Sponsored by Spleef, this mix-and-mingle event will be held at the Yotel outdoor rooftop terrace overlooking Times Square. Tickets are available through Spleef.

Of course, the best parties happen on Fridays. Gather up your energy and bust out the Yacht-Rock playlist, because CWCBExpo is taking you out to sea.

The CWCBExpo Industry Yacht Party takes place Friday, June 3 from 6-10 pm.

Enjoy food, drinks, and dancing while you gaze at the stunning New York City skyline. There’s never a better time to make a deal than on a yacht. Tickets are available through CWCBExpo.

Visit Cannabis & Tech Today at Booth #137 for Your Free Magazine

With so much to see and do, don’t lose sight of all the opportunities for community building on the Expo Floor.

Exhibitors are eager to share their wares, their knowledge, and their swag with everyone who stops by a booth. Visit Booth #137 and the Cannabis & Tech Today team will send you home with a free copy of the latest issue, featuring comedian and actor Pete Holmes.

Don’t miss an opportunity for special show pricing on all Cannabis & Tech Today advertising packages — schedule an appointment with Steve Gross when you call or text 917-628-0361.

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Top 20 German Cannabis Firms to Watch in 2022

TESTSTSARDSAR

Top 20 German Cannabis Firms to Watch in 2022 by Marguerite Arnold

Make no mistake – the German cannabis industry is going to morph dramatically over the next 24 months. Recreational legalization changes everything!

However, there is likely to be a direct connection between early movers in the medical and recreational space – just because of certification infrastructure and the need to track and trace product.

Here is an alphabetical list of the top 20 cannabis firms aus Deutschland that you almost certainly have heard about before if you follow events and the industry in Europe.

You will definitely be hearing more about them in the near future. They range from cultivation, distribution, and manufacturing companies to those that provide vital equipment for the certified industry.

All of them have weathered the dramatic transition in the market since 2017.

Alephsana

Based in Berlin, this GDP-certified distributor was founded in 2019 by Boris Moshkovits. The company has had many successes so far, including helping to bring the first Australian cultivated cannabis into the German market. Moshkovits is a dedicated cannapreneur and aspires to help normalize the cannabis pipeline into Germany by sourcing high-quality, certified cannabis globally.

Aphria/Tilray

Aphria was one of the three firms that won authorization to grow cannabis during the German cultivation bid. They subsequently merged with Tilray, but not before also purchasing the sixth-largest mainstream medical distributor in the country (CC Pharma).

Aurora Cannabis

This Canadian public company also won one of the three cultivation slots in the German cultivation bid. The firm has a footprint across Europe at this point. It was one of the earliest public Canadian companies before establishing itself across the EU over the last five years.

Canify Clinics

This new addition to the medical cannabis clinic and telehealth space in Germany (but an established company in the Danish cannabis space) is entering the market at an interesting time – and going up against several more established competitors. With clinics opening this year in Berlin, Munich, Dusseldorf and just south of Frankfurt, the firm also just acquired a German GDP distributor.

Cannamedical

Based in Cologne, the company was one of the first independent, certified, GDP distributors in the country. Founded by David Henn, the company has consistently been at the forefront of industry trends.

Cannovum

Germany’s first publicly traded distributor, importer, and manufacturer, based in Berlin, also has the distinction of being helmed by one of the few women executives in the industry, Pia Marten. The company has also established a Portuguese subsidiary, which is a joint venture with local partners to initially distribute medical cannabis to Portuguese pharmacies.

Cansativa

Located in Frankfurt, Cansativa won the tender issued by BfArM to become the sole distributor for medical cannabis grown in Germany. The company has now successfully raised two rounds of financing, the last from American cannapreneur and rapper, Snoop Dogg.

Cantourage

The founders of the company have extensive experience in the German cannabis industry. They originally founded Pedianos (later acquired by Aurora) as Germany changed its medical law to include cannabis. Cantourage is their second cannabis company. They are also continually bringing in cannabis and cannabinoid medicines from various parts of the world.

Demecan

Demecan remains the only German-founded cannabis cultivation company. The three founders managed to acquire the license won by Canadian Wayland as the company merged with ICC: Currently they are growing cannabis for the German medical market.

Drapalin Pharmaceuticals

Founded in Munich in 2017 by four childhood friends, the wholesaler and GDP distributor is currently importing cannabis from Lesotho for distribution mainly in Bavaria. The firm also has a range of CBD extracts.

Harter GmbH

Harter does not cultivate or distribute cannabis products – but they do something almost as important. They build drying systems for certified cannabis, with an eye toward also creating a carbon-friendly footprint for the process. The firm has established a global customer base.

HERBLIZ Berlin/NGP Berlin

Berlin-based Herbliz is a CBD extractor. Inspired by his time in California, founder Alexandr Golubev dreamed of doing the same thing in Germany. Their mission is to reinvent the CBD and beauty industry sustainably. The products have national and international distribution.

Khiron

Khiron is an interesting hybrid. It is a Canadian public company with cultivation based in Columbia combined with a strong European presence (in Frankfurt). The company is a producer and distributor of medical-grade cannabis and commercial CBD products and are also opening specialty clinics in key markets, starting with Latin America and the UK.

LIO Pharmaceuticals GmbH

Based just outside of Düsseldorf in Solingen, Lio is currently a GDP distributor with plans to become Germany’s first GMP white label extraction factory. The company is currently building out its manufacturing facility and distributing medical-grade product.

Nimbus Health/Dr. Reddy’s

Nimbus, founded by two millennial friends in Frankfurt, established itself as a medical specialty distributor in the center of European banking and finance. The company was acquired at the beginning of 2022 by Dr. Reddy’s, a globally known Indian wellness and generic pharmaceutical company.

Sanity/Vayamed

Vayamed is the medical arm of Sanity, a well-funded cannabis enterprise founded by Finn Age Hansel, who came originally from Rocket Internet, a phenomenally successful internet company. The firm has not only raised millions of euros (including from American investors) but now has CBD products in distribution as it works to develop its own proprietary medicines.

Storz and Bickel

This eponymous firm is well known globally for its vape products – starting with the ever-amazing “Volcano.” The firm also has the most widely used medically certified vape in the German market. Canopy Growth bought the firm in 2018.

Synbiotic

This holding company is comprised of a current portfolio of four firms it has acquired on an aggressive purchasing spree over the last several years including Hempamed, Solidmind Group GmbH, BioCBD and Cannexo GmbH. The company is establishing a broad footprint across the CBD and medical cannabis space with an eye to the opening recreational market.

WEECO

WEECO is a certified pharmaceutical distributor based in lower Saxony, with an international presence in Denmark, Switzerland, and Greece, selling cannabis-based products worldwide. The company’s mission is to “revive healing powers of Cannabis and help to establish a reliable supply structure for industry and patients.

Four20 Pharma

Located in Paderborn, the company holds a wholesale pharmaceutical license and currently specializes in the distribution of medical-grade dried flower cannabis as well as certified medical devices. They are currently partnered with both Dutch Bedrocan and Israeli firm Kanabo.

This article first appeared on Internationalcbc.com and is syndicated here with special permission.

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