Yes! Cannabis!

SipCozy – Alcohol-Removed, Hemp-Infused Rosé Wines

Woman pouring SipCozy hemp-infused rose wine. Image provided by SipCozy.

SipCozy, a new infused beverage developed by and for women, launches its alcohol-removed, hemp-infused wine sourced from California’s Central Coast. Created with the lifestyles of modern Millennial women top of mind, the dealcoholized grenache blend rosé offers an elevated infused experience that embraces better-for-you practices by combining the relaxation and potential wellness benefits of cannabis without the intoxicating effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or negative post-consumption effects of alcohol.

“Today’s busy lifestyles and growing list of responsibilities combined with society’s ever-growing demand for wellness show that there is a void in the current adult beverage market space,” said SipCozy Founder and Owner Alex Klempf. “SipCozy was created as a new beverage option that women can easily enjoy every day, offering the potential benefits of hemp extract without the negative side effects of alcohol. SipCozy’s functional ingredients allow women to embrace a cozy state of mind no matter their environment, whether enjoying by yourself for a sense of clarity or shared with a group of girlfriends over a delicious meal.”

Developed with assistance from veteran winemaker Meredith Leahy, SipCozy is a grenache blend rosé that is carefully sourced from Central California’s highest-quality vineyards. Once traditionally fermented, the rosé is then dealcoholized using cutting-edge technology by specialists at BevZero and infused with 40 milligrams of premium broad-spectrum hemp extract per bottle through a state-of-the-art nanoemulsion process by advanced infusion technology company Vertosa. The unique formula contains non-detectable levels of the psychoactive substance THC using a limit of detection at 0.01mg/g, falling below the 0.3 percent standard level for industrial hemp.

With only 45 calories per 6-ounce serving, SipCozy rosé can easily be integrated into everyday lifestyles as a traditional wine and adult beverage alternative. Fragrant hints of floral, herbal and citrus complement any occasion for a refreshingly crisp taste that pairs well with salads, seafood, and light pasta dishes. SipCozy rosé is shelf-stable, but best served chilled and swirled before sipping.

SipCozy is sold online direct-to-consumer at www.SipCozy.com and is available for purchase by the bottle for $18. Consumers must be at least 21 years old and fully compliant with state regulations where it will be available for purchase. SipCozy is looking to establish its online brand presence and expand into retail stores in 2020.

CBDC-75 – World’s First 75% Concentrated Directly Compressible CBD

Detail of Cannabidiol crystal aka CBD, a pure isolated medical cannabis compound used for its medicinal properties. Image provided by Imbucanna.

Imbucanna announced the launch of the world’s first 75% concentrated directly compressible CBD. CBDC-75 effectively allows even the smallest of manufacturers to quickly formulate all sorts of CBD oral solid dosage (OSD) forms in one easy step, and with elementary formulation knowledge. The patent-pending granulates are a massive leap forward in CBD oral delivery technology and alleviates the lack of content uniformity, use of solvents, production costs, and advanced formulation expertise needed to formulate regular tablets, chewables, ODTs (orally disintegrating tablets), and other oral solid dosage forms of CBD.

“The introductory 75% directly compressible CBD powder can be easily dry mixed with the customer’s preferred filler-matrix, and compressed into strong orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs), chewables, mints, regular tablets, effervescent tablets, and other OSD forms of CBD with never before seen speed, ease, and low cost,” said Leo Mendez, Imbucanna’s Founder and CEO. “Our CBDC-75 is the first in a series of directly compressible cannabinoid intermediates created to take the guesswork out of formulating a portfolio of hemp-derived oral solid dosage forms.”

Imbucanna is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in developing, producing, and marketing highly concentrated, hemp-derived intermediates for direct compression. The company provides over 30 different bases CBD oral dose formulations for free on imbucanna.com.

Harborside Opens First Drive-Thru Cannabis Dispensary In Southern California

Marijuana flower buds in a bowl. Photo by Botanical Rising on Unsplash.

Harborside opens its newest cannabis dispensary in Desert Hot Springs in Coachella Valley. The store is Harborside’s first retail location outside of the Bay Area and will also be the first drive-thru dispensary in Southern California.

The 4,800 square foot facility is strategically located on Interstate 10 between Los Angeles and Coachella and will carry both medical and adult-use products, including Harborside’s KEY line of cannabis products. In addition to its highly anticipated drive-thru, the Desert Hot Springs location will partner with Pure Healing Clinic, offering professional acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other wellness services. This latest expansion marks Harborside’s fourth retail operation in California.

“Harborside is committed to bringing exceptional cannabis products to our neighboring communities, and is proud to provide the Southern California market with best-in-class service and convenience,” said Peter Bilodeau, interim CEO of Harborside. “We are especially pleased to have obtained one of the few drive-thru dispensary licenses in Southern California.”

“Harborside decided to come to the Coachella Valley because we like to be where the action is,” said co-founder and Chairman Emeritus Steve DeAngelo. “The Valley is growing into a world-class center of both the cannabis industry and cannabis tourism, so it’s an ideal location to introduce the legendary Harborside retail model and in-house brands to a wider population. We’re also bringing some things that the Valley hasn’t seen yet, like our drive-thru, an on-site holistic healing clinic, and the legendary knowledge and compassion of our associates.”

Harborside Inc. is a California-focused, vertically-integrated cannabis enterprise. The company has played an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California consumers.

Weekenders Cannabis’ Balanced THC and CBD Pre-Rolls Targets Growing Share of Recreational Users

Weekenders THC and CBD pre-rolled cannabis. Image provided by Weekenders Cannabis.

With the legalization of recreational cannabis and its increasingly strong societal acceptance, a large and growing number of adults are opting to integrate cannabis into their lifestyles. They seek its myriad of benefits, from relaxation to creative inspiration and productivity, to general wellness and relaxation. Weekenders Cannabis, an emerging California-based cannabis company, is tapping into the movement with pre-rolls geared for consumers wanting to experience a more functional high without the unwanted effects of highly concentrated THC products.

A recent study by New Frontier Data indicates that the Weekenders approach is offering consumers exactly what they want. According to the report, joints are among the most popular product for 83 percent of cannabis users, and a whopping 88 percent of consumers are looking for a functional experience with cannabis. This is the Weekenders sweet-spot.

While most cannabis products are either too strong, with THC levels often surpassing 20 percent, or too mild, with CBD-only products that miss out on THC’s energizing, euphoric effects, Weekenders has curated a pre-roll that brings together the best attributes of the two cannabinoids. Their products meticulously blend energizing and uplifting THC from a sativa dominant strain with full-spectrum CBD flower, which alleviates anxiety and provides pain-relief and other health benefits. The result is a perfectly balanced high that offers cannabis users what they want, according to the U.S. Cannabis Report: 2019 Industry Outlook, 66 percent of consumers seek relaxation from cannabis, 59 percent look for stress relief, and 53 percent anxiety reduction, all of which are core effects of Weekenders products.

Weekenders’ obsession with quality lies not just in the effects of its products but in those products’ sources. Free from synthetic fertilizers and chemicals, Weekenders cultivates the finest small-batch, artisanal flowers in the remote North Coast of Humboldt County. Redwood Valley Farm, which has a partnership, cultivates biodiversity through a complex system of cover cropping, composting with locally sourced materials, using techniques such as Korean Natural Farming (KNF), and Bokashi and Fermented Plant Juices (FPJ) to promote nutrient recycling. As a result of its farming practices, the terroir in Weekenders’ cannabis is unmistakable.

Weekenders offer two pre-roll options, CHILL and PLAY, which it first debuted at Hall of Flowers in September 2019. To meet the demand for consumers wanting cannabis higher in CBD, the CHILL pre-roll formula features a special CBD-forward blend, while consumers wanting more of the energizing THC benefits can opt for the PLAY pre-rolls. All products have both THC and CBD, as the ‘Entourage Effect’ – the synergistic phenomenon that occurs when multiple cannabis compounds work together to deliver a powerful, compounding effect – of the two cannabinoids interacting is key to the promise of the product. Weekenders pre-rolls are available in both 7-count and 1-count packs.

“We created Weekenders as an option for new, infrequent – and even frequent – users who want the uplifting benefits of cannabis without the unwanted effects, and we’re thrilled with the overwhelming response we received at Hall of Flowers from buyers who see Weekenders as the answer to this growing segment of recreational users,” said Kahlil Lozoraitis, CEO of Weekenders.

Coastal – San Luis Obispo’s First Premier Cannabis Delivery Service

(Top) Coastal delivery car. (Bottom) Marijuana flower buds in black container. — (Top) Coastal delivery car. Image provided by Coastal. (Bottom) Marijuana flower buds in black container. Photo by Ndispensable on Unsplash.

Coastal opened its first non-store-front delivery operation in the city of San Luis Obispo and will service the entire San Luis Obispo county. “As a vertically integrated, retail-focused cannabis company, we are excited to be a leader in ensuring that the legal cannabis industry in San Luis Obispo is the gold standard for California and beyond,” said Julian Michalowski, CEO of Coastal. “As one of the few delivery services in the region, we take our responsibility of stewardship seriously. We believe in the importance of working together as an industry and are committed to being a thoughtful, trusted, and responsible community partner,” Michalowski added.

Coastal is a premium adult-use retail cannabis brand based in Santa Barbara with plans to expand into communities across Central California over the next year.

Currently, the company employs 50 team members in Santa Barbara with well-paying jobs and benefits and will add another 10 positions in San Luis Obispo. Coastal is on track to grow to over 100 employees in the region by next year. Coastal is currently building its delivery, distribution, and manufacturing hub in downtown Santa Barbara, along with a retail dispensary with delivery in Lompoc.

Committed to being an engaged community partner, Coastal has created an employee community service and philanthropic donations program: Coastal Cares. Coastal recently announced a partnership with the non-profit Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (ECOSLO), an organization that educates, advocates, and acts to protect and enhance the natural environment and human well-being of San Luis Obispo County. “We are thrilled to be working with such an exceptional local group that is addressing some of the most pressing environmental needs in the community,” explained Devon Wardlow, Director of Public Affairs of Coastal.

As part of employment at Coastal, all team members participate in our “Coastal Cares” program. Team members will participate in quarterly community service engagements through Coastal Cares. Coastal will compensate team members the same as if they worked a normal day. Additionally, Coastal will support its team’s efforts through monetary donations as part of Coastal’s commitment to donating 2% of net profits back into the community.

California’s Central Coast is at the forefront of the nation’s legal cannabis industry, making Coastal’s launch an important marker in shaping its future in the region. Josh Ginsberg, Coastal’s Chief Strategy Officer, heralded today’s opening saying, “The Coastal team has built its business to be finely attuned to the community’s needs and concerns while innovating what it means to be a cannabis retailer. It’s really exciting to see this organization leading by example and usher in this new chapter.” Ginsberg is the co-founder of the Colorado-based Native Roots Dispensary Group, one of the largest legal cannabis production and distribution companies in the world.

Lil Wayne Presents GKUA Ultra Premium High-Potency Cannabis

GKUA Ultra Premium High-Potency Cannabis by Lil Wayne. Image provided by GKUA.

Lil Wayne’s new venture GKUA Ultra Premium has an emphasis on purity and offers a line of high-potency cannabis products designed to provide consumers with the best high of their lives.

This unique new brand celebrates the best cannabis in the world, with some of the highest natural levels of THC available. GKUA Ultra Premium flower is sourced from the most experienced growers, who produce strains that are very limited, incredibly potent and impossibly difficult to find—truly the best flower.

“I used to just want to get high, now I smoke to get inspired,” said Lil Wayne. “With GKUA, I’m sharing a feeling that I love.”

Beyond the products, GKUA celebrates culture and artistic achievement. As Lil Wayne has done throughout his career, GKUA will support new artists in multiple mediums, such as fashion designers, songwriters, musicians, models, dancers, and visual artists through artistic collaborations that promote not only the brand, but the GKUA lifestyle.

“The combination of our incredible products, market knowledge and commitment to quality, paired with the unmatched fanbase of Lil Wayne, the ultimate cannabis connoisseur, creates an unprecedented opportunity to create a cannabis brand that values creativity and the artistic pursuit,” said Beau Golob, President and Co-founder GKUA Inc. “It’s an honor to lead this company along with Lil Wayne, curating a premium line of products that inspires people and feeds their creativity. This is historic and really exciting!”

As well as bringing the best cannabis products to market, GKUA will be offering its customers free tickets to the hottest party of the year. The first GKUA VIP PARTY featuring once in a lifetime performances with Lil Wayne and Friends is scheduled for 2020.

At launch, GKUA Ultra Premium products will be available in select Los Angeles dispensaries with a larger roll-out across the state in 2020. They include:

GKUA Ultra Premium Flower: Sourced from the most experienced growers, GKUA will produce strains that are very limited, incredibly potent and impossibly difficult to find…truly the best flower! Available at launch is HOLLYGROVE a unique strain for Lil Wayne and GKUA and UPROAR a very limited strain.
GKUA Ultra Premium Battery Technology: This new proprietary ceramic heating element and cutting-edge design is optimized to efficiently deliver vape in easily controllable doses while elevating the user experience. The battery technology combined with GKUA Ultra Premium THC or CBD oil is the future of vape.
GKUA THC Vape: Sourced from the best cannabis with all organic inputs, GKUA’s THC Vape is an exclusive formulation that carefully transforms the highest quality cannabis into potent THC vape oil. Independently lab tested and certified for purity. GKUA Ultra Premium vape oil, pure and potent.
GKUA Ultra Premium Concentrates: Intensely potent and flavorful, GKUA Ultra Premium Concentrates are sourced from the finest cannabis flower with off-the-chart THC levels created for dabbing or adding to flower. Potency you can taste and feel.

Dispensaries will be giving away the first of a series of Lil Wayne + GKUA posters with every purchase of GKUA Ultra Premium products. To find out more about GKUA products and upcoming events, visit the website at gkua.com.

Denver’s After-School Programs Benefit From Retail Marijuana Sales Tax

(Top) Student holding books. (Bottom) Jars filled with marijuana flower buds. — (Top) Student holding books. Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash. (Bottom) Jars filled with marijuana flower buds. Photo by Get Budding on Unsplash.

In 2018 the city of Denver received about $46 million in marijuana tax, according to Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. The Denver Afterschool Alliance gets $1.5 million yearly for after-school and summer learning programs and has extended programs to neighborhoods with little support and implemented more training for the program faculty. As attempts to legalize marijuana increases, after-school directors in other cities are paying close attention.

Colorado passed the recreational use of marijuana for adults in 2012 with a tax attributing some capitals for education. Denver also imposed a special tax on marijuana sales — now 5.5% — so that the total marijuana tax rate in the city is about 25%.

Maxine Quintana, director of out-of-school time Initiatives for Denver’s Office of Children’s Affairs and co-founder of the Denver Afterschool Alliance, said the capacity to make a powerful argument for the benefits of out-of-school time programs was crucial in obtaining a share of the city’s special sales tax.

An added aspect was the mayor’s already solid involvement in out-of-school time. He established the My Denver Card, which gives school-aged children unlimited admittance to city recreation centers and, in many cases, after-school and summer enrichment programs.

Also, the after-school group placed itself as the organization best suited to protect and inform youth in the new world of legalized marijuana.

With the first funding of $500,000 from the special marijuana tax in 2012, the Denver Afterschool Alliance designed an educational program established on policies of positive youth development to supply kids with knowledge about marijuana use.

A 10-hour course called Healthy Lifestyles 101 for 5th through 9th graders is directed at demystifying myths about marijuana, helping after-school providers address the question, and making sure kids know the legal age of use is 21. It examines misunderstandings that, like cigarettes, people only have to be 18 to buy marijuana, and that because it is a plant, it is healthy and good for you. Health risks are regarded, and the program confronts a belief among some youths that everyone their age is using marijuana.

For more on this story, read Denver Turned Marijuana Into Money For After-School Programs. Other Cities Are Taking Note. by Stell Simonton at Chalkbeat.

Artizen Cannabis – From Cannabiz To Showbiz

(Top) The Turkey Bowl title screenshot. (Bottom) THC graphic. Image by easypayhey from Pixabay.

Artizen Cannabis, a Washington State cannabis company, is featured in the movie The Turkey Bowl. Company CEO Timothy Foia is passionate in two areas, cannabis and motion pictures. That may sound ironic since there are tens of millions of people who would say the same thing, but few have been able to find a way to cultivate these passions into a financial and passionate success story.

With a deep love for the arts and cannabis, it’s not a shock that the company Timothy co-founded was named Artizen. “My partners and I came up with the name to be a play on words, utilizing the word and meaning of Artesian,” states Foia. “We wanted to project in words and design that our brand is handcrafted.”

In seconds of looking at any of the dozens of Artizen products, there is no doubt art is a major design element of the brand. Its Bauhaus art-themed package designs have created a customer base that has propelled Artizen into one of Washington State’s leading cannabis companies. “The arts have always been a passion for me and my family,” states Foia. “My father is an author, my brother is a screenwriter and when I am not running my business, I look for outlets in the arts to expand my thoughts.”

When the opportunity came about to support The Turkey Bowl movie, Foia did not hesitate for a second. “The opportunity was brought to my attention in 2015 by Jonas Roeser, who at the time was acting as our Chief Marketing Officer. I remember Jonas stating I have a unique opportunity to expand the Artizen brand to the film industry, via a motion picture. Think of the movies Old School meets Sweet Home Alabama!”

Hooked on the idea and taking a massive risk allowing the Artizen brand to be incorporated into another form of art without creative control, Foia jumped in and is extremely pleased with the outcome. “I had a chance to speak with three of the producers prior to the production who each have extremely notable accomplishments, and I felt safe handing off the Artizen brand to be used on character Fat Jack.” (played by Chris Reed of The Big Bang Theory and Enlightened.)

“When Jonas Roeser brought the product placement opportunity for Artizen to us, we were excited for the opportunity. Jonas has helped me with strategic partnerships in the past so I trust him. Then after speaking to Timothy, we were confident it would work. It was a pleasure working with both Jonas and Tim, and we couldn’t be happier with how the Artizen brand is portrayed and fits the tone of The Turkey Bowl,” states producer Erich Hover.

From Lionsgate, The Turkey Bowl puts its cinematic twist on the classic, small-town football rivalry as adults return to their Midwestern town 15 years after the big game was snowed out at halftime. “Patrick Hodges is the former high school quarterback turned big-time businessman who is engaged to a powerful politician’s daughter. He hasn’t been back home in years, so his buddies decide to lure him back for Thanksgiving in a pretty diabolical yet absolutely hilarious way all so they can finally finish the Turkey Bowl.”

The Turkey Bowl is now playing in selected theaters and is also available on Amazon Prime, Apple, Fandango, Google Play, Vudu, and other movie streaming platforms.

Watch the trailer.

Scam Alert! Beware of Cannabis Talk Network False Seminars

Cannabis Talk Network seminar scam report on CBS 2 Investigators.

The possibilities of earning a profit in the cannabis industry are great, but so is the chance of being swindled. Some hopeful entrepreneurs say they lost thousands of dollars after attending seminars hosted by Cannabis Talk Network.

Camillia Bowen is one of those unfortunate scam victims. She attended a free seminar held at the Marriott Hotel in her hometown of Atlanta hoping to discover how to make money growing and selling marijuana. “Oh, they give a good speech. The speaker was very convincing, had you all excited and worked up.”, Bowen said.

Bowen, a 66-year old living on disability, wrote a $997 check on the spot for a 3-day educational course. She was interested because of Georgia’s progress in legalizing marijuana. The state made growing and selling restricted quantities of medical marijuana legal and lawmakers have acknowledged a bill to extend that to recreational use.

“My interest was if it becomes legal in Georgia I wanted to know how to grow it,” Bowen said.

After writing the check, she got a call from her son, who told her: “‘Don’t give them any money. It’s a scam.’”

Bowen promptly contacted the company and canceled the class and has the email correspondence to verify the company agreed not to cash her check. But, she said, “They cashed my check anyway.” She was so angry that she flew to Southern California to get her money back.

She went to the company she had made the check out to – First Investment Capital headquartered in Orange, California. Unfortunately, all she found was “an empty building. Then I said okay, what is my next move going to be? Because I’m not a quitter.”

Her next move turned out to be a trip to Chicago. Bowen saw a Facebook post promoting the same seminars at hotels in Oak Lawn, Naperville, and Rosemont. She contacted CBS 2 Investigators, a local Chicago news team and told them about the scam. CBS reporter, Dorothy Tucker went undercover and attended the seminar.

Meanwhile, Bowen showed up at the seminar in Oak Lawn to inform attendees about what she went through. “I came here to warn you, people,” she said. She advised a group of Chicagoans attending the free seminar, “Don’t give them your money.”

Meantime, inside the packed seminar, Tucker reported listening to slick salesperson says things like: “From this point on, you start changing your life.”; promises of earning quick cash, “Who wants to make $30,000 in the next 30 days?”; and finally, the sell: “$997, and you get two people and all the information you need.”

The Better Business Bureau in California is now launching an investigation on Cannabis Talk Network after calls from CBS 2 Investigators.

Watch this report by Dorothy Tucker for CBS 2 Chicago.

Lab Properties to Acquire $30 Million in Cannabis Real Estate

(Top) Cannabis real estate building. (Bottom) Grinder with marijuana. — (Top) Cannabis real estate building. Image provided by Lab Properties. (Bottom) Grinder with marijuana. Photo by Esteban Lopez on Unsplash.

Lab Properties, a real estate investment and development company dedicated to empowering the next generation of cannabis companies, announced plans to acquire $30 million of commercial cannabis real estate in 2020. Currently, Lab Properties owns and operates three properties across the state of California and serves over a dozen cannabis tenants. The company plans to grow its portfolio to $200 million over the next four years.

Bringing extensive experience in redevelopment and hands-on management, Lab Properties’ CEO Daniel Shkolnik saw the momentum behind cannabis legalization in 2016 and founded Lab Properties to become a dynamic and impactful real estate solution for emerging cannabis operations.

With the United States cannabis industry on track to deliver ~$100 billion in economic impact by 2023, thousands of operators will ultimately be faced with the challenge of finding suitable space as they expand their businesses. Given the complex and ever-evolving regulatory environment, their needs are highly specialized.

To serve these established and emerging cannabis brands, Lab Properties will be focusing on three key strategies to acquire real estate deals ranging from $2-20 million over the next 12 months:

1) Acquire income-producing real estate from existing operators. Under its sale-leaseback program, the company will purchase an existing operator’s property and lease it back to them on a long-term basis, allowing operators to unlock trapped equity or working capital. The company can also partner with growing brands looking for expansion.

2) Unlock the value in distressed situations. Lab Properties is uniquely positioned to execute deals that may have additional complexities, such as distress or urgency. Under its special situations program, Lab Properties can create certainty of deal execution and success in times of need. Operators who have had investors pull out just before closing, landlord neglect to bring the building into compliance, or a lack of liquidity to complete tenant improvements may benefit from this program.

3) Bring life to underutilized properties through redevelopment. The company sources zoned projects in key jurisdictions with the ultimate goal of activating underutilized properties through redevelopment and/or change of use.

According to CEO Daniel Shkolnik, “A big part of our culture at Lab Properties is being adaptive, seeing opportunities and acting fast to deploy capital quickly when cannabis operators need it most. We look forward to collaborating with the brightest minds to find and create value, pushing the industry forward towards a limitless future.”