Yes! Cannabis!

SHERBINSKIS Opens U.S. Flagship Cannabis Dispensary In Los Angeles

SHERBINSKIS cannabis dispensary in Los Angeles. Images provided by SHERBINSKIS.

SHERBINSKIS—the premium cannabis and lifestyle brand founded by famed cannabis breeder Mario Guzman a.k.a. Mr. Sherbinski, proudly opens the doors of its flagship North American dispensary in partnership with premium white glove cannabis delivery service Emjay, also operating from within the store. Staking out a spot at the epicenter of West Coast culture, this first-of-its-kind dispensary opens its doors on legendary Fairfax Avenue shopping destination in Los Angeles.

“As a brand, we feel right at home on Fairfax. It’s a location we’ve always respected as a haven for creativity and culture. We’re excited to get settled in and kick off this chapter of SHERBINSKIS in Los Angeles,” said Mario Guzman.

Not only does the popular street culture cannabis brand firmly plant its roots in Los Angeles with a locale unlike anything else in the industry, but it also meets an overwhelming demand for a dispensary that reaches L.A. faithful among a haven designed to present the best and brightest brands in modern-day retail.

The SHERBINSKIS store covers 2,500 square feet and will serve as a platform for showcasing collaborations spanning from music to fashion, tech, and philanthropy. Among its architectural highlights, is a massive, textured mural-style budwall, floor to ceiling front glass windows, sleek and modern shelving in SHERBINSKIS signature orange and white hues. The dispensary boasts highly curated premium products from the industry’s most prominent and culturally relevant emerging brands, including dosist, Double Barrel, and Select.

Customers traveling from around the world will be offered a range of SHERBINSKIS sought after premium cannabis products, including its world-famous cannabis strains, Sunset Sherbet, Bacio Gelato, Mochi Gelato, Gello Gelato, Acai Berry Gelato, and more, across a myriad of consumption options: flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, and oil extracts.

For more information, please visit www.sherbinskis.com.

Khiron Given Green Light to Commercialize High-THC Cannabis for Domestic and Export Sales

Closeup of marijuana flower bud. Image by David Cardinez from Pixabay.

Khiron Life Sciences Corp. becomes the first company in Colombia authorized to commercialize psychoactive, high-THC cannabis for both domestic and export purposes. Representing a key milestone towards Khiron’s stated timeline to bring medical cannabis options to market, the authorization comes as a result of commercial quotas allocated to Khiron by the Colombian Technical Quotas Group (“TQG”), which permit the Company to cultivate and commercialize up to 560 kg – or approximately, 65,000 units – of psychoactive, high-THC cannabis in 2019.

Juan Diego Alvarez, Khiron Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs commented, “Today’s receipt of cultivation quotas from the TQG is undoubtedly a game-changer. With these quotas, we become the first and only cannabis company in Colombia with the ability to commercialize high- and low-THC whole plant extract, both nationally and abroad. More importantly, however, it paves the way for our patients to receive high-THC medical cannabis prescriptions that treat key indications and improve their quality of life. That, ultimately, is our first priority.”

In Colombia, production of “psychoactive cannabis” – defined as THC greater than or equal to 1% – is strictly regulated, involving a rigorous process that requires companies to register strains with the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), complete product and stability testing, and prove legal demand for their products in order to receive commercial quotas. Upon completing this process, Khiron has received two key quotas for commercial cultivation and commercial fabrication from the TQG.

Under the commercial cultivation quotas allocated by the TQG, the Company is authorized to cultivate 560 kg of high-THC cannabis for commercial purposes in 2019. Commercial cultivation is expected to begin in Q4 2019 and will utilize Company strains registered in the ICA’s National Cultivar Registry.

In addition to cultivation, commercial fabrication quotas granted by the TQG allow the Company to manufacture high-THC whole plant extract for both export and domestic commercialization. This includes export of whole plant extract as raw material to Uruguay, and through the Mercosur trading bloc, to the Brazilian medical cannabis market, valued at CAD $18 billion in 2018. Further, Khiron is also authorized to manufacture high-THC whole plant extract for domestic use, positioning Khiron to be the first cannabis company to produce customized medical cannabis prescriptions, known as magistral preparations, in the country. Through these end products, the Company aims to treat up to 15,000 initial patients in Colombia with three specific indications, including chronic pain, anxiety, and nausea. Manufacturing of high-THC whole plant extract is anticipated to begin Q1 2020.

No word yet if the high-TCH products will be available in the U.S. cannabis market.

California Suspended Over 400 Cannabis Businesses. Why?

Marijuana grower farm. Image by noexcusesradio from Pixabay.

California is one of the booming cannabis markets in the whole country. According to research company BDS Analytics, the state is expected to hit $3.1 billion in sales this year; that number is expected to reach $7.2 billion by 2024.

California presents a tremendous growth opportunity for the industry. And so when investors learned that the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) and the California Department of Public Health suspended more than 400 marijuana licenses, it raised some questions and caused investors to pause on investing for now.

So, why have companies been suspended? The reason is not related to any illegal actions. Rather, it looks to be due to administrative matters. A variation of cannabis businesses, including retailers, wholesalers, and distributors failed to achieve training and other steps necessary to enroll in the state’s track-and-trace system. Those are critical parts enabling regulators to stay on top of the industry and supply chain.

Regulators suspended the businesses after they missed to complete the duties on time. As of Nov. 7th, 407 suspensions were imposed on businesses. Still, the halts are not permanent and the licenses can be reinstated.

This disruption will affect the industry, however. Even though only 13 production licenses were suspended, cannabis retailers and distributors can have an implied influence on growers. Numerous cannabis companies are grappling to make free cash flow as it is, and these suspensions could make things worse. Cannabis raisers need to be able to sell their products to be able to finance their processes, and the suspensions could have a notable impact on sales and cash flow. And if less marijuana is grown, the snowball effect can affect retailers, distributors, and other cannabis-related businesses.

On the flip side, businesses that are still open could benefit from this. With less supply available, the price of cannabis products can be increased, which will grow their profits. Unfortunately, that is not good news for the cannabis consumers because those price hikes will be passed onto them.

Shadow Box Farms Offering $10,000 Reward After Thieves Steal $1M Worth of Marijuana Goods

Marijuana flower buds. Image by Michael Moriarty from Pixabay.

Shadow Box Farms of Southeast Portland was the unfortunate target of robbery last October by criminals who stole $1 million worth of marijuana merchandise. The thieves broke in by cutting their way through the roof and climbing down a ladder then proceeded to steal jars of marijuana concentrate and processed flowers.

A security camera captured a masked man as he swung at the camera to knock it out. However, other cameras captured the crew as they went to work.

Watch the video.

Thieves Steals $1M Worth of Marijuana Products From Shadowbox Farms. Reported by KOIN 6 News.

According to Tim Winner, Shadowbox Farms President, the thieves stole more than 400 pounds of finished product including 55,000 grams of oil with each jar taking more than 100 hours to make.

“They created a daisy chain on the ladder,” he said. “One person would be here, one person would be in the middle and one person would be at the top and they’d just hand it up as they went up.”

“To get to this state, there is a lot of love and a lot of work that goes into it and it was all taken away,” Winner said. “We had produced enough oil for our year and wasn’t anticipating it all going out the roof.”

He said the company is insured but he’s still giving a $10,000 reward to get the criminals off of the streets. He assesses the state of Oregon will lose around $230,000 in tax revenue due to the robbery.

“A smaller company, they’d be out of business,” Winner stated. “All those jobs would be lost. All that product that could have been sold legally in the state of Oregon and tax revenue collected on it is all gone.”

Winner believes the thieves had taken all the stolen items across the state lines where the market is higher.

“I think I was surprised by just how brash they were and the amount of damage they did, just the total disregard for the people who work here, the industry,” said Winner.

Anyone with information about the suspects can contact the Portland Police Bureau at 503-823-3333.

mood33 Launches Hemp-Infused Herbal Teas

mood33 Hemp-Infused Herbal Teas: Joy, Peace, Passion, Calm, Wellbeing, Energy. Image provided my mood33.

mood33, California’s premier innovator of cannabis beverages, announced the launch of its new line of Hemp-Infused Herbal Teas today. Mindfully sweetened to create six bliss-inducing flavors, mood33’s brand extension is infused with organic, US-grown, full-spectrum hemp extract, premium botanicals, and real fruit juices to bring consumers the beneficial superpowers of the hemp plant in an enjoyable offering of delicious herbal iced teas.

Each bottle of mood33 provides 33mg of full-spectrum hemp to effectively support the body’s endocannabioid system (ECS). The six delicious mood-specific flavors each offer a unique blend of herbs and botanicals designed to work synergistically to deliver different mood-based “states”. Whether you seek Joy, Peace, Calm, Energy, Passion or Wellbeing, there’s no waiting to feel the effect, thanks to mood33’s fast-absorbing nano-emulsion technology. mood33 utilizes proprietary CBD microencapsulation to ensure its hemp extracts achieve water solubility and increased bioavailability. In addition to being vegan and non-GMO, mood33’s line of hemp teas are non-intoxicating and free of preservatives, artificial sweeteners or colors. The convenient, resealable aluminum bottle allows you to drink whatever amount you prefer and “chill” the rest for later.

mood33 is dedicated to revitalizing hemp as an important new agricultural system, proudly powered by ethical and sustainably sourced Evo Hemp. “We are psyched to be the first ready-to-drink tea beverage to offer consumers a U.S.-based hemp supply chain that helps Native American farmers and their families build a better economy by growing organic hemp,” says Co-Founder Eric Schnell.

mood33’s Hemp-Infused Herbal Tea will debut at BevNET Live in Santa Monica, California on December 6-10th. Consumers in New York can find mood33’s Hemp-Infused Herbal Teas at select grocery outlets in November, and the brand will be available nationwide starting in January 2020. The complete line-up includes:

Joy – Peach & Yerba Mate
Energy – Raspberry Lemon, Guayusa and Green Tea
Peace – Watermelon, Mint & Basil
Wellbeing – Blueberries, Reishi Shrooms & Hops
Calm – Lavender & Chamomile
Passion – Passionfruit, Hibiscus & Lime

Cannabiscope – A New Cannabis Tech Method To Shop For Cannabis And CBD

Marijuana flower bud. Image by SeaweedJeezus from Pixabay.

The next generation of cannabis retail technology has arrived to solve one of the biggest pain points facing mainstream cannabis consumers: Deciding which strain, product or brand to purchase. Introducing Cannabiscope, a new Software as a Service (Saas) platform combining science, data, and technology to reinvent how retailers merchandise cannabis, and how both medical and recreational consumers make smart, well-informed purchase decisions.

The Cannabiscope shopping tool, customized to meet each organizations’ needs, is an interactive wheel that invites consumers to learn and shop at the same time. Whether browsing online or at a retail location, through a series of clicks shoppers select desired effects, preferred delivery methods, flavor, scents, dosage and more as the Cannabiscope wheel guides the consumer to the right product for them. The education model of the wheel is designed to turn cannabis confusion into curiosity, aiding newly informed customers to explore and make confident decisions on purchase choices that will more accurately reflect their desired cannabis effect.

“Whether they’re hoping to treat pain, anxiety or sleep issues, it is difficult for consumers to compare different cannabis strains or products and make an informed, confident purchase decision,” said Cannabiscope co-founder and CEO David Schacter. “We want to change how people think about and understand cannabis, and provide a science-led, data-backed platform for education and discovery.”

For businesses, Cannabiscope offers a customizable version of the wheel to reflect, track and market current inventory in real-time. In-store kiosks or online models present customers with informative, accurate menu offerings while providing robust back-end consumer insights to retailers. The platform allows brands to display detailed product descriptions, dosage information, product photos, and certified lab results, allowing both medical patients and recreational customers to purchase with confidence.

“We believe the combination of the wheel’s ability to integrate buyer intent, consumer data, and information gathered from multiple points of sale will give our partners an edge in this incredibly competitive space through unique data insights,” stated Cannabiscope co-founder Paul Shockley. “Whether you are a retailer, cultivator or educator, Cannabiscope creates a new front door for your business.”

The robust content management system and integrated approach to point of sales tracking are designed around education, to solve for the lack of industry consumer data, and to empower the growth and success of the now and future cannabis industry. Cannabiscope’s technology is currently in use by over 250 cannabis companies and ancillary businesses.

In addition to the current cannabis-centric version of the wheel, the company has completed a recent round of funding to launch a CBD-specific, e-commerce enabled version, expected in the second quarter of 2020.

Give Cannabiscope a spin!

CannaCon Northwest Happening In Tacoma January 10-11, 2020

East 21st Street Bridge, Tacoma, Washington. Image provided by CannaCon.

The CannaCon Northwest trade conference is returning to Tacoma, Washington on January 10-11, 2020 for another high-quality weekend of cannabis business networking and education. Washington is one of two states to first legalize marijuana for recreational use back in 2012.

Cannabis remains one of the fastest-growing industries of the last decade, but regulatory restrictions make doing business in this industry far more complicated than others. Year after year, however, CannaCon has established itself as the go-to cannabis trade conference, so come join an exciting collection of exhibitors and attendees at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center for the return of CannaCon’s flagship B2B cannabis event, which celebrates innovation and business disruptions in the cannabis space.

CannaCon Northwest is focusing this year on the technology and cultivation innovations making waves in the Washington and Oregon adult-use markets, including new advancements in climate control and plant genetics.

“We feel Washington and Oregon are at a point now to really be industry leaders in terms of new technology and efficient farming,” said CannaCon’s Director of Marketing, Angela Grelle.

Each year, the event sports a host of unique and educational seminars that balance out a weekend of networking on the exhibition floor. Seminars for this year will include:

Will Your Small Business Survive Interstate Commerce?
Smart Tax Planning and Accounting Strategies for Your Budding Business
Cannabis Business Operations: The Basics Of What You Absolutely Need To Know If You’re Going To Operate In This Industry
Beyond Security Compliance to Market Differentiator
Sell Joy! How to Write Compliant Claims and Messaging for Your Cannabis Brand
The Future of Cannabis Marketing & Advertising Technology
Modern Website Musts to Establish Credibility with Customers & Compete Online
Government Relations – Writing Your Own Future

The conference will also reserve space dedicated specifically for I-502 cannabis professionals to conduct business networking; these professional mixers will take place from 2:00-3:00 pm on both Friday and Saturday. Light snacks will be provided and there will be a Cannabis Alliance representative on-site to discuss policy issues, so keep your eyes peeled for the location announcement as the event draws near.

CannaCon Northwest tickets are now available at discounted prices. 2-day tickets, including access to both the seminars as well as the exposition floor, are currently available at $150, while a single day pass is $100. Cheaper tickets that only grant access to the exhibition floor are also available for people who want to laser-focus on the event’s B2B cannabis networking opportunities.

Visit CannaCon.org to buy tickets, become an exhibitor, or learn more about this and other CannaCon conferences.

Sana Packaging Launches 2nd Line of Cannabis Packaging Made From Reclaimed Ocean Plastics

(Top) The Sana Ocean Screw-Top lid and glass jar. (Bottom) Marijuana bud. — (Top) The Sana Ocean Screw-Top lid and glass jar. Image provided by Sana Packaging. (Bottom) Marijuana bud. Photo by Ndispensable on Unsplash.

Sana Packaging announced the launch of its second line of cannabis packaging made from reclaimed ocean plastics. The company designs and develops differentiated, sustainable and compliant packaging solutions for the cannabis industry using 100 percent plant-based hemp plastic and 100 percent reclaimed ocean plastic.

The Sana Ocean Screw-Top lids and glass jars are available in several colors and sizes. The lids are child-resistant and made from 100 percent reclaimed ocean plastic in partnership with Oceanworks.

Oceanworks is the global marketplace for recycled ocean plastics. Their network reduces the need for new plastics by intercepting and recycling plastic waste that is impacting our oceans. The organization partners with collection and processing agents around the world to bring trusted sources of ocean plastic materials to consumers eager to use their purchasing power to make a difference.

“The Sana Ocean Screw-Tops are the first of their kind and we can’t wait to see the impact they have on the market,” says Ron Basak-Smith, co-founder and CEO of Sana Packaging. “Our pricing is increasingly competitive and the Sana Ocean Screw-Tops can replace any 53-400 closures currently being used in the market.”

Earlier this year, Sana Packaging launched the Sana Ocean Tubes. The Sana Ocean Tubes are available in 110mm and 78mm sizes. With the help of their customers, Sana Packaging has already removed more than 16 tons (32,000 pounds) of plastic waste from our oceans.

Kuida CBD Skincare Products Now Available In The U.S.

Khiron Life Sciences Corp., a vertically integrated cannabis leader with core operations in Latin America, announced the official launch of the company’s Kuida brand in the United States. Beginning November 20, Kuida’s line of CBD skincare products will become available for purchase to American consumers at retail, initially in Los Angeles, before a planned expansion in priority states where the sale of hemp-derived CBD is permitted.

In the California market, Kuida will initially be distributed and sold through a partnership with leading lifestyle media and retail brand, Cannabis Now. With a prime flagship location in Los Angeles and an expanding retail network including three planned stores across major US cities, Cannabis Now offers a selection of non-THC health and wellness products in an experiential retail environment designed to educate both experienced and new cannabis consumers. Through an exclusive activation at Cannabis Now’s high-traffic Beverly Hills location, the Kuida brand will target an affluent, on-trend audience of beauty and cannabis consumers, influencers, and professionals across Los Angeles as well as the wider US market.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first Colombian brand to introduce legal CBD products in the US market,” stated Elsa Navarro, Skin Unit Director of Khiron Life Sciences. “As we enter the United States market and commence sales, we bring proven success in brand building, a scientifically-backed, GMP lab-made product, and a powerful branding and marketing campaign that resonates with consumers. As a result, we find ourselves in a strong position to reach consumers and gain market share in the fast-growing US skincare market.”

Eugenio Garcia, CEO, and Founder at Cannabis Now comments: “At Cannabis Now, we are disrupting the cannabis retail space to introduce first-of-its-kind experiential and education-focused experiences. Khiron shares our commitment to innovation and high-quality products that help improve the consumer experience, and Kuida is an ideal addition to our retail marketplace. We are very excited to share Kuida with our customer base and wide following in the US.”

In addition to in-store programming, the Khiron will also support the retail pop-up and drive sales through a comprehensive marketing campaign spanning mass media, experiential activations, social media, and influencer partnerships. Kuida will further collaborate with Cannabis Now on educational content as well as print and digital advertising, leveraging the brand’s media offering to reach its following of 4.2 million US consumers.

Thailand Built The Largest Medical Marijuana Facility In Southeast Asia

Indoor cannabis farm. Image by trailblazin from Pixabay.

Thailand has built the biggest industrial-scale medical marijuana facility in Southeast Asia. The medical marijuana facility in Chiang Mai has 12,000 plants under agriculture.

Differences over the judgment of cannabis appear to be gaining momentum. On September 2, government officials visited a ceremony at Northern Thailand’s Maejo University in Chiang Mai where researchers planted 12,000 new marijuana plants. Seeds for the 12,000 plants were presented by the government’s Department of Medical Service.

Maejo University has produced its own type of cannabis plants of medical research and health. The university has reportedly developed a marijuana strain it calls “Issara” (independence) which offers equal percentages of CBD and THC.

Additionally, Thailand also announced that it will soon allow all Thais to grow up to six cannabis plants at home to sell to the government for medical use.

Thailand’s Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) wishes to use the plants to make one million bottles of CBD cannabis oil. Each containing five milliliters of the CBD cannabis oil, by February 2020.

“These are historic first steps on the path to allowing people to grow cannabis in their homes,” said newly appointed Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

“In the near future, families will be able to plant it in their back gardens like any other herb.“ The university will be a center where ordinary people can learn how to plant and grow good quality cannabis. Cannabis is not an issue of politics, it is a product that can benefit people’s health,” he said.

However, recreational marijuana use remains illegal in Thailand with punishments including imprisonment. Cannabis supporters hope the medical marijuana boom will eventually result in freer laws on recreational use.