(Top) New Jersey state coat of arms. Image provided by Marijuana Policy Project. (Bottom) Marijuana plant. Photo by Esteban Lopez on Unsplash.
New Jersey lawmakers approved a resolution that will allow voters to decide whether to legalize cannabis for adults’ use in November 2020.
In early November 2019, Senate President Steve Sweeney proposed a voter referral after finding there was not enough support in the Senate for the legislature to directly legalize cannabis. The voter referral resolution passed in both legislative chambers with supermajority support, with the Senate voting 24-16 in favor and the Assembly voting 49-24-1 in favor of the resolution.
If voters approve the referendum in November, New Jersey would join the 11 states and Washington, D.C. that have approved adult-use cannabis legalization. The decision to allow voters to decide on legalization comes as several other states along the East Coast are building strong momentum to pass adult-use cannabis legislation in 2020, including New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware. Several other states may consider ballot measures next November.
“While we are disappointed the legislature did not directly legalize marijuana, we are optimistic that 2020 will be the year New Jersey replaces its eight-decade-long experiment with marijuana prohibition with a more thoughtful and humane approach. Marijuana prohibition has derailed thousands of lives in New Jersey while driving marijuana production and sales to the sometimes dangerous illicit market. Only with adult-use legalization can the state regulate cannabis to protect workers, communities, and consumers.”, said Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies at the Marijuana Policy Project.
“Legalizing, taxing, and regulating marijuana is the cannabis policy New Jersey deserves. It is unacceptable to accept the status quo of prohibition that continues to negatively impact countless lives and communities. I am hopeful that New Jerseyans will vote in favor of adult-use legalization in 2020.”, added Steve Hawkins, executive director at the Marijuana Policy Project.
(Top) The Business of Cannabis Arizona Expo, Feb.13-14, 2020. (Bottom) Marijuana plant. Image by Brent Barnett from Pixabay.
The first major B2B cannabis convention in the Southwest is coming to Phoenix, Arizona. The Business of Cannabis Arizona Expo will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 13-14, 2020. Speakers and industry experts will be on hand to offer knowledgable advice from the best grow lights to legal services.
Attendees can hear from industry leaders throughout the summit. Highlights include “Harness the Sun. Choosing the Right Grow Lights – Cannabis Grow Lights 101” by Rod Brady, chief operating officer with Cultilux, a leading horticulture light bulb manufacturer, and “Critical Cleaning – The Key to Quality & Safety” presented by Michael Moussourakis, senior director of strategic affairs with Alconox Inc, a top industry leader in laboratory detergents.
Other speakers include Youtech Founder and CEO Wilbur You with his session titled “Cannabis Marketing and Agency Advantages,” which aims to help individuals in the cannabis industry navigate platforms with “policies against advertising THC and CBD,” and Joshua Alper, Harvest 360 Technologies executive vice president, in his session “Leveraging Technology in Emerging Cannabis Markets.”
In addition to daily seminars, attendees will have the opportunity to explore a wide array of regional and nationwide exhibitors to discover and network with, the full spectrum of services for your cannabis business.
Key exhibitors include Sun Valley Health, an Arizona-based company, looking to help individuals struggling to break into the cannabis business through their territory franchise opportunities, and The Bud Builders, offering “all of the services you need to begin building your company successfully,” backed up by their team of experienced cannabis consultants.
Original Cannabis Cafe logo. The establishment was formerly known as Lowell Cafe.
Lowell Cafe is now officially known as Original Cannabis Cafe, the historic first-of-its-kind restaurant is evolving from being associated with a corporate entity into a true home for the entire cannabis community and industry. The cafe is paving the way as the only restaurant in America where guests can openly consume cannabis and is a welcoming environment for people from all walks of life.
“This important social and historical establishment should belong to the cannabis community and industry, not any single cannabis corporation. By no longer being branded with a single company, our Cannabis Cafe will focus on its goal of presenting our diners with as diverse a range as possible of cannabis from small independent growers and entrepreneurs.” said Executive Chef and Partner, Andrea Drummer.
Tens of thousands of neighbors, cannabis-enthusiasts, and canna-curious patrons have dined and smoked at the Cannabis Cafe since opening October 1. The cafe continues to make headlines with global notoriety in its bold pursuit of the normalization of public cannabis consumption in society.
“Since we opened our guests and employees have colloquially referred to the restaurant as the Cannabis Cafe when talking about us to their friends and on social media. We’re excited to make the name change official as we focus on the community” said Ami Gan, VP of Marketing and Communications.
The Cannabis Cafe is home to the cannabis industry as a whole. The cafe’s cannabis menu offers over 100 strains of cannabis flowers from 45 different growers. Complementing the flower experience, Chef Drummer offers a menu highlighting elevated comfort foods and seasonal dishes. Coming soon the Cannabis Cafe will be launching events including live music.
The Original Cannabis Cafe is focused on guest experience and its future as part of the community within the city of West Hollywood.
Hands holding marijuana plant. Photo by davide ragusa on Unsplash.
Cresco Labs has completed its first harvest from its expanded cultivation facility in Lincoln, IL. With the recent growth of the state’s medical market and adult-use legalization going live on January 1st, Cresco has been scaling operations to be able to accommodate what is expected to be one of the largest cannabis markets in the country.(1) As the only operator in Illinois with three (3) cultivation facilities, Cresco has a unique competitive advantage and is positioned to build on its already market-leading position(2).
To date, Cresco has been able to capture an approximate 25% market share(2) through its original 35,000 square feet of aggregate cultivation space across its three facilities. Earlier this year, after the expansion of the medical program and the passing of adult-use legislation, the Company embarked on an ambitious expansion plan that will bring the total area under cultivation to approximately 243,000 square feet by year-end. At the Lincoln location alone, Cresco has created the largest cultivation facility in Illinois(3) at roughly 224,000 sqft and added over 140,000 sqft of additional indoor and greenhouse cultivation space. The first production from the initial phases of this expansion was harvested last week. Cresco is legally entitled to expand its three facilities to have an aggregate total of 630,000 sqft of flowering canopy – the largest capacity footprint in the state(3).
“Cresco Labs has worked tirelessly to bring additional capacity to the Illinois cannabis market. The beneficial changes in the medical law created a rapid increase in demand that has recently outpaced supply. With this first harvest out of the expanded Lincoln facility, we are thrilled to bring this additional capacity to the patients of Illinois and the consumers in the soon to launch adult-use program,” said Charlie Bachtell, Cresco Labs CEO and Co-founder. “With the scale of this expansion phase, additional incremental production from the expansion areas will gradually increase ramping up for market distribution starting now and accelerating late Q1 through Q2. The ability to restock shelves reliably to ensure customers always have access to product is key to both generating solid financial results and building long term customer loyalty with medical patients and adult-use consumers.”
On October 6, 2019, Cresco Labs announced that it had received Early Approval Adult-Use Dispensing Organization Licenses for all five of its existing Illinois medical cannabis dispensaries, making it the first company in the state to be approved for both adult-use cultivation and dispensary operations. The company successfully won three Chicago adult-use dispensary locations including two in the heavily trafficked Central district for the five additional dispensaries permitted to open in that district. The Company sells its Remedi, Cresco, Reserve and Mindy’s Edible products wholesale throughout Illinois and the Company’s products are currently available at every dispensary in the state.
(1) Illinois is projected to be a $2-4 billion market at maturity according to Marijuana Business Daily making it one of the largest cannabis markets in the US. (2) According to the monthly State of Illinois wholesale sales figures, Cresco has the leading market share in the state with approximately 25% market share. (3) The state of Illinois, Department of Agriculture cannabis cultivation licenses
Cannabis CBD oil extracts in jars herb and leaves. Concept medical marijuana.
The legal cannabis market is forecast to reach US$148 billion by 2026, with Barclays European Consumer Staples Report predicting the global cannabis market will reach US$272 billion by 2028.
Surprisingly, despite still stringent legislation, the Australian legal cannabis market is also experiencing heightened activity. Australia’s Office of Drug Control has so far issued 69 licenses to cultivate, produce, or manufacture medicinal cannabis.
This includes:
24 licenses for cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use,
16 for cultivation for research, and
23 for the manufacture of medicinal cannabis products.
Creso Pharma has established itself in this market as an early mover within the medicinal cannabis sector. Its focus: high margin pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products in human and animal health.
As a global entity, Creso represents an early entry point for investors to dip their toes in the global legal cannabis market. The company has a diverse product portfolio of cannabis and hemp-derived products focused on four key areas: therapeutics, nutraceuticals, animal health, and cosmetics.
Since 2016, it has been committed to build a business rather than ride a trend, albeit a potentially lucrative one. Within this environment, Creso is aggressively pursuing the launch of nine pharmaceutical-grade products, along with key certifications and strategic partnerships that will accelerate revenue growth.
Creso has already launched four sales generation products across cosmetics, animal health, nutraceuticals, and therapeutics verticals. The company expects its growth plans to be supported by funding measures, revenue increases, and cost management initiatives.
While its operations continue to move from strength to strength, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the company in 2019. A failed takeover bid by Canadian cannabis giant PharmaCielo Limited which targeted Creso for the breadth and strength of its current portfolio rocked its share price. The bid valued Creso at A$122 million; the deal fell over in November due to a softening in the broader medicinal cannabis market. It did, however, highlight the potential investment opportunity in the ASX listed Australian company.
The proposed takeover valued Creso at 63 cents per share. The most recent placement was conducted at 19 cents per share – the takeover price representing a 230% premium.
Creso’s strengths are emphasized by its year-on-year revenue growth, providing a sound base as new products are brought to market.
The company recently launched its cannaQIX range in Africa in conjunction with leading South African pharmaceutical company, Pharma Dynamics, a subsidiary of Lupin Limited. Initial orders worth approximately A$300,000 for the cannaQIX product range have been made and Creso anticipates the products will available in South Africa in Q1 2020.
In animal health, Creso’s partner Verbal is introducing the two initial anibidiol products into further countries in Europe and will be launching Creso Pharma’s new animal health products in the near future.
For both human and animal health, Creso has initiated its reach into North America, where it is in discussions with several potential partners to introduce all 13 products, human and animal, into selected US states.
Products are made with standardized dosing and formulations through the application of pharmaceutical rigor, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, and proprietary, innovative delivery technologies.
Also, they carry the well-known “Swiss Made” label that is synonymous with premium-quality products. The Swiss connection is significant as Swiss-based CEO Dr. Miri Halperin Wernli is a well-regarded senior Pharma executive with over 24 years of strategic and operational leadership in global drug and product development in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.
Creso believes the value of its fundamental operations continues to grow, supported by the company’s portfolio of products, established operations, corporate interest, and global market opportunities.
Futorola exclusive Mike Tyson line premium rolling accessory.
Mike Tyson and Tyson Ranch are teaming up with the Dutch rolling company Futurola to launch a new line of premium rolling equipment. The collaboration premiered this week at the 2019 MJBizCon in Las Vegas.
Futurola, The Future of Rolling, is known for producing world-class rolling and smoking accessories. Futurola was founded from Future Coffee Shop in Amsterdam in 1996. Driven by the spirit of innovation, Futurola continuously evolves to lead and exceed industry standards; to develop world-class lines of rolling and production devices that cater to consumers and businesses of many types.
The Amsterdam and U.S. based company’s exclusive line of Mike Tyson accessories will include a custom roller and terpene-infused blunt wraps and cones— with more products to be released in 2020.
“We’re thrilled to announce our new line of premium rolling equipment in conjunction with Futurola,” said Tyson Ranch CEO, Rob Hickman. “Both Tyson Ranch and Futurola share a commitment to outstanding quality– and we could not have found a better partner for our first international co-branding deal.”
“We know the crowds at MJBizCon will be as excited as we are about the new Futurola X Mike Tyson accessories,” he added.
The Ranch Companies, Inc. was founded by iconic boxer and entertainer Mike Tyson and branding expert Rob Hickman to create a diversified cannabis company. The Company leverages the unique operating backgrounds of management together with the massive marketability of top-tier celebrities with high-value international brands. The Company does not engage in any “plant-touching” operations but supports numerous aspects of the segment with their encompassing goods and services.
Personalized cannabis consultation on Veriheal platform. Image provided by Veriheal.
For those who are keen on getting their medical cannabis cards, the process can be somewhat intimidating, especially if they are unaware of the nuances. While each state program might slightly differ, the steps to getting a medical cannabis card are fairly straightforward across the board. In states with an active medical cannabis program, it is required that prospective patients become ‘certified’ before sending their application and information to the designated governing body. While this infrastructure appears to be sound and stable, it does pose some potential problems down the road for the patient.
Since cannabis is largely understudied and not completely backed by authoritative research, the standard healthcare professional is not likely to be well-informed about it as a whole. While doctors can ‘recommend’ or ‘approve’ of cannabinoid therapy, their expertise usually ends there and renders them unable to offer any further guidance. This leaves patients to fend for themselves in an uncharted and confusing market where the law is not clearly laid out in black or white. It can be scary for some and even be off-putting which will ultimately turn people away from potential options that could have been legitimately beneficial.
Since companies in the cannabis sector are not allowed to make any medical claims, they resort to submitting disclaimers to avoid any legal ramifications. Product and website disclaimers will tell people to seek the advice of a medical professional before using cannabis products. But when most physicians have little to no advice to give, therein lies a big problem. This is where Veriheal steps in as a guiding beacon of light.
Bonafide experts are the ones that are looked up to for advice. Nutritionists, dieticians, fitness experts and the like all have specialized knowledge that lets them be able to formulate wellness plans that fit their client’s interests. The cannabis industry is in a critical need for such experts who are willing to educate the general public and provide patients with some clarity on what products to use or, how to use them, and where to access them.
Veriheal is renowned for its swift and effortless medical cannabis card consults. But recently, the company introduced a new personalized cannabis consultation service that addresses the discrepancy between uninformed physicians and their patients. The greatest thing about this new service is that it is available for everyone across all 50 states. The experts conducting these consultations are a team of qualified medical professionals who are well versed in scholarly cannabis research and can thoroughly educate anyone interested in turning to medical cannabis therapy. This information is available for everyone, even those who reside in prohibition states.
These discreet personalized cannabis consults are geared toward anybody interested in pursuing alternative cannabis medicine, one does not need to already be an active patient in their state program. These assessments are simply a one-on-one discussion with a specialist who can further target and refine their recommendations based on a patient’s interests. After their appointment, patients will receive an in-depth suggested strategy covering information such as cannabinoid and terpene profiles to target, individual state laws, and guidance on due-diligence. Everything is individually tailored to accommodate the patient’s needs and desires. Should those needs change, patients can certainly book another follow-up to speak with the experts further. Veriheal’s main goal is for everyone to leave their appointment with confidence and reassurance. They will be able to go on and properly navigate the cannabis market on their own accord or move forward and apply for their medical cannabis card should they decide to do so.
To successfully implement a cannabis reform, it is necessary to educate where possible. Veriheal is at the forefront of the movement, and eager to improve the public’s perception of cannabis and offer encouragement for those who might be hesitant to come forward to discover cannabis. By offering easy avenues for patients to get their medical cards and informational treatment consults that are specially built for the individual, they make a point to put the patient’s needs first. They believe patients have the right to take charge of their healing. By giving the power to the patients, the stigma will one day be broken.
Gary Hall, Jr. has joined the Board of Advisors for C3 International. Image provided by C3 International.
Olympic Hall of Fame Inductee, Gary Hall, Jr. has joined the Board of Advisors for C3 International, a biopharmaceutical company that has played a leadership role in the emerging medical cannabis health sector.
Gary Hall, Jr. is a healthcare-focused board member, patient advocate and key opinion leader with expertise in strategic alliance, marketing, clinical distribution, sports science, medical research, and patient engagement. Hall has over 80 keynote presentations internationally, 10 Olympic medals in swimming and is an Olympic Hall of Fame Inductee. Using accomplishment in sports as a platform to advance diabetes advocacy for over 20 years, Gary amassed an influential network of policymakers, politicians, healthcare industry executives, diabetes care specialists, medical research, nutrition, philanthropic, sport, physical activity, obesity prevention, sports medicine, and sports science organizations.
Gary has testified three times before Senate subcommittees on healthcare-related issues and was a featured speaker at the 2016 Vatican hosted Cellular Horizons conference on stem cell therapy. He is the first recipient of USA Swimming’s Humanitarian Award. One of his health community health initiatives was recognized at the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit. He has presented at the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, American College of Sports Medicine, International Olympic Committee Medical Commission and National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute conferences.
Idrasil is the first standardized form of medical cannabis. It offers all of the medicinal analgesic and therapeutic benefits of cannabis but is a superior alternative to opiates and life-threatening narcotics because physicians and caregivers can provide patients with safe, non-addictive, measurable dosages.
“The health benefits of CBD seem apparent and C3 International is the only company I’ve found that has Cannabinoid in a divisible, consistently dosed tablet,” said Gary Hall Jr. “It’s an honor to join the team. I look forward to providing perspective on potential athletic and healthcare applications. Idrasil aims to be the worldwide leader in medical cannabis.”
“We are incredibly excited to welcome such an influential medical activist like Gary Hall Jr. onto our Board of Advisors,” said Steele Clarke Smith III, Chairman, and CEO of C3 International. “Hall will bring his vast expertise to our innovative biopharmaceutical company and we can’t wait to work with him!”
Conditions treated with Idrasil include, but are not limited to, AIDS; anorexia; arthritis; autism; anxiety/depression; cancer; chronic pain; glaucoma; migraines; persistent muscle spasms; Parkinson’s; seizures; severe nausea; Tourette’s Syndrome, and any other chronic or a persistent medical symptoms that substantially limit major life activities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Idrasil consists of a proprietary blend of concentrated cannabis extract that is 100% natural and organic. C3’s proprietary process isolates all of the cannabinoids from the cloned cannabis plant, resulting in pure natural extraction in pill form to eliminate the unwanted euphoria and social risks associated with smoking cannabis products and unpredictable dosages of edible confections. Idrasil is a natural product that looks like any pill on the market.
Idrasil is aseptically processed and bacteria-free with a manufacturing process that is FDA-compliant. Idrasil is manufactured in a sterile ISO 9001 certified laboratory with a standardized and consistent 12.5mg, 25mg, or 100mg dose pill. Idrasil is categorized by the FDA as Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS).
Cake and latte with cannabis leaf design and concentrate. Images provided by Puurfx.
Puurfx introduces its subscription box services, delivering the luxuries of CBD straight to your door. Puurfx launched intending to provide premium CBD products to those who are looking for high-quality, natural remedies amidst a saturated and sometimes confusing market. With a mission of promoting wellness, Puurfx seeks to educate consumers on what makes a quality product and to make choosing safe and easy. With Puurfx’s recent website and social launch, the curated seasonal delivery boxes, featuring hand-selected full-sized products, will provide a huge relief for those who are just breaking into the CBD world for themselves.
Johanna Espina, the CEO, founded Puurfx on the belief that everyone should have access to premium CBD products. She distinguishes her brand from other CBD curating companies in the careful vetting of all the brands she chooses to feature, hand-picking every product through every step of their production process, from farm to shelf. She ensures their products have been sourced for the highest quality, are scientifically-backed in their claims, and comply with all FDA requirements. With Puurfx, she seeks to provide transparency and meaningful relief for consumers.
“I began to realize that clean cannabinoids are scarce,” said Espina. “I saw people blindly spending money on CBD products, without proper education on safety, ingredients, production quality and facts. And what’s more, I found that some products contained little to no CBD at all, while others contained unlisted ingredients.”
Espina launched Puurfx’s premium subscription boxes to provide customers with a unique variety of products that are US-grown, non-GMO, certified organic and guaranteed to be backed by scientists and CBD professionals alike. Each subscription box is tailored to a customer’s specific needs and features educational resources.
“I want to give people the very best quality products that I can find and use myself,” added Espina. She plans to provide her customers with insights into the CBD process, industry, news, guidance and more.
The Emerald Cup at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA on Dec. 14-15.
The Emerald Cup returns December 14 & 15, 2019 for the 16th annual competition and festival, bringing top cannabis experts, educators and farmers together with consumers. The event is the largest, most-respected organic outdoor cannabis competition in the world and will be held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA. Named for the Emerald Triangle growing region of Northern California’s Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity counties, the Cup celebrates Emerald Triangle’s harvest and will feature over 500 contest entries this year.
The weekend will also feature performances from just-announced Saturday headliner Flatbush Zombies as well as Santigold, Steel Pulse, Emancipator, The Polish Ambassador, Expendables, the Redwood Stage presented by Northern Nights Music Festival with DJ Crazy, Cofresi and much more (previously announced performer DJ Snoopadelic will no longer be performing due to a scheduling conflict).
To encourage community service in the Emerald Cup family, the event producers have announced multiple service-related endeavors in partnership with Santa Rosa. Before the event, the Emerald Cup team will be helping nurture the health of the Martin Luther King Jr. Park by planting and re-staking trees for the public to enjoy for years to come. The Emerald Cup will also host a food drive benefiting the Redwood Empire Food Bank. While patrons can bring individual items for donation, Redwood Empire Food Bank would prefer bags of “full meal” donations that would include ingredients for a full meal such as pasta, pasta sauce, along with fruits and veggies. “In acknowledgment of the recent and ongoing trials our community is facing, from the fires and power outages to the continuing changes and challenges with industry regulations, we have decided to direct our energies toward service to our community,” notes Emerald Cup founder and producer Tim Blake.
The Emerald Cup has also developed into the destination for agricultural experts, industry innovators, health and wellness advocates, cultural enthusiasts and the canna-curious to celebrate and expand their horizons. The Marketplace allows attendees to taste the terroir of California, featuring vendors including 20 seed companies bringing exclusive releases to the event and sun-grown cannabis vendors from throughout the state. The weekend will see 300 brands including sponsors Cookies, The Botanist, Flow Kana, Elyon, Connected Cannabis, Alien Labs, Hempire and SC Labs; over 100 educational sessions and podcast recordings featuring over 160 speakers including NBA Star and cannabis advocate Matt Barnes, Peter Tosh’s Estate executor and daughter Niambe McIntosh, cannabis entrepreneur and The Notorious B.I.G.’s son C.J. Wallace, Dr. Bronner CEO David Bronner, Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Virginie Boone, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ryan Mathis, and NORML’s Justin Strekal; and much more. HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project will also be with us this year, making some noise and registering voters at their booth where people can pick up a free Cannabis Voter pin.
For the first time, the Emerald Cup will also have an app available for both iOS and Android users. With such vast and diverse reprogramming, attendees are encouraged to download the app for real-time updates throughout the weekend and to better enhance their festival experience. The app, full weekend schedule, and tickets for 21+ patrons are available now at https://theemeraldcup.com.
Yes! Cannabis! 