Tabla de contenidos para Spring 2020 en Cannabis & Tech Today

This year will be a pivotal one for the emerging international cannabis industry. Cannabis is still prohibited in more countries than it is permitted; however, that is changing rapidly. 2020 will no doubt see more countries across the globe reform their cannabis laws and some will pass measures allowing legal cannabis companies to operate. Cannabis policy reform will not be the only thing that contributes to the forward progress of the cannabis industry in 2020. Cannabis research, including cannabis industry data-based research, will also play a significant role in helping the emerging cannabis industry continue to develop and grow this year. Some of the most popular panels and speakers at International Cannabis Business Conferences are those with presentations dedicated to cannabis research, especially anything involving cannabis industry data. Math is…

The cannabis industry has plenty of data floating around, but how much is put to use? As with most big data, it’s desperately underutilized. Lighting, irrigation, and HVAC systems could be transmitting information about crop health twenty-four hours a day, but those systems need a comprehensive platform to analyze what they’re reporting. What does a 10 percent increase in humidity in Grow Room B have to do with the overall performance of a facility? In the eyes of a potential investor, it could mean a lot. That’s why we spoke with Leighton Wolffe, president of GrowFit Analytics, a data science and environmental technology company that’s changing the way cannabis companies look at their operations. Cannabis & Tech Today: Your background is in data science. How did you become involved with…

As the cannabis industry continues to grow, the number of companies vying for a foothold is growing exponentially on a daily basis. Philip Preston and David Wallach, President and Market Director of PolyScience, share their own strategies and advice for marketing in the cannabis industry. Marketing to an industry in need was easy 10 years ago when Polyscience first broke into the cannabis industry, but today the market is saturated with myriad business solutions offering a wide range of services. How does a company, whose purpose is to operate in silence and not be noticed, stand out? “Our first step was a step back. Instead of rushing to get a message out, we paused and did a lot of research – on our competitors, social media, video content, you name…

“Teaching my mom about different strains was a bonding experience, and it’s nice to enjoy together.”~ Jonathan Kluding When Johnathan Kluding was growing up in Iowa, he got arrested on cannabis-related charges four times. Now 24, Kluding is happy to celebrate the second anniversary of his move to California in April 2020. That’s because today he can walk into any California dispensary and legally purchase and possess any marijuana product he chooses. Even with his mother in tow. According to Melissa Drake, Kluding’s mother and a California resident since relocating there from Iowa in July 2017, her son’s marijuana usage was a source of intense angst for her as he grew up. “It was our number one argument when he was growing up,” she says. Ironically, she says she was…

Makes 1 dozen muffins Serving size: 1 muffin Difficulty: Easy For the muffins: • Cooking spray, for greasing the paper liners • 2 eggs, lightly beaten • 1/2cup almond milk • 1/2cup sour cream • 3 tablespoons canola oil • 2 tablespoons canna-oil or butter • 2-1/4cups all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup sugar • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 1/4teaspoon salt (kosher or sea) • 1-1/2cups hulled, chopped fresh strawberries For the streusel topping: 1/4cup all-purpose flour 1/4cup packed brown sugar 1/2teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons cold canna-butter, cut into small cubes Directions: 1. Make the muffins: Preheat the oven to 340°F. Line a standard-size muffin tin with paper liners, spray the liners with the cooking spray and set the pan aside. 2. In a medium bowl, beat together the…

By Mike Glazer and Mary Jane Gibson, Weed+Grub Podcast Cannabis is all about branding, and Weed+Grub is here to help you unlock your company's success. The number-one mistake people make when starting their cannabusiness is asking themselves the wrong question. Stop asking yourself “What is my brand?” and start asking yourself “What is the ‘Who’ I want to reach, and How plus Why?” Sure, it’s easier said than done, but thanks to three years at the top marketing firm in Jyväskylä, one TED Talk, and thousands of hours on TikTok, Weed+Grub has developed a fool-proof methodology called DOMINATE THE CLOUDS™ that will rocket your billion-dollar weed company to the top of the marketplace. When our system unlocks your brand power, share your triumph on your Instagram and tag us (@weedandgrub),…

Over the past year, it’s likely that you’ve heard a lot about vaping. Some have claimed it’s a healthy alternative to smoking while other reports have cited potential dangers. It’s confusing, especially if you are considering trying to vape cannabis for the first time. Here, we’re going to give you a quick rundown on the most important things you should know before purchasing a vape. So, Is Vaping Dangerous? In short, it depends. The main problem stems from the quality of the materials used in low-grade vaping technology, such as vitamin E acetate, heavy metals, etc. With vaping’s sudden popularity, it lead to a lot of people trying to make a quick buck in the new industry, subsequently resulting in a number of low-quality vaping products and concentrates. Peter Calfee,…

Investments in cannabis companies aren’t a sure bet. The market is unsteady (particularly amid the COVID-19 economic crisis), the political climate has an ominous and everpresent hold on their future, and one company easily blends into the next as legal states become saturated with startups looking to cash in on the lucrative crop. Though persistent, these problems aren’t insurmountable. Entrepreneurs have several avenues for attracting investment, one of the most profitable of which are networking and business-to-business (B2B) events. The pandemic has ushered these valuable opportunities into hibernation, but they’re eagerly awaiting the go-ahead to resume operations, albeit with new safety protocols in place. Despite the uncertainty, business owners and prospective investors will still have the opportunity to attend the world’s largest of these expos in New York City. Formerly…

Entering a new decade, the future is bright for cannabis. Legislation is changing across the world, innovations abound, discoveries are being made, and the winds of stigma are shifting. These changes are in no small part due to the businesses that are innovating the industry. In 2019, we awarded several companies with Sustainable Leadership Awards. Now, we’re sitting down with each to dive deeper into the subject of sustainability and why it is so important to not only each company, but the industry – and the world – as a whole. Award Category: Water Rich Gellert, President, HydroLogic Purification Systems Why was it so important for you to weave sustainability into the fabric of your company? HydroLogic has been focused on water and all of its implications relevant to cannabis…

In over 16 years in the NBA, Al Harrington played in more than 1,000 total games, made an appearance in 55 playoff matches, and scored over 13,000 points. However, just by speaking to him, you’d be convinced that he wants to be known more for his success as a cannabis entrepreneur than his time on the court. In 2011, while the former first round pick was still playing for the Denver Nuggets, Harrington launched Viola Brands, a cannabis company with a focus on social equity, named after his grandmother. The move showed tremendous foresight by the former player, especially considering the widespread cannabis boom the city would see just a few years later. He followed up by launching the CBD company Harrington Wellness as well as an investment in Butter…

Of the many challenges facing the cannabis industry, the 2020 market correction is the biggest. Economists believe the downturn could last an entire year or more. The fundamental question many processing labs are asking themselves is, “How do we survive?” On the hemp side of the industry, this usually means dropping prices weekly to try to cover costs. The problem for businesses who chase price-driven contracts is that it is a race-to-the-bottom with virtually zero sustainable options. Processing labs that compete solely on pricing are signing their own death certificate. Before labs waste another minute chasing phantom opportunities, liquidating assets, and losing money on the rare deals they close, there is something every lab owner should know. But first, we need to be clear that the problem labs are facing…

When people think of technology they often think of revamping old systems, collecting and navigating data, and replacing human activity with robots or machines. For JULABO USA, technology isn’t about replacing anything or anyone, it’s about improving experiences and connecting people. JULABO USA provides temperature control equipment that’s used for extraction, winterization, solvent recovery, decarboxylation, and distillation. Like most scientific equipment, JULABO units have built-in technologies to help customers communicate and identify potential issues. Some of the bells and whistles include data logging, external communication, safety alarms, and multilingual interfaces. While these standard technologies are great, JULABO’s service technologies are taking things a step further, and making the experiences more personal. Better Service & Experiences through Technology According to Dirk Frese, vice president of sales, marketing, and service for JULABO…

According to Statista, there are 88 million podcast listeners in the U.S., with that number expected to almost double by 2023. Looking through your typical platforms such as Stitcher, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, you can find podcasts about pretty much every topic, including but not limited to junk food, Power Rangers, tabletop games, the films of Mike Myers, and even ballpoint pens. And yes, those are all real. One of the many podcast topics growing in popularity is cannabis. Because of its fairly open format, podcasting has allowed for more education and discussion around the substance, something most traditional media outlets would avoid. In this exclusive roundtable, we spoke with numerous cannabis podcast hosts about the ins and outs of discussing marijuana behind the mic. Mike Glazer - Comedian &…

It’s been almost a year and a half since Canada became the first G7 nation to legalize recreational cannabis and boy have we been through it. From euphoric highs and terrifying lows to promising market projections and plunging stock values, we’ve certainly learned a thing or two. The Canadian cannabis industry was launched on the shoulders of a mature medical system that had been quietly working for almost two decades prior to federal recreational legalization. But when cannabis legalization came into the spotlight as a political issue we realized that there were many things we still had to figure out. Things like retail sales, the illicit market, production, community safety, advertising and promotion, and provincial jurisdiction. With the medical system, many of these things were non-issues because patients could only…

While growing cannabis indoors has steadily grown in popularity – due to state cultivation laws, grower preference, and proven benefits – myths continue to persist around this approach. Here, we debunk some of the most common misconceptions about indoor growing and explore why indoor growing could pave the way for cannabis production in the future. Myth #1: It’s Too Expensive Setting up an indoor grow facility isn’t cheap and requires an upfront investment of both time and money. Plus, when building an indoor grow facility that is appropriate for long-term commercial production, you’re better served by high-quality equipment made to last – ranging from lighting fixtures to environmental controls to good genetics. However, the return on an indoor grow facility can be much higher than an outdoor grow site. More…

When I first saw the Dart, a sleek, black vape no larger than a USB drive, I had to learn more. My roommate had been brandishing his new vape around the house, and when I gave it a try, I could see why he liked it so much. It was compact and discreet, and it hit smoothly and efficiently. I noticed the words “Seed & Smith” on the side, and just a few emails and a week later I found myself walking into the Seed & Smith dispensary. What at first might look like a basic dispensary turned out to be a fully vertically-integrated craft cannabis facility. It’s indicative of the craft cannabis movement, which, similar to craft beer, is produced organically and lovingly. I spent most of the day…

An entrepreneur plays a critical role in their organization – to be responsible for the idea that the company was founded on commercializing it. The core competency is not to emphasize ideation, but rather be the leader who is responsible for bringing together resources and developing value for customers, employees, partners, their community, and ultimately investors. The type of person who can identify and access resources, such as capital and people, and then manage the deployment of those resources for profit is the model of a successful business owner and operator. It is your job as a founder to identify the behaviors and characteristics of successful business strategies and experiences from other industries and adapt these best practices to your journey in cannabis entrepreneurship. Don’t fall into the trap of…

The cannabis industry is harvesting another valuable crop: data – and lots of it. The boom of cannabis industry growth across the country is fueled by zeros and ones. California’s cannabis market grew 23-percent in 2019, due not only to farmers and dispensers, but also those who support the industry, including software developers and tech vendors. With this expansion of cannabis-oriented software offerings comes rapidly growing lakes of consumer and industry data, which in turn create questions of security and privacy about that data. Emerging state privacy and data security laws, including the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) and New York SHIELD Act, impose corporate requirements for protecting consumer privacy and implementing security safeguards and the cannabis industry is not immune. Members of the industry should take notice of this…

When Celeste Miranda woke up on a sunny morning nine years ago, she didn’t dream that day would be the start of a life-changing journey. In the chilling words of Miranda herself, “I woke up one morning and couldn’t feel anything from my waist down.” It was the first day of her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating disease with few treatment options. She couldn’t have known then that her struggle would become the foundation for her work with cannabidiol (CBD). After waking up numb, Miranda was hospitalized for eighteen agonizing hours before doctors diagnosed her. The disease affects the central nervous system, disrupting the flow of information within the brain. It often has an unpredictable effect on the body with a wide range of potential symptoms. In brief,…

A Quick History Lesson Humans have been engaged in selective breeding of plant species – that is, the fostering of human desired traits and the suppression of undesired ones – for millennia. For corn, one of the best studied examples, published evidence suggests Mesoamerican farmers began selectively replanting the seeds of the best examples of a grass with 5-10 hard, not very tasty grain kernels per ¾” cob around 7,000 years ago. After a mere 3,000 years, average cob sizes were a whopping 1”, meaning something a bit over 25-percent more yield per cob. Things picked up speed a bit after that and modern corn cobs yield around 1,000x the food per cob compared to the original wild plants and have gained a host of other desirable attributes as well…

Sunday Scaries Gummies – The tagline for Sunday Scaries is “The Remedy That Makes Life Not So Scary,” which is a perfect fit for these relaxing gummies. With every one packing 10 MG of CBD, these grown-up gummy bears will help you melt off the stress. $39 Green Jay E-Lighter – An ideal alternative to the common blowtorch, the Green Jay E-Lighter features a design that’s both sleek and discreet. Rechargable, windproof, and fuel-free, this e-lighter is built for the modern cannabis consumer. $17 Icky Stick XL – A completely anodized metal design helps the Icky Stick XL resist wear and corrosion, proving yet again that quality materials matter. With twice the herb capacity as the original Icky Stick, the XL remains compact while doubling smoke time. $50 The Seed…