Tabla de contenidos para Year-End 2020 en Cannabis & Tech Today

Emerge Virtual Cannabis Conference & Expo The first Emerge Virtual Cannabis Conference & Expo welcomed 1,600 attendees for six keynotes and 30+ sessions during its jam-packed, three-day program. Virtual smoke sessions started cropping up around the expo halls as industry-insiders mingled with crowds and found new ways to engage with their avatars. The event centered around the future of cannabis and social equity, encouraging conversations that may prove pivotal to making the industry a more inclusive and representative space. Keynotes from Wanda James, Jim Belushi, Steve DeAngelo, Carlow Dew, Senator Daylin Leach, and Ricky Williams informed and inspired attendees while raising money for the event’s non-profit partners The Last Prisoner Project and Minorities for Medical Marijuana. O’Cannabiz International Conference & Expo The O’Cannabiz Awards, Conference, and Expo was scheduled to…

To say 2020 was a wild ride would be an understatement. Between a global pandemic, renewed calls for civil rights, and a dramatic election season, it was a true roller coaster of emotions. One thing however remained clear: the cannabis community is one of resilience, inclusion, and humble passion for the plant. Cannabis & Tech Today has opted to declare the consumers Innovators of the Year, as they are the true driving force behind everything the industry does — and continues to strive for. Here’s our love letter to the folks who inspire all of us to raise the bar every day and fight for safe access across the country until full legalization is finally a reality. Widespread Stay at Home Orders Lead To Increase In Canna-Curious Consumers The COVID-19…

Thoughtful, creative, iconic — these may not be the first words that come to mind when scanning labels at the dispensary. Many cannabis brands focus on compliance rather than creativity, prioritizing function over form. Is there a place for artistry on the retail shelf? Though flower is often lumped together in nondescript jars — one cultivator seldom differentiated from the rest — other products can and do distinguish themselves. Pre-rolls, vaporizers, topicals, and edibles are packaged with original designs, formulated to entice and build recognition. Sometimes however, packaging is more than marketing, it’s art. Substance and Style “I wanted the brand and packaging to have a kind of experience rooted in American culture, but also in a style and world that brings together all the things that my father loved:…

When it comes to extraction, the name of the game is purity. For the ultimate in cannabis product, short-path distillation is what the extraction industry turns to for the best possible results. Distillation, chromatography, and re-distilling the product for purification can remove a lot of inactive compounds that serve no therapeutic purpose. It takes sophisticated, highly-calibrated components to allow companies to reach the level of purity that short-path distillation can obtain. While there are many factors that go into creating quality product in the cannabis industry, temperature control is one that is at the top of the list. At PolyScience, we have been working in temperature control for 60 years and if you have a few hours, we are happy to tell you all about it. Instead, we reached out…

For the cultivator looking to achieve the highest efficiency, most consistent yields, and most predictable revenue results, this year has been a real challenge to say the least. “It’s a new landscape with COVID-19,” says Derek Oxford, CEO and Founder of Total Grow Control, an engineering and manufacturing company that builds reliable nutrient delivery systems and water filtration solutions. Like many companies serving the cannabis industry, Total Grow Control thrives on in-person relationships and traditional sales processes. Hence, social distancing dealt a heavy blow. Yet, Total Grow Control (TGC) adapted. They changed how they managed vendors and how they set up the manufacturing facility. What’s more, all TGC’s latest systems have built-in cameras. “This way, growers can continue to monitor critical functions even when they’re offsite,” Oxford says. We asked…

With $7 billion, you could buy the Buckingham Palace seven times. Or you could own the majority of the global cannabis extraction market in 2019, worth a whopping $7.3 billion according to Grand View Research (GVR). The extract market is exploding, with GVR predicting a compound annual growth rate of 16.6% from 2020-2027. New Frontier Data Senior Economist Beau Whitney discussed data trends in an interview with the Financial Post, noting “If you look to the U.S., it was not uncommon to see 75% of the market consuming cannabis flower years ago, but as product offerings became more differentiated, we saw the market for flower drop to around 40% and the market for oils surge to over 60%.” As interest in extractions grows with the rise of infused products (think…

Few singer-songwriters have known such commercial success as Melissa Etheridge. Her decades-spanning career earned numerous awards and accolades while building a cult-like following of fans. She’s topped the charts with hits like “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” while staying true to her unique style and powerhouse vocals. Etheridge’s activism on behalf of gay rights, breast cancer awareness, and medical marijuana have further cemented her status as an icon and innovator. Now, she’s continuing her legacy of activism with the Etheridge Foundation. The non-profit was established in honor of her son Beckett Cypher, who passed away in early 2020 as a result of an opioid addiction. The foundation aims to find new ways to understand and treat underlying mental health issues associated with addiction and to help…

When I’m shopping for cannabis, I don’t like the pressure of being asked to smell the product. I started smoking pot back when they still called it pot, and I don’t have that level of expertise to discern much from smelling it. I do it anyway, because it seems rude to refuse, and I always feel like a phony. Like when the waiter brings you the bottle of wine. How many times have I been offered a sip of wine that I just ordered, and I reject the bottle? Never. How many times have I rejected the bottle based on sniffing the cork? NEVER! I don’t have the balls to do that. It implies I have the skill to discern quality based on smell. Only a pretentious asshole would reject…

The past few months have been collectively strange. Whether it was virus fatigue or political burn out, it seems all of America had a rocky close to an isolated summer. At Cannabis & Tech Today, we’ve been doing our best to engage with fans through podcasts and virtual networking. We squeezed in a few in-person events, just to keep our sanity, and even met up with a few celebrities along the way. SAVORING THOSE HAPPY HOURS One bright spot in a mostly virtual summer were the socially-distanced happy hours hosted by Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency. These intimate gatherings provided local journalists an opportunity to mingle with one another as well as new and emerging brands. Experiences ranged from tastings of THC-infused mocktails to sampling concentrates with carefully selected terpene blends.…

Cannabis is a fickle plant. Whether it’s mold, mildew, or pests, there are plenty of opportunities for dangerous and costly pathogens to contaminate a crop. Cannabis & Tech Today spoke with Rad Source Technologies Executive Vice President George Terry and Head of Research & Development Dr. Justin Czerniawski to better understand what causes these issues and how one popular remediation technique, photonic decontamination, can help. Cannabis & Tech Today: What causes cannabis to need remediation? George Terry: During the grow, cannabis can actually pick up mold, yeast, powdery mildew, aspergillus, salmonella, E. coli, depending on if it’s indoor or outdoor, and these are all pathogens that states regulate to make sure the flower itself is safe for consumption. C&T Today: One form of treatment is photonic decontamination. How does that…

Cannabis compliance for licensees is finally emerging from the shadows into the forefront as regulators move from the application phase to the operational phase. In performing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and reviewing online compliance audit reports and letters to licensees, there are a number of specific issues regulators are required to review, but the majority of warning letters and flagged inspection reports show only a handful of cited issues for the vast majority. First, let’s look at the issues still dogging both new and experienced licensees that we have culled from our files, but are easily corrected with a new standard operating procedure (SOP), employee training, and rebooting the corporate culture. Below are the most frequent issues encountered. Security For many licensees in the cannabis industry, security is…

At Regennabis, we believe there is a need to create a disruptive and innovative cannabis community. This community must be driven by exponential actions in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to deliver increased business and brand value. At the same time, the industry has to provide solutions to many of the world’s biggest challenges and build a better future for everyone in the cannabis space. The community must lead, learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions around humanity’s greatest challenges while delivering for stakeholders. This places sustainability as one of the single biggest challenges — and opportunities — facing cannabis companies today; and an ever-increasing number of companies, investors, consumers, and governments believe it is a challenge worth tackling head on. Sustainability, planned for and executed diligently, ticks…

As the COVID-19 crisis persists and many industries suffer while businesses are forced to close their doors, the cannabis market is just getting started. Over the next year, legislation vital to the emerging business sector is on the docket. Key bills pending before Congress include the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, the SAFE Banking Act, Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act, House Amendment 398, Further Health Extenders Act, The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, and the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, said recently “we have seen the war on drugs be a war on people, and particularly Black, brown, and low-income people.” In America, “Black folks are about 3.64 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than…

Many would argue 2020 has been the most stressful year in a generation. Between a polarizing U.S. presidential election, a novel coronavirus pandemic claiming more than 268,000 lives from 13.6 million reported cases (as of November 30),, the fluctuating, unreliable data, and millions of people who may be stressing out due to ongoing isolation from their loved ones due to rolling lockdowns and social distancing measures, as well as rising unemployment with no end in sight, it is understandable for Americans to have a sense of heightened anxiety and insecurity. However, one set of data that can be relied upon is that Americans are turning en masse to cannabis, and cannabis delivery, to ease their tensions during these trying times. Enter the rise of cannabis delivery companies and the ancillary…

At our recent Emerge Virtual CannabisConference & Expo, transformative thinkers and innovators voiced their insight on diversity, expungement, and prison reform to hundreds of eager virtual attendees. The event hosted several prominent speakers from the industry, boasting a powerhouse assembly of cannabis enthusiasts. Hemp and cannabis culture is all about community; it’s a space where everyone deserves representation. As the demand for cannabis continues to grow, many revolutionary leaders within the industry, including Andrew DeAngelo, Wanda James, Steve DeAngelo, and others have been fighting for change within the hemp space to better reflect the inclusive nature of the plant. Wanda James James is the CEO of Simply Pure and the first African American woman to own a dispensary in Colorado. On why James transitioned from working in politics with President…

Hot, balmy weather is Florida’s claim to fame. It’s the only state in the union where pool towels mildew while hanging on the line to dry. This perpetual moisture is a challenge for Florida cultivators. While humidity can be great during the growth cycle, it’s an obstacle during the drying, trimming, and curing process — all of which are crucial to creating high-quality medical products. There are fewer than 22 licensed cultivators providing cannabis to the entire state. These large-scale operations need to dry, trim, and cure quickly to start the next crop. Machine trimmers are often the preferred method, except they function best with dry flower — which is a challenge in 70-90% humidity. Some innovators use carbon dioxide (CO2) as a remedy. “CO2 just flash freezes the outside…

What does it take to obtain a medical cannabis certification in the state of Florida? Rather than a trip to a doctor’s office for a prescription, medical cannabis patients often face a gauntlet of regulation before they can begin treatment. Simplifying the Struggle Patients first have to prove residency within the state via a picture ID. Which is easy enough, unless the patient doesn’t drive or is a seasonal resident. In which case, they must provide an in-state deed or lease agreement, a utility bill, or mail from a federal agency addressed to their local place of residence. They then have to pay a $75 processing fee to the state to obtain their Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card, which has to be renewed each year. Then the patient has…

The Rapinoe sisters have become synonymous with soccer. While Megan Rapinoe has played on the international stage, Rachael Rapinoe has played on every side of the ball as both a professional player and trainer, and has expanded her efforts off the field as an entrepreneur. After winning an NCAA national championship with the University of Portland in 2005 and subsequently playing professional soccer in Europe, Rapinoe eventually retired to pursue a career in the health and fitness industry. She went on to build Rapinoe SC, a top soccer performance training company and lifestyle apparel brand with her sister Megan. However, in the last several years, Rachael’s interest in how cannabis can help in athletic recovery and performance has grown tremendously, leading her to build Mendi, a CBD brand with athletes…

Global cannabis sales are higher than ever. More sales equate to more packaging, a sector which is on an explosive trajectory. Though waste is a concern and regulations around cannabis packaging are ever changing, the demand for affordable, compliant options has never been greater. Let’s unpack those statements a bit with a look at the numbers surrounding one vertical of the industry that’s expanding at a break-neck pace.…

One of the only bright spots in 2020 is the emerging cannabis industry. Whereas the ongoing global pandemic has negatively impacted virtually every other industry on earth, the legal international cannabis industry has powered forward. According to data firm BDSA, spending on the legal cannabis industry is expected to top $20 billion in 2020, up from an estimated $14.8 billion in 2019. To put that number into perspective, the international music organization IFPI estimates that the entire global music industry is worth roughly $20 billion dollars, and unlike the music industry the cannabis industry has plenty of room for growth. As the year 2020 comes to a close, many in the cannabis community are naturally starting to look ahead towards 2021 and speculating on what the new year may bring…

To say the cannabis industry has experienced change over the past few years would be a serious understatement. Every element – from growth engineering and legalization to marketing and delivery – seems to be witnessing a revolution. However, cannabis packaging is undergoing one of the most significant changes. As cannabis products receive more mainstream attention, retailers and packaging organizations are shifting their focus from mere shelf-presence to brand identity. The identity shift began with simple changes like moving from stereotypical Rastafarian images to more sophisticated and elegant colors, images, and design. Then the shift became more substantive and environmental responsibility emerged as an important element of brand identity. That shift shouldn’t be surprising, considering that the industry has long struggled to balance pollution concerns against packaging mandates that require many…

The uncertainty of the pandemic has forced many people to be more health-conscious and aware of what they’re putting into their bodies. Being healthy is so much more than just vigorously washing your hands — although that doesn’t hurt. It’s also being mindful of the hidden chemicals or pesticides that we eat, drink, and even smoke. While cannabis has been deemed essential due to all its healing, medicinal qualities, it’s important to research how your cannabis was cultivated. But, how does one determine if what they’re smoking is actually organic or just more corporate greenwashing? Consumer-Friendly Recognition Adam Duke, director of operations for the Midwest Sustainable Sungrowers Association and a Cannabis Certification Council board member, said unlike organic produce at a grocery store, it’s often a challenge for people to…

The change in the presidential administration has focused cannabis businesses on the potential for legalization nationwide. Running parallel to full federal legalization will be a corresponding regulatory and taxation scheme replacing the current regime of IRC §280E which prohibits anything but the cost of goods sold being deducted from a state licensed cannabis operation’s income statement. The evolution of the federal taxation of cannabis started with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which applied tax to marijuana used for medicine. Historians and critics alike maligned this legislation as an attempt to stop the use of cannabis rather than tax it. The fines were greatly out of line with any failure in tax compliance — violators were fined up to $2,000 and a potential prison sentence of up to five years,…

Highly regulated, suspicious, and litigious could describe the nascent medical cannabis industry in Florida. Developing the groundwork for a new industry is never easy, but Florida has taken a particularly difficult path to implementation. Since voters approved the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (Amendment 2) in 2016, only 22 licenses have been granted to grow, transport, and sell medical cannabis. Cannabis Director for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Holly Bell said, “When you’re writing these laws, using ‘shall,’ ‘may,’ ‘and,’ ‘or,’ are very important, I’ve learned.” She’s referring to the original wording used in Amendment 2, which stated licensees could grow or transport or sell. When the legislators signed the amendment into law, they wrote the bill using different verbiage — simply replacing the “or” with…

Medical marijuana has only been legal in Florida since 2016. Though it’s a new industry, there are still guidelines for success. The core principles of running a profitable business still apply to every vertical of the industry. Farmers especially should have standard operating procedures in place and a system for recording data. Most growers understand the benefit of tracking their crops. A journal or whiteboard is the preferred data collection for many, especially smaller farms. Ryan Moloney, CEO of Alef Agriculture in Michigan, shared this advice with the Cannabis Business Times: “Diligently record the variables and points of measurement during every grow. After the run has been harvested, analyze this data to see what it tells you. Use this data to refine your processes for the next run.” But as…

When California first passed Proposition 64 legalizing recreational cannabis, voters waited in eager anticipation for natural, quality products to purchase. What they found instead was 84.3% of sampled cannabis tested positive for pesticide residue. The research, conducted by Steep Hill Labs, Inc., further concluded that 65% of cannabis samples submitted to their lab contained Myclobutanil, a pesticide that when smoked or vaporized is converted to Hydrogen Cyanide. As the name suggests, the chemical is extremely toxic for humans to ingest. Discoveries like these underscore the importance of lab testing requirements for cannabis operators. Be it medical or recreational, knowing what’s inside these products is essential for creating trust in the industry. As cannabis takes baby steps on its way to federal legalization, cannabis brands and consumers need a better means…