Luna Technologies Introduces The Oberon Industrial-Grade Cannabis Extractor
For Immediate Release
Matches the highest hydrocarbon cannabis processing throughputs in the industry with improved efficiency and flexibility for large-scale operations
Portland, Oregon – (October 19, 2021) — Luna Technologies, a Portland-based manufacturer of hydrocarbon extraction equipment for the cannabis industry, today introduced the Oberon, a completely reimagined high-throughput hydrocarbon extractor with increased capacity to meet the needs of large-scale operators. The Oberon can process 36 pounds of fresh-frozen cannabis flower per hour, including the ability to conduct back-to-back runs with less than 60 seconds of downtime in between, matching the highest rates for a single machine in the industry. The system can also utilize an infinite number of programmable extraction recipes available through the Luna Technologies proprietary recipe book.
“The introduction of the Oberon is our response to the unprecedented demand and increasing array of subcategory preferences in cannabis concentrates and extracts,” said Jack Naito, president of Luna Technologies. “As cannabis markets mature, the sales of concentrates, including butane-based dabbable and vape products, are increasing at rates that outpace flower. As a result, manufacturers need more capacity and greater efficiency for producing the most in-demand extract products with precision.”
According to Headset, a provider of data and analytics to the cannabis industry, sales of concentrates surged more than 40 percent in 2020 within the US states of California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, signaling manufacturers to ramp up production and increase investment to keep pace with shifting consumer preferences in maturing markets. Headset data also suggests concentrate and vape products are estimated to have slightly larger market shares in 2022, at the expense of flower and pre-rolls, within the USA and Canada legal markets.
Meanwhile, vape sales data compiled by Arcview Market Research and Greentake from the second quarter of 2021 saw at least double digit growth year-over-year in total sales and units sold across all of the 11 largest US States and Canadian Province markets.
Improved Capacity, Efficiency, and Production Flexibility
Luna Technologies engineers designed the Oberon from the ground up for larger producers to achieve greater energy efficiency, capacity, and flexibility within the production process. Similar to IO, Oberon utilizes hydrocarbon solvent to separate and purify cannabis oil, but with a larger extraction vessel. The higher capacity thresholds enable producers to conduct more efficient reruns and to more easily extract minor cannabinoids and terpenes, as desired.
In addition to end-to-end cannabis extraction, including accessory products for color remediation and pre-processing biomass, the Oberon provides processors with the ability to conduct back-to-back runs with less than a minute of downtime in between. Luna Technologies engineers conducted rigorous testing to create a highly efficient cooling system for the larger-capacity Oberon that maintains precise solvent temperatures through each stage of processing, further reducing downtime between runs from potentially hours to seconds while improving the overall speed, quality, and volume of production.
In total, Oberon empowers hydrocarbon processors to maximize the required utility load for lower operating costs while also cutting overhead costs relating to freezer usage, storage, and excess biomass inventory.
Luna Technologies expects to deliver its first production units of the Oberon in Q1 2022.
To see the Oberon and the entire line of Luna Technologies extraction equipment and capabilities, please visit booth #C5211 at MJBizCon, October 20-22, 2021, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.
About Luna Technologies:
Luna Technologies engineers state-of-the-art extraction equipment for cannabis processors. The meticulously designed, automated equipment empowers operators to process fresh-frozen or cured plant biomass with stress-tested hardware and built-in failsafes to foster a superior level of workplace safety while also lowering labor costs. Luna’s Earth-conscious engineering approach helps decrease energy consumption while setting the industry standard for safety, quality, consistency, and customization in support of creating clean, consistent cannabis concentrates with medical and social benefits. Learn more at www.lunatechequipment.com.
Pipp Horticulture Acquires the GGS Group of Companies
The combination of the two companies will expand Pipp’s position as the leading provider of
Indoor Commercial Grow Racks, Greenhouse Structures and Air Circulation Systems in North America.
Walker, Michigan – October 18, 2021 – Pipp Horticulture (a division of Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc.) (“Pipp”), the leading provider of space‐saving, multi‐level mobile cultivation systems, announced today that it has acquired the GGS Group of Companies (“GGS”). Based in Vineland, Ontario, GGS is one of the most recognized names in the Horticulture industry. They have been the leading manufacturer of top quality greenhouses and turnkey greenhouse growing solutions including traditional rolling benches, heating and ventilation systems, and curtain systems.
“We are thrilled to welcome the entire GGS team to the Pipp family of companies,” said Craig Umans, Pipp President and CEO. “GGS has decades of experience manufacturing greenhouse structures and has become a leading supplier to the horticulture industry. The company has consistently impressed us with its ability to deliver value to its customers, and we look forward to our next phase of growth.”
“We are pleased to partner with PIPP as we build an even more expansive platform to serve our customers.” said Leigh Coulter, President and Owner of GGS. “Our expertise in designing, manufacturing and installing commercial greenhouse structures, combined with Pipp’s state-of-the-art vertical farming and space optimization solutions, will allow us to offer North American growers a complete and efficient solution.”
“We are delighted to see two such complementary companies come together today. This acquisition is another step in Pipp’s strategy to become the leading supplier of turnkey solutions to all segments of horticulture globally.” said Marc Paiement, Senior Partner at Novacap. “We look forward to continuing to work with them throughout this process, providing support and expertise to help them achieve their goal.”
For the past several years, Pipp Horticulture’s mission has been to help cultivators across the globe save time and money by creating a more efficient grow facility and help streamline operations. Pipp has not only developed a product line that was purposefully designed to serve the cultivation market, but they have strategically acquired companies like GGS and Vertical Air Solutions, the leading provider of air circulation systems for indoor vertical farming, to be able to offer the industry a turnkey cultivation solution, continuously improving upon their services, and developing products that positively affect canopy output and facility operations.
Following this transaction, Coulter will remain President and CEO and operations will remain under the GGS banner.
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About Pipp Horticulture
Pipp Horticulture is the industry‐leading provider of vertical farming and space optimization solutions. We work with commercial agriculture professionals globally, to design, install, and optimize operational spaces throughout cultivation, post‐harvest, manufacturing, and distribution facilities through the implementation of vertical and mobile rack, cart, and ventilation systems. The Pipp team merges over 40 years of commercial mobile storage experience with horticulture industry experts with over 50 years of operational experience in commercial agriculture and seed‐to‐sale production. Pipp provides expertise, insight and network connections far beyond our mobile systems in support of our mission to augment financial performance and mitigate risk for our partners. For more information, please visit www.pipphorticulture.com.
About GGS Structures
The GGS Group of Companies is comprised of GGS Structures Inc., JGS Limited and Niagrow Systems Ltd. For over 40 years GGS has been designing and manufacturing greenhouses and growing environments throughout North America. Our design approach considers all the aspects of your agribusiness for greenhouses with immediate capability, greater convenience, and maximized growth potential. Tasco Dome, a brand of GGS, is a leader in fabric covered buildings for the agriculture, industrial and equestrian industries. JGS Limited provides state of the art greenhouse solutions for research facilities, educational institutions, conservatories and more. Niagrow Systems Ltd. designs greenhouse heating systems to make sure growers have the right amount of heat in the right location at the right time to maintain the ideal growing environment. For more information, please visit www.ggs-greenhouse.com.
About Novacap
Founded in 1981, Novacap is a leading North American private equity firm with more than C$8B of AUM that has invested in more than 100 platform companies and completed more than 150 add-on acquisitions. Applying its sector-focused approach since 2007 in TMT, Industries and now Financial Services, Novacap’s deep domain expertise can accelerate company growth and create long-term value. With experienced, dedicated investment and operations teams as well as substantial funding, Novacap has the resources and knowledge to build world-class businesses. Novacap has offices in Brossard, Québec and Toronto, Ontario. For more information, please visit www.novacap.ca.
Cannabis researchers and innovators are invited to submit materials to be considered for inclusion in a science-fair-styled event at the Boston University BUild Lab on Dec. 11.
BOSTON, Mass. – Massachusetts-based cannabis testing company MCR Labs will host its inaugural “Cannabis Science Fair” at The BUild Lab IDG Capital Student Innovation Center on December 11.
MCR Labs is partnering with The Cannabis Center of Excellence (CCoE) and Innovate@BU to organize the event, which is billed as “an exhibition of research and progress from the institutions working to expand our cannabis knowledge.” Groups interested in showcasing their cannabis-focused work at the science fair are invited to submit materials to MCR Labs via https://ma.mcrlabs.com/event/the-cannabis-science-fair.
“We’re extremely excited about the potential for this event,” said Melissa Kenton, MCR Labs event and outreach coordinator. “It’s been on our radar for over a year, and we cannot wait to see what our fellow cannabis scientists and innovators are ready to share with us and the community.”
Submissions for the Cannabis Science Fair will be assessed by MCR Labs and their event partners and selected for inclusion based on the soundness of methodologies, their potential scientific or industrial impact, and how thoroughly their findings are presented. A limited number of submissions will be selected for full presentations, poster presentations, and demonstrations of any devices or prototypes.
Projects chosen to be exhibited at the Cannabis Science Fair and other details about the event will be announced in November. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and the event will be free to the public. Please contact MCR Labs for additional information about the event and how to join.
About MCR Labs: MCR Labs is one of the longest operational cannabis testing laboratories on the East coast with facilities operating in several legal cannabis markets. We are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited providers of analytical cannabis product testing and R&D services committed to assisting licensed marijuana establishments, patients, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates. Our team of chemists and pharmaceutical scientists are dedicated to advancing public health and safety through leading-edge chemical analysis of cannabis products and offering unparalleled guidance and support for partners, regulators, and the communities we serve. For more information visit http://mcrlabs.com.
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Nation’s Youngest Black Cannabis Dispensary Owner Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
Against all odds, Cannabis dispensary thrives in its first year and is looking forward to more successes as its footprint expands
PRESS RELEASEOCT 12, 2021 09:00 EDT
ATHOL, Mass., October 12, 2021 (Newswire.com) – On Oct. 15, 2021, Elev8 Cannabis celebrates its first anniversary, among many other milestones and achievements. Having opened its doors at the height of the pandemic, the Athol, Massachusetts, location is a testament and model for how social equity programs could help provide opportunities in the nation’s fastest-growing industry. With only $50,000 in startup capital, a fraction of what big corporations and funds are spending to enter this space, CEO Seun Adedeji bet on himself to not only bring his stores to life but to provide a blueprint for those that wish to do the same.
“While 2020 was an incredibly challenging year for most, we are grateful for the support that we’ve received from the community in our first year. Our success this year means so much to us and, with that, we have every intention to double our efforts to mentor and help others build their legacy within this industry,” says Adedeji.
The Athol location is the second of two Elev8 Cannabis dispensaries in operation right now, with licenses secured for two more locations set to open within the coming months. Adedeji was able to secure his own funding to open his locations, which was only half the battle. With limited capital, Adedeji slept in his Eugene, Oregon, dispensary during the early months of owning his first dispensary before moving to Massachusetts to open a second location in a less saturated market. It is important to note that the licenses obtained to open his store and future stores in Massachusetts were not part of the Massachusetts Social Equity Program (SEP) that is tasked with providing opportunity to entrepreneurs with prior non-violent convictions or without the capital. To date, Elev8 Cannabis is projected to generate over $12 million in revenue with the opening of the new stores, making way for new jobs, opportunities, and, of course, more tax revenue for the local communities.
After an incredible year, the Elev8 Cannabis team will be hosting a celebration to commemorate this pivotal milestone and to thank those that have supported the Athol location during its inaugural year. From 12 p.m. to close, guests are invited to join in the festivities. There will be music, food trucks, special guests, and more. All guests must be over 21 years of age to attend. The event will be held at Elev8 Cannabis Athol location at 243 Main St., Athol, MA 01331.
For press inquiries and for more information about Elev8 Cannabis: marketing@elev8cannabis.com.
Applied DNA Announces CertainT® Platform Support for TruTrace StrainSecure™ 2.0 for Next Generation Cannabis Tagging, Testing and Tracking
Advances Partnership Aimed at Streamlining Cannabis and CBD Cultivator Production, Safety Standards, and Traceability While Increasing Brand Recognition
STONY BROOK, N.Y.–( BUSINESS WIRE)–Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN) (Applied DNA or the “Company”), a leader in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based DNA manufacturing and nucleic acid-based technologies, today announced that its CertainT® platform has added support for StrainSecure 2.0 by TruTrace Technologies, Inc. (CSE: TTT; OTCQB: TTTSF) (“TruTrace”) that builds on the companies’ strategic sales, marketing, and technology integration partnership to advance their vision of an integrated, cannabis product validation and authentication supply chain security solution for cannabis companies. The two companies recently announced that Flora Growth (“Flora”) will utilize their integrated solution be as part of Flora’s global cannabis product validation platform. TruTrace is the developer of a fully integrated blockchain platform for the legal cannabis, food, and pharmaceutical industries.
StrainSecure 2.0 is designed specifically for the cannabis industry and aims to demystify the seed-to-sale process for all relevant stakeholders, including producers, distributors, shippers, government agencies, and consumers, by powering commercial standards via an immutable, shared ledger. Applied DNA’s CertainT platform has been integrated into TruTrace’s StrainSecure software platform since the launch of the companies’ strategic alliance in January 2021.
“Integrating our two platforms brings a unique end-to-end solution to the maturing international cannabis industry. With regulations and compliance standards being implemented worldwide, an integrated offering of StrainSecure 2.0 and CertainT can help cannabis companies meet these standards and provide product authenticity and transparency to end-user customers,” said John Shearman, vice president of marketing and cannabis lead at Applied DNA.
Applied DNA’s CertainT platform provides the physical tagging of cannabis products using a unique molecular tag to represent the brand and product. That tag is then tested at key nodes within a domestic or international supply chain. All authentication and chain-of-custody data are captured in the CertainT portal, which integrates with the TruTrace platform and will support StrainSecure 2.0. The molecular tag can be applied to cannabis plants, oils, lotions, tablets, edibles, and packaging to serve as an immutable indicator of authenticity, origin, and provenance.
TruTrace’s blockchain-based SaaS software is designed to guarantee product quality and strain genetics throughout global supply chains. Protecting consumers and brands from contaminants and counterfeiting is a key benefit of the platform.
Robert Galarza, CEO of TruTrace, stated, “Over the past two years and after extensive work with key partners, such as Applied DNA, we’ve gained a deep understanding of the new challenges facing this industry. Version 2.0 of StrainSecure, as well as its interoperability with CertainT, will allow us to provide clients with turnkey tools specifically designed to support product quality, traceability, customer engagement, and safety.”
Most software systems utilized in the industry are fragmented and are built to manage internal operations, with very little interoperability into secondary systems. This fragmentation leads to increased administrative costs, reduced revenue, and increased risks for stakeholders. To address some of these issues, StrainSecure 2.0 will include several robust features tailored to decrease administrative costs, increase revenue, scale business operations, and highlight product quality. StrainSecure 2.0 also includes a significant number of new features, including full integration into the CertainT® platform, that facilitate higher standards and fuels business growth. One such new feature is the Enhanced Scan Page, which serves as a marketing tool for brands by providing real-time data on products at the package level.
Galarza added, “The expectations of customers, as it relates to the quality of the products they choose to consume, has never been higher. StrainSecure 2.0 focuses on promoting good actors in the industry and giving them a solution, which unifies their network, mitigates risk, ensures compliance with commercial standards, and creates a safer and more consistent marketplace for their customers. Globally focused hemp and cannabis businesses equip themselves with StrainSecure™ to scale their business.”
About Applied DNA Sciences
Applied DNA is commercializing LinearDNA™, its proprietary, large-scale polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”)-based manufacturing platform that allows for the large-scale production of specific DNA sequences.
The LinearDNA platform has utility in the nucleic acid-based in vitro diagnostics and preclinical nucleic acid-based drug development and manufacturing market. The platform is used to manufacture DNA for customers as components of in vitro diagnostic tests and for preclinical nucleic acid-based drug development in the fields of adoptive cell therapies (CAR T and TCR therapies), DNA vaccines (anti-viral and cancer), RNA therapies, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) based therapies, and gene therapies. Applied DNA has also established a COVID-19 diagnostic and testing offering that is in the early stages of commercialization and is grounded in the Company’s deep expertise in DNA.
The LinearDNA platform also has non-biologic applications, such as supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology. Key end-markets include Gov/Mil, textiles, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, and cannabis, among others.
The Company’s common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ‘APDN,’ and its publicly traded warrants are listed on OTC under the ticker symbol ‘APPDW.’
Applied DNA is a member of the Russell Microcap® Index.
About TruTrace Technologies
TruTrace Technologies is the developer of fully-integrated software, secured on a blockchain infrastructure, that gives clients’ the ability to store, manage, share and immediately access quality assurance and testing details, COAs, as well as motion and movement intelligence on inventory. The platform was specifically designed to power the traceability of testing standards within the legal cannabis, nutraceutical, food and pharmaceutical space with a focus on the authentication of source materials or ingredients used in formulation. For more information, please visit https://www.trutrace.co/.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements made by Applied DNA in this press release may be “forward-looking” in nature within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe Applied DNA’s future plans, projections, strategies, and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Applied DNA. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to its history of net losses, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, including Applied DNA’s ability to successfully enter into commercial contracts for the implementation of its CertainT® platform, shifting enforcement priorities of U.S. federal laws and other international laws relating to cannabis and cannabis derivative products, and various other factors detailed from time to time in Applied DNA’s SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 17, 2020, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed on February 11, 2021, May 13, 2021, and August 12, 2021, and other reports we file with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. Applied DNA undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless otherwise required by law.
Erin Spitale Joins S2S Insurance Specialists as Accounts Manager
Rahn & Associates is pleased to announce that Erin Spitale has joined its Cannabis Insurance brokerage firm, S2S Insurance Specialists, as Accounts Manager.
Erin is a highly skilled insurance specialist with over 30 years of risk management and customer service experience. As an Account Manager, she draws upon her vast knowledge of diverse insurance products and extensive relationships with national carriers to match clients with premium coverages that fit their precise needs and budget. Clients operating in complex, regulated industries, such as Cannabis, turn to Erin for traditional and nontraditional insurance solutions that protect them against their most difficult risks.
Erin is a three-time national award winner that has earned a reputation for providing outstanding customer service.
After serving as a Senior Territory Manager for the State of Connecticut and an Operations Manager for a national insurance company’s Miami Office, Erin started her own independent agency that she successfully ran for 10 years prior to joining S2S Specialists, a division of Rahn & Associates. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree, majoring in Business with a focus in cannabis studies.
espitale@s2sinsure.com
(860) 917-3628
Members of:
s2sinsure.com
Zoned Properties Announces Completion of $8 Million Expansion at its Chino Valley Cultivation Facility
68% Increase to Chino Valley Rental Revenue Effective September 1, 2021
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., September 1, 2021 — Zoned Properties®, Inc. (the “Company”) (OTCQB: ZDPY), a leading real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries including legalized cannabis, today announced an amendment to the lease agreement with its significant tenant related to its cultivation facility located in Chino Valley, Arizona.
“After years of project positioning, local collaboration, and real estate entitlement efforts to make the Chino Valley project possible, we are extremely grateful to have a deal structure that benefits both our operating tenant and Zoned Properties as the owner and landlord, for long term expansion and increasing value for our shareholders,” commented Bryan McLaren, Chief Executive Officer of Zoned Properties.
“The increasing demand for regulated marijuana cultivation space and consumer products in Arizona has gone far beyond initial projections as the result of the recently approved and implemented adult-use marijuana program. Industry experts are estimating consumer demand in Arizona could increase above $1 Billion in the next few years, which will require increased cultivation capacity and square footage of entitlement and properly zoned properties such as Chino Valley.”
Transaction Highlights
Over $8 Million of capital has been invested to-date by the Company’s Significant Tenants at the Chino Valley Cultivation Facility. The Company’s Significant Tenant will maintain the master rights to the property and facilities through the remainder of the Lease Agreement.
Effective September 1st, 2021, operational square footage will increase from 40,000 square feet to 67,512 square feet, and the new base rental payments at the facility will increase 68% from $32,800 per month to $55,195 per month including three out of four new building structures in the phase one expansion that are now fully completed and operational.
The fourth additional building site is in completion stages for technology and operational packages along with compliance inspections. The parties expect that, upon final completion, they will enter into another lease amendment reflecting the increased operational square footage and increased base rental payments. Operational square footage would increase from 67,512 square feet to 97,512 square feet, and base rental payments at the facility would increase an additional 69% from $55,195 per month to $79,795 per month reflecting the entirety of the phase one expansion.
Upon completion of the entirety of the phase one expansion, the annualized base rental payments will increase to $957,550 reflecting an increase of 143% from previous annualized base rental payments of $393,600.
The Chino Valley property also includes an approved master plan for a phase two expansion of operational and rentable square footage that is construction ready and may proceed at the Tenant’s election. If the Tenant elects to proceed with phase two, the additional square footage of operational and rentable building space could include another 60,000 square feet for a total of 157,512 square feet of operational and rentable building space at the facility, which would equate to an annualized rental rate of $1,549,918 plus additional rental payments under the triple-net lease.
“This lease amendment is not only highly accretive for our own operational cash flow, but also marks a critical milestone for the increase in cultivation capacity and operational expansion for our Significant Tenant,” said Berekk Blackwell, Chief Operating Officer of Zoned Properties.
About Zoned Properties, Inc. (OTCQB: ZDPY):
Zoned Properties is a leading real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries, including regulated cannabis. The company is redefining the approach to commercial real estate investment through its integrated growth services.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Zoned Properties has developed a full spectrum of integrated growth services to support its real estate development and investment model; Advisory Services, Brokerage Services, Franchise Services, and PropTech Data Services each cross-pollinate within the model to drive project value associated with complex real estate projects. With national experience and a team of experts devoted to the emerging cannabis industry, Zoned Properties is addressing the specific needs of a modern market in highly regulated industries.
Zoned Properties is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Forbes Real Estate Council. Zoned Properties does not grow, harvest, sell or distribute cannabis or any substances regulated under United States law such as the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, as amended (the “CSA”). Zoned Properties corporate headquarters are located at 14269 N. 87th Street, Suite 205, Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, call 877-360-8839 or visit www.ZonedProperties.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “potential,” “continue” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
COVID-19 Statement
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. We are monitoring this closely, and although operations have not been materially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak to date, the ultimate duration and severity of the outbreak and its impact on the economic environment and our business is uncertain. Currently, all of the properties in our portfolio are open to our Significant Tenants and their customers and will remain open pursuant to state and local government requirements. We did not experience in 2020, and to date have not experienced in 2021, any material changes to our operations from COVID-19. We do not anticipate any such material changes for the remainder of 2021. Our tenants are continuing to generate revenue at these properties and they have continued to make rental payments in full and on time and we believe the tenants’ liquidity position is sufficient to cover its expected rental obligations. Accordingly, while we do not anticipate an impact on our operations, we cannot estimate the duration of the pandemic and potential impact on our business if the properties must close or if the tenants are otherwise unable or unwilling to make rental payments. In addition, a severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for our properties and a decreased ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. At this time, the Company is unable to estimate the impact of this event on its operations.
KayaPush Launches HR, Payroll, and Workforce Management for Oklahoma Dispensaries
VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KayaPush is an all-in-one platform that helps dispensary owners grow and scale their businesses by simplifying HR, payroll, time tracking, and scheduling. With this all-in-one solution, Oklahoma dispensaries will be able to meet the demands of operating in a highly regulated industry with little administrative burden.
KayaPush has years of experience helping other marijuana industry startups in California, Nevada, Missouri, Michigan, Illinois and is excited to expand its services to Oklahoma. Their all-in-one solution is already making waves throughout the cannabis community by providing an easy solution that overcomes many of the regulatory hurdles faced by dispensaries, such as payroll and employee management.
Director of Partnerships at KayaPush, Tommy Truong, said he anticipates a huge demand in the Oklahoma market in regards to HR and payroll services. “We’re dedicated to giving dispensaries the tools they need to manage their workforce effectively while making sure that all the regulatory requirements are met, and there is minimal friction for the business owners,” said Tommy.
Aiming to serve as a complete workforce management solution for dispensaries in Oklahoma, KayaPush simplifies operational tasks with streamlined time tracking and scheduling capabilities. With detailed reporting tools and an intuitive interface, dispensary owners can manage teams without performing extensive administrative work.
“Our HR and payroll solution was designed with dispensaries in mind. We understand the difficulties of processing payroll in the cannabis industry, staying compliant, while still managing and running your business,” said Tommy.
KayaPush integrates with leading POS systems that offer the Metrc tracking integration, ensuring compliance and an end-to-end solution for dispensaries.
It is currently offering a free trial of their software to Oklahoma dispensary owners looking for a payroll and workforce management solution.
Company Information About: KayaPush is an all-in-one platform that helps dispensary owners grow and scale their businesses by simplifying HR, payroll, time tracking, and scheduling.
Grass Fed Studio Announces Relaunch as Illinois Continues to Hit Record-Breaking Marijuana Sales
CHICAGO, September 1, 2021 — Today Grass Fed Studio Founder and Creative Director Nate Azark announced the company’s relaunch, whose home market – Illinois – is on track to see more than $1 billion in adult-use marijuana sales this year. With over 20 years of experience, Azark started Grass Fed, a full-service creative studio based in Chicago, in 2017 to cultivate impactful identities for cannabis startups.
“As the cannabis industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, we chose to refresh our look and feel, as well as hyperfocus our efforts on strategy, branding, packaging, and illustration. Our team stands out among other agencies as wedeeply understand the cannabis space from both a B2B and B2C perspective. In addition to our extensive cannabis industryknowledge, we bring decades of experience building strong brands. Our goal is to help our clients inform and educate theirconsumers about the benefits of cannabis through beautiful design,” said Azark.
It’s essential that new and existing cannabis businesses – everyone from cultivators and dispensaries to ancillary services –differentiate themselves through an authentic brand story and striking visual identity. Both are vital to succeeding in anincredibly competitive industry. They are also in need of partners with vast experience in the space because the industry is fullof unknowns and there is a massive need for cannabis education.
Grass Fed Studio’s clients include an established Illinois dispensary retail chain, one of the industry’s leading cannabis cultivation and management software companies, and a team of cannabis growers and educators, who were just awarded a Craft Grow license.
“Our approach is relationship-driven, and we take great pride in the clients we choose to work with. We believe the cannabis industry’s growth is vital to improving people’s lives and value working with those who feel the same way,” said Azark.
For more information visit www.hellograssfed.com and follow Grass Fed Studio here:
Grass Fed is a creative studio built for the cannabis industry. Established in 2017 in Chicago, Grass Fed’s origin is rooted in our belief that the cannabis industry’s growth is vital to improving people’s lives. Our down-to-earth creative team has decades of experience cultivating strong identities for companies through strategy, branding, packaging, and illustration. As a trustworthy partner, we always have our clients’ backs and show our support of the industry.
Cannabis Industry Veteran Kris Krane Joins KCSA Strategic Communications As Director of Cannabis Development and Head of New Chicago Office
NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — KCSA Strategic Communications (“KCSA” or “the Firm”), a leading New York-based integrated communications firm, is both opening a Chicago office and expanding its cannabis practice by adding industry luminary and veteran cannabis entrepreneur and activist, Kris Krane, former President of 4Front Ventures, a cannabis Multi-State Operator (MSO), to the team.
In his new role with KCSA, Mr. Krane will focus on business development and advising the Firm’s cannabis clients, as well as focus on establishing a presence for KCSA in Chicago. He will also play an active role on KCSA’s podcast,The Green Rush, one of the most influential podcasts focusing on the Cannabis and Psychedelic industries. Krane has been a regular host of Marijuana Today, the most downloaded cannabis podcast, as well as a regular speaker at key Cannabis conferences such as MJ BizCon, and investor conferences hosted by Cowen & Co. Canaccord, VIII Capital, Benzinga and ArcView.
“The partners of KCSA are both curious and forward thinking, willing to plant our flag in industries and market categories other agencies have neither the foresight or fortitude to enter; this includes cannabis and psychedelics. At the same time, we’re constantly on the lookout for talented professionals that can help us expand our team and service offerings. Kris Krane perfectly encapsulates who we are and what we aspire to achieve – to become a holistic communications firm that empowers our clients to become effective, strategic storytellers,” commented Lewis Goldberg, principal and managing partner at KCSA. “Kris knows everyone in the cannabis industry and has unparalleled access and insight into the players in the space. His personal relationships with the leaders both in the halls of power – at the State and Federal level – as well as the C-Suites of the most interesting companies, will provide unrivaled value to KCSA and our clients.”
Kris Krane founded 4Front Advisors in February 2011 and served as the parent company’s President from 2015-2021. Prior to founding 4Front, Krane served as director of client services for CannBe, a pioneer in developing best practices within the medical cannabis industry from. Kris has dedicated his career to reforming the nation’s misguided drug policies, having previously served as associate director of NORML (2000-2005) and executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (2006-2009). He currently serves on the National Cannabis Industry Association board of directors andpens a column about the cannabis industry for Forbes. He has provided written testimony to Congress as well as countless state legislatures, and is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential people in Cannabis.
“KCSA recognized early on that cannabis was going to be an incredible growth opportunity and quickly grew to become the “go-to” public and investor relations agency in the industry. Together with Lewis, Todd Fromer and Jeffrey Goldberger decided to take what they do best for industries like financial services and biotech, and apply those same fundamentals communications strategies to companies in the cannabis space,” said Mr. Krane. “As a former client, I can attest to their strategic thinking, creativity and work ethic. Most importantly, I’m impressed with the KCSA team’s dedication to the broader issue of cannabis reform and commitment to the values of the reform movement that I have been part of for a quarter century. I’m excited for this next chapter of my career and to working with the good folks at KCSA to gain more exposure to the cannabis industry and to help our clients develop strategic campaigns and messaging that match the groundbreaking times we are living in.”
KCSA has experienced unprecedented growth over the past year, with personnel up 150% year over year and business up 175% year over year. The Company continues to grow and is looking for talent. If you are interested in joining the team, please visithttps://www.kcsa.com/careers.
About KCSA Strategic Communications
KCSA is a fully integrated communications agency specializing in public relations, investor relations and social media, with expertise in financial and professional services, technology, healthcare, digital media and cannabis. Since 1969, the firm has demonstrated strategic thinking and program execution that drives results for its clients in the ever-changing communications and digital landscape. The firm’s clients are its best references. For more information, please visit www.kcsa.com
Top Cannabis Construction Expert Robert Spence Joins Cannabis Facility Construction
CHICAGO, IL (AUGUST 25, 2021) – Cannabis Facility Construction (CFC), a national cannabis design-build leader, is pleased to welcome Robert Spence to its growing team. Spence joins CFC from 4Front, a cannabis multi-state operator, where he was Director of Facilities for Mission Dispensaries. As CFC Production Manager, Spence will leverage his 20 years of construction experience and technical cannabis industry knowledge to build best in class cannabis facilities for CFC clients including multi-state operators, independents and start-ups.
“We are thrilled to welcome Robert Spence as Production Manager to the CFC team,” says Andy Poticha, Founder & CEO of Cannabis Facility Construction. “As the cannabis industry becomes increasingly sophisticated, it’s become even more important to have strong project leaders with the industry experience to problem-solve and keep projects on track. Robert has real-world experience delivering all types of cannabis facilities under tight timelines while navigating complex approval processes, exactly what our clients need.”
As Production Manager, Robert will be responsible for leading the construction of cannabis projects from bidding, pre-construction, project launch and close-out of cultivation facilities, processing centers, and retail dispensaries. He will successfully direct project management teams, trade partners and supplier relationships.
Prior to his three years as Director of Facilities for Mission Dispensaries, Spence held several senior level construction positions, including Facility Engineer at the National Gallery of Art. He is a CSI certified Construction Documents Technologist and USGBC LEED AP. His addition follows a number of new hires the company has made recently to round out their growing team, and includes Ian Carr, Joe Donnelly, Todd Gramly, Cara Resnick, and JoAnn Sandoval.
ABOUT CANNABIS FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
A national industry leader in full-service cannabis facility design-build, Cannabis Facility Construction (CFC) is the cannabis industry brand affiliated with Mosaic Construction LLC, a commercial and multifamily design-build firm. Together the firms, along with affiliated brand Design Construction Concepts, serve a national client base of commercial, multifamily, residential and cannabis clientele.
Since 2015, CFC has renovated more than 70 cultivation facilities, processing centers, and dispensary projects in 12 states, including Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Its principal leadership team led by Andy Poticha, Ira Singer, and Mike Frazin, offers more than three decades of experience in construction, design-build, diverse operational and financial management, and facility development. For more information, visit www.cannabisfacility.net.
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Oaksterdam University NFT Digital Art Drops! View and Bid for NFTs on OpenSea through 9/1/21
Oakland, Calif. (Aug. 23, 2021) —Oaksterdam University is excited to announce that the public can now bid on digital art non-fungible tokens (NFTs) created to fight the 50-year War on Drugs. Selected art in OU’s first-ever Digital Art Contest with an NFT drop is live for viewing and bidding on the OpenSea platform through Sept. 1, 2021.
Artists from across the country entered the contest and five works were chosen by a panel of Oaksterdam judges. Their art NFTs, in a two-sided trading card style with accompanying narration, are available on OpenSea now. One NFT of each piece is up for bid, starting at $420.
“We selected winners based on how well they conveyed the impact of Nixon’s failed War on Drugs,” Jones says. “This contest is our way to inspire creative thought about the devastating consequences of U.S. drug policy while dipping our toes into NFT technology and supporting artists’ entry into this exciting new medium.”
Learn more about the winning artists here. Learn more about the contest here. Get photos and social media materials to help us spread the word here. Bid on the art NFTs here. For more information or to schedule an interview, email wensdy@oaksterdamuniversity.com.
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HISTORY OF THE WAR ON DRUGS
OU’s NFT digital art contest was designed to bring awareness of the 50th anniversary of the War on Drugs, which began when President Nixon named drug abuse as “public enemy number one,” and the United States Congress ratified the policy in July 1971. Society declared marijuana the gateway and turned to increasingly harsh measures against cannabis for even medical necessity. Digital artists were encouraged to enter original artwork depicting the political, criminal, social, and environmental – personal and human consequences.
ABOUT OAKSTERDAM UNIVERSITY
Oaksterdam U is the first and longest-running cannabis college in the world offering quality training for the cannabis industry led by a faculty composed of leaders in the cannabis legalization movement. Oaksterdam offers live classroom and self-paced online courses designed to advance careers including The Business of Cannabis, Horticulture, Budtending Certification ProgramTM, Commercial Extraction and Manufacturing, and more. We also offer free courses and sample classes. Visit OaksterdamUniversity.com/courses.
Clio Cannabis Announces Jury Set To Select 2021 Award Winners
NEW YORK—(August 24, 2021)— Clio Cannabis, the awards program that celebrates creators at the forefront of cannabis marketing and communications, today announced its esteemed jury of industry leaders who will determine 2021’s winning entries. The 47 member jury is comprised of a diverse mix of creative talent from leading cannabis brands, services, dispensaries, and agencies who are moving the industry forward.
Michael Kauffman, Executive Director, Clio Cannabis said, “As the cannabis industry continues to make significant strides in legalization across the country, we applaud the executives, marketers, designers, product managers, filmmakers, public relations practitioners, and innovators leading the charge to educate consumers, promote social responsibility, and create products that appeal to a wide audience. The newly selected Clio Cannabis jury is tasked with recognizing the next wave of creativity in the space and honoring those teams who are producing it.”
The 2021 Clio Cannabis award recipients will be decided by:
Advertising and Marketing Jury
Allison Disney, Partner & Business Strategy, Receptor Brands
Tammy “The Cannabis Cutie” Pettigrew, Cannabis Educator & Advocate, The Cannabis Cutie (TLP Ventures, LLC)
Clio Cannabis is currently accepting submissions in the Advocacy, Brand Design, Digital/Mobile, Experience/Activation, Film/Video, Film/Video Craft, Integrated Campaigns, Partnerships & Collaborations, Print & Out of Home, Print & Out of Home Craft, Product/Service Innovation, Public Relations, Social Good, and Social Media mediums until September 24th. For more information and to enter work, visit www.cliocannabisawards.com.
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About Clio Cannabis
Expanding on Clio’s enduring reputation for establishing best-in-class programs honoring creative ideas in a variety of specialized verticals, Clio Cannabis celebrates the creators at the forefront of cannabis marketing and communications. Launched in 2019, Clio Cannabis sets the bar for creative work in a rapidly growing industry, builds a greater understanding of a developing category, and elevates creative contributions from top talent and agencies.
About Clio
Clio is the premier international awards competition for the creative business. Founded in 1959 to celebrate creative excellence in advertising, Clio today honors the work and talent at the forefront of the industry in a variety of specialized fields, including: sports, fashion, music, entertainment, cannabis and health. As a leading authority on the diverse and ever-changing creative landscape, Clio celebrates creativity 365-days-a-year via its global ad database Ads of The World and its content platform Muse by Clio.
68% Increase to Chino Valley Rental Revenue Effective September 1, 2021
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Zoned Properties®, Inc. (the “Company”) (OTCQB: ZDPY), a leading real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries including legalized cannabis, today announced an amendment to the lease agreement with its significant tenant related to its cultivation facility located in Chino Valley, Arizona.
“After years of project positioning, local collaboration, and real estate entitlement efforts to make the Chino Valley project possible, we are extremely grateful to have a deal structure that benefits both our operating tenant and Zoned Properties as the owner and landlord, for long term expansion and increasing value for our shareholders,” commented Bryan McLaren, Chief Executive Officer of Zoned Properties.
“The increasing demand for regulated marijuana cultivation space and consumer products in Arizona has gone far beyond initial projections as the result of the recently approved and implemented adult-use marijuana program. Industry experts are estimating consumer demand in Arizona could increase above $1 Billion in the next few years, which will require increased cultivation capacity and square footage of entitlement and properly zoned properties such as Chino Valley.”
Transaction Highlights
Over $8 Million of capital has been invested to-date by the Company’s Significant Tenants at the Chino Valley Cultivation Facility. The Company’s Significant Tenant will maintain the master rights to the property and facilities through the remainder of the Lease Agreement.
Effective September 1st, 2021, operational square footage will increase from 40,000 square feet to 67,512 square feet, and the new base rental payments at the facility will increase 68% from $32,800 per month to $55,195 per month including three out of four new building structures in the phase one expansion that are now fully completed and operational.
The fourth additional building site is in completion stages for technology and operational packages along with compliance inspections. The parties expect that, upon final completion, they will enter into another lease amendment reflecting the increased operational square footage and increased base rental payments. Operational square footage would increase from 67,512 square feet to 97,512 square feet, and base rental payments at the facility would increase an additional 69% from $55,195 per month to $79,795 per month reflecting the entirety of the phase one expansion.
Upon completion of the entirety of the phase one expansion, the annualized base rental payments will increase to $957,550 reflecting an increase of 143% from previous annualized base rental payments of $393,600.
The Chino Valley property also includes an approved master plan for a phase two expansion of operational and rentable square footage that is construction ready and may proceed at the Tenant’s election. If the Tenant elects to proceed with phase two, the additional square footage of operational and rentable building space could include another 60,000 square feet for a total of 157,512 square feet of operational and rentable building space at the facility, which would equate to an annualized rental rate of $1,549,918 plus additional rental payments under the triple-net lease.
“This lease amendment is not only highly accretive for our own operational cash flow, but also marks a critical milestone for the increase in cultivation capacity and operational expansion for our Significant Tenant,” said Berekk Blackwell, Chief Operating Officer of Zoned Properties.
About Zoned Properties, Inc. (OTCQB: ZDPY):
Zoned Properties is a leading real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries, including regulated cannabis. The company is redefining the approach to commercial real estate investment through its integrated growth services.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Zoned Properties has developed a full spectrum of integrated growth services to support its real estate development and investment model; Advisory Services, Brokerage Services, Franchise Services, and PropTech Data Services each cross-pollinate within the model to drive project value associated with complex real estate projects. With national experience and a team of experts devoted to the emerging cannabis industry, Zoned Properties is addressing the specific needs of a modern market in highly regulated industries.
Zoned Properties is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Forbes Real Estate Council. Zoned Properties does not grow, harvest, sell or distribute cannabis or any substances regulated under United States law such as the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, as amended (the “CSA”). Zoned Properties corporate headquarters are located at 14269 N. 87th Street, Suite 205, Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, call 877-360-8839 or visit www.ZonedProperties.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “potential,” “continue” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
COVID-19 Statement
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. We are monitoring this closely, and although operations have not been materially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak to date, the ultimate duration and severity of the outbreak and its impact on the economic environment and our business is uncertain. Currently, all of the properties in our portfolio are open to our Significant Tenants and their customers and will remain open pursuant to state and local government requirements. We did not experience in 2020, and to date have not experienced in 2021, any material changes to our operations from COVID-19. We do not anticipate any such material changes for the remainder of 2021. Our tenants are continuing to generate revenue at these properties and they have continued to make rental payments in full and on time and we believe the tenants’ liquidity position is sufficient to cover its expected rental obligations. Accordingly, while we do not anticipate an impact on our operations, we cannot estimate the duration of the pandemic and potential impact on our business if the properties must close or if the tenants are otherwise unable or unwilling to make rental payments. In addition, a severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for our properties and a decreased ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. At this time, the Company is unable to estimate the impact of this event on its operations.
Minor Decliner Becomes First U.S. Dealer to Integrate KEESING Documentchecker with ID Verifying Products
August 17, 2021, Stevensville, MD – Minor Decliner, adding to their roster of ID-verifying products for businesses selling age-restricted items, has become the first U.S. dealer of the KEESING Documentchecker, an additional way to ensure efficiency, speed and accuracy in the crucial ID-verifying process. With Minor Decliner and the KEESING Documentchecker, businesses can feel confident that their ID-checking processes are virtually error-free and will keep them in compliance with state and national laws.
“We are proud to introduce our Identify Document Kiosk,” says Ron Tobb, President of Minor Decliner. “Now enterprises can have an easy-to-implement, stand-alone compact kiosk to look up and inspect identity documents and their security features. The system is automatically updated every other week, so you always have the latest information. With a digital reference guide, you also have the ability to enlarge and zoom in to review every detailed feature of the IDs.”
This patented revolutionary new tool provides businesses with a comprehensive library of U.S. Driver’s Licenses (and other IDs) and the ability to verify the security features on each individual state license. This technology, for the first time in the U.S., can now be purchased along-side age-verification technology as an add-on option with Minor Decliner products.
Keesing, a Dutch-based brand, strives to provide organizations all over the world with easy access to its trusted ID reference information to help them prevent and combat identity fraud. Strategic partnerships enable Keesing to better serve local organizations and accelerate the introduction of trusted identity verification for global fraud prevention and deterring underage sales.
“We aim to help organizations prevent identity fraud on a global scale. This partnership with Minor Decliner, a professional and regional business, enables us to specifically reach U.S.-based companies and support them in the fight against underage sales. I am convinced that the combined strengths and expertise of both parties will provide the U.S. with an excellent, reliable ID and age verification solution”, says Stephanie Tjeenk-Willink, Sales Manager at Keesing Technologies.
Paired with Minor Decliner, a convenient and modern stand-alone kiosk, businesses can now easily scan a driver’s license to detect if the ID is expired or the cardholder is underage and can then use the KEESING Documentchecker portal to check the security features of the driver’s license against the document library of authentic licenses. All of the state-specific security features will be noted and highlighted for easy and quick review. Each license also includes a view under ultraviolet light, to be able to compare the security features visible under UV.
KEESING Documentchecker offers Minor Decliner’s customers:
Perfect reference material for all issued IDs at their fingertips
Confidence about to whom they can and cannot sell (and serve)
A very effective and preventive tool in the fight against underage sales
With the KEESING Documentchecker, ID verification for age-restricted products has never been easier and now, thanks to Minor Decliner, it’s never been more accessible. For more information and how to get a Minor Decliner product integrated with the KEESING Documentchecker, please visit minordecliner.com today.
CONTACT: Ron Tobb
President, Minor Decliner
ron@minordeclinercom
888-310-4001
About Minor Decliner:
The MinorDecliner™ systems allows for fast scanning of State-issued IDs and Drivers Licenses for reliable data entry and fast, audible, and visible results. We seamlessly work to detect expired IDs and underage consumers to increase your employees’ efficiency, help check IDs properly, and reduce the “human error” factor. Our vision is simple: to eliminate sales and access of age-restricted products to minors in order to protect businesses, reducing your risk and costs of fines, and ensure you remain compliant. www.minordecliner.com
About Keesing Technologies:
Keesing Technologies has been creating innovative identity and banknote verification solutions since 1911. Our legacy is also built on trust, with an emphasis on accuracy, security and reliability in our products and customer relationships. Today, Keesing leads the way in digital identity verification. Our cutting-edge solutions allow you to verify an individual’s true identity from anywhere in the world, while protecting your business from fraud. Our technologies build on our long-standing expertise, a deep knowledge base, and the world’s most comprehensive ID document database. www.keesingtechnologies.com
Emerge Law Group Challenges Sonoma County, California Policy of Fining Medical Cannabis Users as Illicit Commercial Growers
Sonoma County, CA, August 16, 2021— Emerge Law Group has filed a Petition in California Superior Court challenging penalties of over $28,000 imposed by Sonoma County on a mother and daughter for exceeding the allowed medical cultivation of 100 square feet.
The Petition seeks to overturn the July 16, 2021, decision by an administrative hearing officer that approved the County’s practice of imposing huge fines, even without any evidence that the property owner sold cannabis to any other person. The penalty approved by the hearing officer would, if not overturned in Court, be financially destructive to the mother and daughter.
Sonoma County contended at the administrative hearing that any cultivation area that exceeds 100 square feet “magically” becomes subject to prosecution as an illegal “commercial” cannabis business. By simply exceeding the allowed square footage, a property owner engages in “commercial cultivation,” according to the County. County officials said at the hearing that imposing the harsh fine schedule for illegal commercial growers in these circumstances is “easiest” for them.
The Petition filed by Emerge attorneys Timothy L. Alger and Delia Rojas asks the Superior Court to vacate the fines, order Sonoma County to stop its arbitrary and excessively punitive enforcement practices, and seeks damages for violation of the civil rights of the mother and daughter. The Petition alleges that Sonoma County has adopted policies and practices that are unfair and designed to punish individuals who, often by inadvertence, become non-compliant with regulations allowing limited personal and medical cannabis cultivations.
The mother and daughter contend in their Petition that a Sonoma County enforcement official, when he conducted an unscheduled inspection, called one of the petitioner’s names and threatened the petitioners with $10,000 fines per day if the inspector was not immediately allowed onto the property. The petitioners have had medical approvals for their cultivation, and there is no evidence that they ever sold cannabis to any person. The petitioners assert that they always attempted to comply with County regulations and cooperated with inspections.
“This is an important lawsuit because it holds local governments to account for abusing their limited power to regulate cannabis cultivation,” said Emerge attorney Timothy Alger. “Californians overwhelmingly approved at the ballot box the right of residents to grow cannabis for personal and medical use. Minor violations do not entitle a city or county to treat people who are exercising their rights to personal and medical cultivation — and attempting in good faith to comply with complicated and often illogical regulations — as illegal commercial businesses.”
Emerge Law Group is a full-service law firm that focuses on representing companies in the legal cannabis industry. It has offices in Irvine, Los Angeles and Santa Rosa, California, as well as Portland, Oregon.
***PRESS ADVISORY***
“Breaking Ground”
Senator Sanders’ Cannabis Workforce Initiative
The cannabis industry is coming to New York.
Join Senator James Sanders Jr. as we make history!
Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Queens) in partnership with the Cannabis Hub, is launching the first of its kind cannabis workforce training in the nation for individuals who want to start a business or simply get a job in the emerging cannabis industry coming soon to New York State and made possible by the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA).
The teachers who devised this accredited program are the best and most respected leaders in the cannabis industry, having finetuned their already immense expertise at the Cleveland School of Cannabis.
Students of Senator Sanders’ Breaking Ground initiative will be primarily community members who have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. They are going to get a free, world-class education with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The “Breaking Ground Press Conference” will take place on Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at The Campaign Against Hunger – Far Rock Urban Agro-Ecological Center, located at 45-55 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway, NY 11691.
At the event we will explain all of the initiative’s specific details, so make sure you come out and hear it first.
This public announcement will be preceded at 9 a.m. with a Faith-Based and Labor Leader Breakfast. It is an invite-only event (media are permitted), at the Arverne Bay Community Center, 74-15 Beach Channel Drive, Arverne, NY 11692. This gathering is intended to foster conversation and learning, as it pertains to New York’s recently enacted cannabis laws.
9 a.m.
Faith-Based and Labor Leader Breakfast
Arverne Bay Community Center
74-15 Beach Channel Drive, Arverne, NY 11692
11:30 a.m.
Breaking Ground Press Conference
Far Rock Urban Agro-Ecological Center
45-55 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Cannabis Facility Construction Expands into Virginia with Design-Build Project for Dharma Pharmaceuticals
Cannabis Facility Construction Expands into Virginia with Design-Build Project for Dharma Pharmaceuticals
CHICAGO, IL (AUGUST 12, 2021) – Cannabis Facility Construction (CFC), a national, full-service, cannabis design-build construction firm, is pleased to have completed construction on a new medical dispensary for Dharma Pharmaceuticals in Salem, Virginia.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Dharma Pharmaceuticals to support their entry into the emerging Virginia medical cannabis market,” said Andy Poticha, Principal at Cannabis Facility Construction. “Our clients value our extensive design-build expertise and our ability to provide speed to market, which is essential to opening quickly and correctly.”
The new medical dispensary is located at 1634 W. Main Street in Salem. To create a differentiated and welcoming customer experience, careful consideration was given to customer flow between easy-to-browse product displays and point of sale stations so consultations and transactions can take place with social distancing in mind. In addition to the wood and masonry retail space in the front, the dispensary includes secure vaults for inventory storage, back office space, and a highly advanced security system.
“Cannabis Facility Construction’s ability to help us achieve speed to market is essential and one of the reasons we decided to work with them,” said Jack Page, Market Leader for Green Thumb, which acquired Dharma on July 1. “They provided the right value to convert the space into the medical dispensary and had the right experience to hit the ground running.”
For more information on these and other projects by Cannabis Facility Construction, visitwww.cannabisfacility.net.
ABOUT CANNABIS FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
Cannabis Facility Construction (CFC), a division of Mosaic Construction, is a national, industry leader in full-service cannabis facility design-build. Since 2015, the company has renovated more than 70 cultivation facilities, processing centers, and dispensary projects in 12 states, including Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Its principal leadership team led by Andy Poticha, Ira Singer, and Mike Frazin, offers more than three decades of experience in construction, design-build, diverse operational and financial management, and facility development. For more information, visit www.cannabisfacility.net.
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Aurum Labs Receives CDPHE Certification and is Poised to be the First DEA Registered Cannabis & Hemp Testing Laboratory in the Nation
DURANGO, Colorado, August 12, 2021: Aurum Labs (https://aurum-labs.com/) is now certified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to conduct hemp compliance testing for manufactured industrial hemp products and is in the final stages of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration. ISO Accredited and a leader in cannabis and hemp testing since 2014, Aurum Labs is expected to be the first testing lab to be both DEA registered and Colorado State Certified.
“Aurum has always been at the forefront of cannabis and hemp testing. We strive to meet and exceed the requirements of the state, ISO, and the federal government by innovating quickly,” says Aurum’s Owner and Lab Director Luke Mason. “Being nimble makes it possible for us to get certified by the state while simultaneously working our way through DEA registration.”
The CDPHE’s Industrial Hemp Lab Certification is the first of its kind for any state and Aurum Labs is one of only two CDPHE Certified Hemp Testing Labs in the nation. Colorado is requiring industrial hemp manufacturers and wholesalers to conduct a robust suite of compliance tests that includes potency, microbial contaminants, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and mycotoxins. This panel of tests is required for industrial hemp products intended for human consumption which is anything ingested or applied topically. Aurum Labs adheres to the most stringent hemp testing lab standards in the nation.
The process to become DEA registered poses additional challenges because of Aurum Labs’ classification as a Colorado Marijuana Testing Facility. With Schedule I substances on premises, Aurum had to postpone DEA inspection to avoid potential criminal charges and is now navigating a more rigorous registration process.
Current DEA registered labs received approval because they were either new to cannabis and hemp testing or they recently opened a new location without Schedule I substances already on site. Registering operational labs with cannabis samples on site has forced the DEA to redesign how they register existing labs, putting Aurum at the center of this groundbreaking development.
“The CDPHE hemp testing requirements are the most extensive in the nation and we are excited to provide this quality of testing to the national market ahead of federal regulations,” says Liz Mason, Aurum Labs’ Director of Operations. “I believe that our DEA registration will be a testament to our commitment to the hemp industry. We want to continue to provide comprehensive compliance testing to an industry that is still managing risk in a turbulent legal environment.”
About Aurum:
Aurum Labs is one of the most experienced analytical cannabis and hemp testing laboratories in the country. Aurum provides fast, accurate and affordable results with outstanding customer service. Aurum’s commitment to integrity and consumer safety set Aurum apart from other labs and clients receive an honest, collaborative approach to testing.
Learn more at https://aurum-labs.com/
Media Contact:
Rachel Frederico
Aurum Labs
970-422-1867 X1
rfrederico@aurum-labs.com
PSI Labs, Michigan’s Premier Cannabis Testing Lab, Announces Expansion to Southern California
Monrovia-Based Lab Acquisition Strengthens Cannabis Testing In California
MONROVIA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– PSI Labs, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based ISO 17025 accredited Safety Compliance Facility that provides essential cannabis testing services, today announced its expansion into Southern California with the acquisition of pH Solutions, LLC.
pH Solutions, LLC was founded in 2016 by Raquel Keledjian, Ph.D., and is one of the longest operating laboratories in the State of California. Keledjian will remain a critical part of the California team and continue to perform the role of acting Lab Director. By joining forces, PSI will be able to leverage its size and experience to help expand research and development and testing services.
“California is a critical market in the United States, with a long history of leading innovation and elevating the conversation around national legalization,” said Ben Rosman, J.D., CEO and Co-Founder of PSI Labs. “We have long admired how Raquel and her team operate and our shared values around data transparency, accuracy and integrity.”
“PSI Labs and pH Solutions share core values and by practicing integrity in our reporting and testing methods, we’re able to give consumers access to safe, accurate medicine,” said Raquel Keledjian, Ph.D.
As the first Safety Compliance Facility to receive both medical and adult-use licenses in Michigan, PSI is deeply committed to scientific accuracy and foresees continued growth.
“California is an exciting next step for our organization, and we look forward to growing both within and outside of Michigan in the coming years,” said Lev Spivak-Birndorf, Ph.D., CSO and Co-Founder of PSI Labs.
About PSI Labs
PSI Labs is a Michigan based ISO 17025 accredited Safety Compliance Facility, providing cannabis testing services to regulated adult-use and medical facilities. PSI is devoted to elevating the cannabis community through scientific accuracy, research, advocacy and consumer safety. With a science-first, rigorous approach to testing, PSI Labs helps give Michigan’s licensed provisioning centers, processors and cultivators—and the customers they serve—confidence that their products are adherent to State standards and safe to consume.
Founded in 2015 in Ann Arbor, PSI Labs is the first Safety Compliance Facility in the state of Michigan to receive both medical and adult use licenses. PSI Labs is also a founding member of the Leafly Certified Labs Program.
The People’s Ecosystem Partners with FlowerHire Senior Advisors to Usher in Phase of New Growth
The BIPOC-ran multi-state cannabis operator formerly known as The People’s Dispensary begins search for new president that is a steward of social change and possesses exemplary business acumen
OAKLAND, Calif., August 5, 2021 – The People’s Ecosystem, a leading BIPOC-ran multi-state cannabis operator formerly known as The People’s Dispensary, announced today that it has retained FlowerHire Senior Advisors (FHSA) to assist in selecting a new company president.
The newly appointed president will work closely with the CEO and Co-Founder of The People’s Ecosystem, Christine De La Rosa, to advance the vision, mission and values of The People’s Ecosystem and shape the future of the company as it moves forward into its expansion phase. The President is expected to establish short and long-term goals, budgets, plans, and strategies for this unique organization while providing strong leadership during the exponential growth of the company.
Founded in 2016, The People’s Ecosystem has built one of the most diverse teams in the industry that is committed to fighting for social-economic equity, sustainable and conscious cannabis policies.
“Since its inception, The People’s Ecosystem has seen an immense amount of growth and with the continued pressure for states to adopt legal markets, we expect our upward trajectory to continue,” said De La Rosa. “We hold ourselves to “mission-driven metrics” and therefore need any of our partners to have a comprehensive understanding of the company and its unique culture. FHSA has the best track record and methodology for identifying and capturing the talent that propels The People’s Ecosystem into the next stage of success.”
FlowerHire Senior Advisors, the dedicated executive and Board search practice of the premier cannabis staffing and talent strategy firm FlowerHire, has completed dozens of C-suite and Board searches for cannabis companies over the last three years. Led by Brian Fitzgerald and Karen Meshkov, FHSA has built a reputation as the go-to firm for both experienced cannabis executives, and attracting, evaluating, and placing non-cannabis executives into the industry.
“We are honored to have been selected to lead this engagement on behalf of The People’s Ecosystem,” said Fitzgerald. “Now, we are laser-focused on identifying the executives who not only have the skill sets and experience but also the vision and drive necessary to take this company and ecosystem to the level necessary to effect true change for the stakeholders of The People’s Ecosystem.”
“It’s going to take someone exceptional to lead such a forward-thinking company, but this is a tremendous opportunity to show the industry it’s possible to build a thriving, vertically integrated cannabis company that is both prosperous and progressive,” said Meshkov. “We are searching for someone who is both a steward of social and political change – embodying the vision that The People’s Ecosystem has for diversity, equity and inclusion – and is also an exceptional, experienced senior-level executive with exemplary business acumen and operational know-how.”
To discuss interest in this position, or to refer qualified individuals, please contact and submit resumes to us at TPE@flowerhire.com.
About The People’s Ecosystem (TPE)
Grounded on the intrinsic value of cannabis culture, TPE actively promotes equity in the cannabis industry in a way that authentically reflects the plant’s diverse history. With a particular interest in BIPOC and women-led companies, TPE focuses on ways to bring equity and opportunity to marginalized communities by helping companies through capital barriers, acquiring licenses, and offering their experience and network to canna-entrepreneurs.
About FlowerHire
FlowerHire is on a mission to build a conscious cannabis community, one hire at a time. Founded in 2017, we are a team of experienced talent and recruiting professionals and dedicated to helping companies build, scale, and retain world-class teams.
We partner with cannabis and hemp companies at any stage of their growth to provide high-touch services including contingency placement, retained and embedded search, and strategic talent advisory. We have also brought to market our software and AI-driven platform, FlowerHireXTM, to solve the talent puzzle for companies looking to hire and retain frontline workers – and to empower individuals to own their careers in cannabis.
Since our inception, we have helped hundreds of cannabis companies build and optimize their talent chain, and have helped countless candidates understand this unique and exciting industry and find a job that fits. FlowerHire is Talent in CannabisTM. For more information on FlowerHire, please visit www.flowerhire.com.
Airfield Supply Co. Launches Most Powerful Online Dispensary Retail Site in U.S., Setting New Standard for Cannabis E-Commerce
Harnessing the power of Adobe Commerce, Airfield’s new e-commerce site ushers in an exciting era in cannabis retail, offering the most user-friendly, mobile-friendly, and dynamic online cannabis retail experience available anywhere in the U.S.
SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Airfield Supply Company — California’s leading vertically-integrated full-service dispensary — today announced the launch of its proprietary e-commerce website built on Adobe Commerce, powered by Magento, making it the most robust online cannabis shopping site in the United States. Long considered the gold standard for differentiated e-commerce, Adobe Commerce already powers online shopping experiences for industry-disrupting consumer and B2B brands, but has yet to be widely used in the cannabis retail space. Drawing from the best omnichannel retail examples available, Airfield’s new digital storefront expands the limits of cannabis e-retail by providing an immersive shopping experience that makes consumer navigation, discovery, and check-out seamless and engaging; delivers a superior mobile experience; and drives discovery, personalized recommendations, and intuitive reordering in a way that no other cannabis e-commerce site can.
Airfield’s new e-comm solution allows you to shop by desired experience. (Photo: Business Wire)
“As a customer-first brand, we have always been passionate about providing the best shopping experience imaginable. While we can control our in-store and delivery moments completely, we’ve had to work within the limitations of online retail for nearly a decade,” says Marc Matulich, founder and CEO of Airfield Supply Co., the Silicon Valley-based dispensary he launched in 2010.
“For example, an intuitive mobile shopping experience is common in every other aspect of our lives but hasn’t been optimized for the cannabis industry. Our monthly visitor stats show that nearly three quarters of our visitors come to us via mobile — and none of them have so far had the shopping experience we think they deserve,” Matulich says. “We are dramatically changing that by expanding our omnichannel capabilities with Adobe. Now, Airfield customers will have the same type of consistent, satisfying encounters they’re used to having when purchasing food, books, clothes, or cosmetics. We realized that since we couldn’t buy a platform experience this powerful, we literally had to build it ourselves.”
The global e-commerce market is projected to grow 14% more every year, and according to research by New Frontier Data, the national cannabis industry will enjoy a compounded annual growth rate of18% through 2025. As the most widely used e-commerce platform by top 500 U.S. retailers according to Digital Commerce 360, Adobe Commerce brings convenience, flexibility, intuitive interface, mobile optimization capabilities, and endless opportunities to customize and scale Airfield’s digital storefront.
Among the highest-volume single-site dispensaries in California, Airfield utilizes a fleet of electric Tesla sedans among its vehicles for touchless prepaid delivery and offering curbside service. Supporting an average of 35,000 transactions per month, Airfield additionally features a unique Shop-In Shop showcase in which brands typically enjoy a 100% growth in sales during their featured slot. Airfield has long wanted to create an e-commerce experience that matches the excellence of their in-store shopping.
“Customers have historically been forced to put up with a subpar experience when shopping for cannabis online,” adds Airfield CMO Chris Lane. “We asked ourselves, ‘What if we don’t compromise on any of the things that make Airfield special?’ We truly believe that there should be no difference between shopping on Airfield’s platform and shopping at the best retailers in any other industry. We want to replicate — and ultimately enhance — what you’re accustomed to and already enjoy in a high-touch physical retail environment. This is really only just the beginning of how we build this immersive, digital world. No one else in cannabis has done that before.”
Airfield Supply Company is a leading vertically-integrated full-service cannabis dispensary. Based in San Jose, CA, Airfield combines boutique-style retail experiences with a world-class selection of cannabis flowers, concentrates, topicals, and edibles. Since its launch in 2010, Airfield’s mission has been to make the most out of life’s journey every day. Airfieldsupplyco.com #AirfieldSupplyCo @AirfieldSupply
Free SEO Audit from a New Star in Cannabis Marketing
MjSEO, a new name in cannabis SEO, is offering comprehensive audits of cannabis sites in the US. The agency’s analysis helps businesses optimize promotional strategies for better profitability. The agency has announced that these services are now available free of charge.
MjSEO helps companies create efficient marketing strategies. Its services help them achieve the best measurable results despite the existing restrictions, such as the ban of PPC advertising. The audit includes an overview of the current ranking and efficiency of SEO, as well as digital marketing tactics. It is free for all providers of cannabis and cannabis-derived products, from medical and recreational dispensaries to accessory producers to transporters.
The purpose of the audit is to determine how well a website performs, and what practices can boost its popularity and profitability. MjSEO experts examine a broad range of aspects. Their analysis pinpoints content gaps and opportunities, revealing issues related to:
Technical SEO
On-page SEO
Website structure
User experience
Potential problems off-site
This ‘health check’ delivers actionable marketplace insights, as the agency identifies current obstacles for sales. The conclusions and recommendations may be used to expand reach and profitability through better national and local SEO, as well as link building.
MjSEO, a member of the NHA, NCIA, and California NORML, exclusively focuses on SEO strategies for the cannabis segment. It offers tailored services, including customer needs analysis and SEO. Its customers have seen their traffic surge and their websites have risen to the top of search engine rankings. The company’s personalized promotional tactics help companies thrive in the digital space.
Second Wave of Green Horizons Cannabis Study to Track Usage of Cannabis Post-COVID and Growing Acceptance Amid New State Legalization Acts
NEW ROCHELLE, July 13, 2021–Green Horizons, a consumer insights firm for the cannabis and holistic health industry, is launching the second wave of its Cultivating the Cannabis Market study in September 2021. Since the first wave of the study was released in early 2020, the cannabis landscape has evolved substantially. Though marijuana remains illegal under federal law, a growing number of states have legalized cannabis, stay-at-home orders deemed cannabis essential businesses, and a growing number of Americans across the political spectrum are voicing their support for legalization.
The benchmark study, a comprehensive survey of cannabis users and non-users across the U.S., found that overall, four in ten (39%) U.S. adults report using cannabis, with 28% saying they use it at least weekly. Seven in ten consumers fully or somewhat support legalizing medical marijuana on a federal level, and nearly as manysix in tenfully or somewhat support legalizing recreational marijuana on a federal level. Even among non-users, 6 in 10 support federally legalizing medical and 45% support legalizing recreational cannabis.
Moreover, Wave 1 of the study revealed:
Over half (57%) of cannabis users said they shop for cannabis at a dispensary; among cannabis users who live in a state where both medical and recreational use is legalized (and therefore likely have the most options), 52% said they buy from a local, independent dispensary, vs. 39% who said they buy from a franchised or chain dispensary. A quarter of recreational-only users and nearly half of medical + recreational users still buy from an individual, signaling additional growth opportunity in legal states.
There is a burgeoning market for new cannabis products and experiences. Four in ten cannabis users already consume edibles, drinks, or tinctures. A follow-up survey conducted by Green Horizons revealed that over half of cannabis users are interested in THC-infused adult beverages, going to restaurants with cannabis-infused cuisine, and participating in organized cannabis-themed events such as painting classes, yoga, and cannabis culinary classes.
However, one of the biggest hurdles in the cannabis market has been differentiation. Three in ten cannabis users agreed that all cannabis is pretty much the same and, across all brands tested, only threeLeafs by Snoop, Cheeba Chews, and Marley Naturalwere known by more than one in five cannabis users in the first wave of the study.
The first wave of this study was fielded right before COVID wreaked havoc on our lives, noted Adriana Waterston, SVP of Insights and Strategy for Green Horizons. We know from qualitative research that cannabis consumption increased among users during COVID. The second wave of the study will assess the impact of COVID on attitudes and behaviors around cannabis consumption, dig into even more detail about the consumption of cannabis and CBD products like infused beverages and edibles, and measure market potential for new products and services. We are very excited to help our clients grow their business using consumer research and insights to drive decision-making.
The 2021 survey will be fielded in the fall. Clients who pre-purchase the 2021 study have the opportunity to provide feedback on the questionnaire to ensure their key questions are addressed. There is also a free e-book based on the wave 1 survey available for download at www.greenhorizonsinsights.com.
Good Earth Organics, A Leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Organic Soils and Nutrients for Cannabis Growers Announces New Markets and Sales Channels, Including Walmart, in Advance of the Closing of its Equity Crowdfunding on July 23, 2021
CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. — (BUSINESS WIRE)– The Good Earth Organics, Inc. (GEO), a leading manufacturer and distributor of a system of premium organic soils and nutrients specifically designed to grow cannabis and hemp, is pleased to announce new sales channels, Walmart.com and Hydrobuilder.com. The company, based in the premier “Emerald Triangle” growing region of southern Oregon is also reporting substantially expanded sales in its home market, as well as new distribution partners in growing markets like Oklahoma, where there are more than 7,000 licensed cannabis growers.
GEO has a significant head start in capturing the enormous white space in the national soil, nutrient and amendment market for cannabis and hemp and has delivered 40% year-over-year revenue growth for the last two years. To build on this success, GEO is raising capital via SEC approved Regulation A+ crowdfunding.
Proceeds from the offering, which has raised more than $1.8 million from more than 875 investors to date, will support aggressive company growth initiatives designed to meet accelerating demand from both professional cultivators and home growers who seek bountiful crops, flavorful, terpene rich cannabis strains, and clean, toxin-free plants.
With new markets and new sales channels driving significant growth, GEO offers investors a great way to participate in the upside of the cannabis industry without facing the regulatory hurdles of plant-touching businesses. Following the raise, the company plans to list its shares publicly.
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in the premier Emerald Triangle growing region of southern Oregon, The Good Earth Organics, Inc. (GEO), formulates and distributes a system of premium organic potting soils, nutrients, and amendments optimized to grow cannabis and hemp. Professional commercial cultivators and home growers alike rely on GEO’s products for consistent and bountiful yields, and clean, toxin-free plants. GEO’s products are certified for organic use by the Organic Materials Review Institute (“OMRI”), carry the Clean Green certification developed specifically for cannabis cultivation, and are recognized by state-specific certifications such the California organic designation, CDFA.
Disclosure: The Good Earth Organics, Inc. is offering securities through the use of an Offering Statement that has been qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Tier II of Regulation A. A copy of the Final Offering Circular that forms a part of the Offering Statement may be obtained from: https://www.seedinvest.com/goodearthorganics.
ABOUT SEEDINVEST
SeedInvest is a leading equity crowdfunding platform that provides individual investors with access to vetted startup investment opportunities. SeedInvest was instrumental in the passage of the 2012 JOBS Act, which changed 80-year-old U.S. securities laws to make it possible for entrepreneurs to raise capital over the Internet. SeedInvest has funded over 200 startups and boasts a rapidly growing network of over 400,000 investors. SeedInvest has had over 46,000 companies start applications to raise capital since inception and has accepted about 1% of those companies to feature on the platform. It is excited to offer investors the opportunity to participate in GEO’s growth story.
Oaksterdam University Hosts NFT Art Contest to Fight the 50-Year War on Drugs
Oakland, Calif. (July 1, 2021) — Calling all digital artists who want to inspire the end of marijuana prohibition and criminalization! Oaksterdam University is hosting a cutting-edge digital art contest for an upcoming non-fungible token (NFT) drop. The winning art pieces will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the War on Drugs, which began when President Nixon named drug abuse as “public enemy number one,” and the United States Congress ratified the policy in July 1971. Society declared marijuana the gateway and turned to increasingly harsh measures against cannabis for even medical necessity. Digital artists are encouraged to enter original artwork depicting the political, criminal, social, and environmental – personal and human consequences.
The contest is designed to inspire creative thought about the oppressive and expensive effects of marijuana prohibition while helping up-and-coming artists break into the emerging NFT marketplace. “We are excited to merge the worlds of cannabis, art, and NFTs with a potential cryptocurrency prize with this contest, which is a first for us,” said Dale Sky Jones, long-time cannabis legalization advocate and chancellor of Oaksterdam University. “We’re looking to utilize these new platforms to inspire the end of the War on Drugs.”
Artists are asked to submit original artwork through July 9, 2021, for a chance to win $100 (USD) per piece and 10 percent of NFT proceeds from their work(s). Select artists will also win a scholarship to Oaksterdam’s self-paced courses, including the Business of Cannabis, Horticulture, Commercial Extraction and Manufacturing, Budtending Certification, and more (valued at up to $1,000). See complete details at www.oaksterdamuniversity.com/nft/.
Announcing Receptor Brands, a New Cannabis Marketing Agency Headquartered in Chicago
CHICAGO, June 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today lifestyle and sports marketing veteran Kent Thomas announced the launch of Receptor Brands, a new and highly specialized creative services agency focused on transforming the relationships between cannabis brands and their customers. Based in Chicago, IL, Receptor Brands offers end-to-end services for the cannabis industry, including business strategy and branding to product innovation and packaging design, and from marketing and digital campaigns to experience design, content creation, and SEO.
As Managing Partner, Thomas will co-lead the Chicago-based agency with partner Allison Disney, an executive leader most recently hailing from the BBDO network. Disney has produced award-winning advertising and marketing campaigns for some of the world’s most iconic brands and serves on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Marketing and Advertising Committee.
“The cannabis sector is evolving at an accelerated pace; brands need best-in-class creative partners who can not only keep up, but help them stay ahead of consumer trends and the competition,” said Disney. “With Receptor Brands, we saw an opportunity to redesign the traditional agency model to better suit the needs of modern, fast-moving cannabis businesses. Our model offers clients robust digital and social-led production services, high caliber talent, and the ability to innovate and experiment at speed.”
Added Thomas, “Today’s cannabis consumers are sophisticated, they’re savvy, and they’re seeking the same immersive, rewarding and connective experiences they’ve come to expect from the sports and lifestyle brands they love. Understanding how, when, and where people are most receptive is what we do.”
Receptor Brands launches with a roster of high-profile Midwest-based clients, including a leading multi-state-operator and retail chain with more than a dozen dispensaries across the US; one of Michigan’s largest outdoor cannabis cultivators and processors; and a fintech company enabling a safe and secure payment ecosystem for the cannabis industry.
Thomas and Disney have assembled an all-star team of highly credentialed agency principals across core disciplines with deep roots in Chicago, making Receptor Brands particularly well-situated to serve emerging leaders in legal adult-use and medical markets such as Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and other surrounding states:
Jake Setlak, Creative Strategy and Brand Experience, has more than two decades of experience creating ground-breaking campaigns and innovative marketing strategies for brands like McDonald’s, Anheuser-Busch, Bayer Health Care, Allstate, Samsung, LG, Procter & Gamble, Facebook, and SC Johnson in his most recent role as VP, Global Integration Strategy Director at Energy BBDO. Jake is a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association Marketing and Advertising Committee.
Mark Flores, Customer Engagement, brings over 18 years of targeted consumer marketing experience garnered through his time working on multicultural campaigns. He has established and ran multicultural teams, agency side, for large CPG clients as well as led the internal general market team for MolsonCoors while at Olson Engage, now known as ICF Next.
Matt Sabo, Innovation and R&D Strategy Advisor is an experienced bioengineer with 20 years of CPG experience in product innovation, consulting, and marketing including in-house roles at Diageo and Cadbury Schweppes. For the past five years, he has run Slipstream Innovation, a beverage design consultancy focusing on growth strategy for funded start-ups, plus some larger CPG brands like Beam Suntory.
Katelin Randall, Client Services and Operations Director, is an integrated global advertiser with nearly a decade of digital and e-commerce expertise. She has led cross-functional teams big and small to deliver brand experiences for consumer packaged goods and lifestyle brands, including Champion, SC Johnson, Ocean Spray, Miller Lite, and Sprint.
Terry Moon, Director of Accounting, brings more than 20 years of diversified service industry experience and a wealth of knowledge in cash management, budgeting, financial analysis, and human resources. Prior to joining Receptor, Terry was the Controller for rEvolution.
Receptor Brands arrives on the scene following a breakout year for the U.S. cannabis industry. Legal sales across the U.S.—18 states have enacted legislation to allow adult use and 37 allow for medical sales—hit a record of $17.5 billion in 2020, a 46% increase from 2019, according to a new report from the cannabis sales platform BDSA. In addition to steady growth in mature adult-use markets like California, Colorado and Oregon, last year’s sales were bolstered by emerging markets like Receptor Brands’ home state of Illinois, which expanded its medical cannabis market to include adult-use sales last year and is now doing over $1 billion in sales.
“Our marketing approach is rooted in the belief that if you can fit meaningfully into people’s lives, you’ll find your way into their shopping carts,” said Disney. “We believe cannabis is here to stay, and that the brands we’re helping to build have a functional role to play in people’s emotional and physical wellness. We look forward to partnering with growth-minded clients who share our positive, future-forward vision for the category.”
Receptor Brands is a brand experience agency custom-made from cannabis. On a mission to transform the relationship between cannabis brands and their customers, this team of growth-minded marketing and innovation experts create experiences that exceed customer expectations. Based in Chicago, Receptor Brands provides end-to-end management consulting, product development, marketing, and advertising services.
Cannasure Insurance Services Expands Cannabis and Hemp Insurance Services to California
Cannasure Insurance Services, a subsidiary of One80 Intermediaries, now providesfull–service wholesale brokerage and Managing General Agent services to retail brokers representing insureds domiciled in California.
Cleveland, OH—June 17, 2021 —Cannasure Insurance Services, a subsidiary of One80 Intermediaries (One80), today announced their full–service wholesale brokerage and Managing General Agent services that were created exclusively to serve the cannabis and hemp industry,is launching in California. Cannasure will offer industry–leading property capacity of up to $40 million in total insured values as well as product liability limits of up to $5 million throughout the state.
Additionally,the company’s full brokerage operations provide all package and critical ancillary coverages such as commercial auto, outdoor crop, and workers’ compensation. Further, to commemorate the launch Cannasure is offering greater commissions with up to three points commission bonus on $300,000 premium.
“Cannasure’s insurance programs which are now available in California bring the best–in–class coverage and more than 10 years of experience to cannabis and hemp businesses,helping the industry thrive,”Matthew F. Power, President of One80 Intermediaries. “One80 provides innovative insurance solutions tailored to the emerging cannabis industry. Our team of professionals understands both the ever–changing regulatory environment, and client needs throughout the cannabis supply chain,”he continued.
Cannasure offers comprehensive solutions to cultivators, dispensaries, extractors, processors, product manufacturers, testing labs, landlords and ancillary businesses in all states where cannabis and hemp are legal. Coverage is available on a mono line or package basis through carriers rated A– or greater with A.M. Best.
“We’re excited to bring our Cannabis Insurance program to California, as we’ve dedicated our practice to mitigating the challenges that businesses in the legal cannabis and hemp industries face when trying to get insurance coverage. Through extensive risk management assessments of some of the leading dispensaries, cultivation facilities, and infused product manufacturers, we understand the unique risks facing the cannabis industry, allowing us to best serve our customers in California and beyond,” said Patrick McManamon, Managing Director, Cannasure, a subsidiary of One80 Intermediaries.
About One80 IntermediariesOne80 Intermediaries is a privately held, national firm with offices throughout the US and Canada. As a leading insurance wholesaler and program manager, the company offers placement services and binding authority for property & casualty, financial lines, personal lines,life insurance,medical stop loss, alternative risk, warranty, lender–based insurance, travel/accident and health risks. One80 serves commercial companies, non–profits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets in the US, Canada and UK.Coverage spans all industry classes.One80 has offices in more than 35locations in the US and Canada.For more information visit www.one80intermediaries.com
International Cannabis Brand COOKIES Reimagines the Traditional Dispensary With First-Ever “Superstore” Location
COOKIES Announces Grand Opening of Santa Ana Location Primed to Engage Customers and Expand Retail Footprint
SANTA ANA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– International cannabis brand COOKIES is launching its first-ever “superstore” in Santa Ana, California, on Saturday, June 26th. The grand opening of this COOKIES location marks a milestone for the brand—creating an immersive customer experience that provides a glimpse into the future of cannabis retail.
The COOKIES retail location in Santa Ana will offer two new exclusive drops: Pave, the COOKIES collaboration with Quavo, and Day Day, the COOKIES collaboration with Mike Epps. Customers can also shop top products from the full COOKIES family of brands, including: Lemonnade, Collins Ave, Grandiflora, Minntz, Powerzzzup, Runtz and Run The Jewels. Each family of brands will have a dedicated featured shopping area within the store.
The 11,000+ sq. foot dispensary features a COOKIES logo suspended from the ceiling and a two-tiered seating section that doubles as a DJ booth. The dispensary was built with additional space in mind to be used for future onsite grow and production. Attached to the dispensary, customers will find a new Orange County Cookies SF flagship for apparel and accessories.
COOKIES in Santa Ana will launch with a grand opening event beginning with a ribbon-cutting at 9:30AM on Saturday, June 26. The block party will feature celebrity guest appearances, meet and greets and food trucks alongside a curated cannabis menu. Weedmaps and Vibes have partnered with COOKIES to produce the block party and will hold activations throughout the day.
Located at 1821 Newport Circle, Santa Ana, CA 92705, the COOKIES location in Santa Ana is open daily from 8AM – 10PM.
About COOKIES
COOKIES, founded in 2008 by Berner (the prolific Bay Area rapper and entrepreneur) and his partner Jai (a Bay Area breeder and cultivator) is more than a premiere cannabis company; it is an authentic brand with passionate fans all over the world. The company went mainstream in 2011 and has grown its business through the combination of globally recognized premium genetics, popular culture resonance, and social media influence. COOKIES is constantly engaged in new breeding projects to launch differentiated brands and has quickly built a grassroots cult following while remaining loyal to its brand promise: authenticity and innovative genetics.
Today, COOKIES is one of the most well-respected and top-selling cannabis brands in California and throughout the world. The company and its products are recognized globally and offer a collection of over 150 proprietary cannabis varieties and product lines including indoor and sungrown flower, pre-rolls, gel caps, vape carts, CBD Flower and medicinal mushrooms. COOKIES’ seed-to-sale business allows for complete quality control at every step—from cultivation and production to customers’ end retail experience. With a deep commitment to restorative justice and progressive drug policy, COOKIES actively works to enrich communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs through advocacy work and social equity initiatives.
Webinar: Cannabis Law Basics for Lawyers 2.0 – How to serve this cutting-edge industry
Learn more about this webinar designed to introduce attorneys, law students, and curious minds to the fundamentals and opportunities of the emerging cannabis industry.
Join for the live webinar on Wednesday June 16, 2021 at 10:00am MT (12:00pm ET) for a brief history of the legal status of marijuana/cannabis in the USA, a snapshot of current legalization status, an overview of the various facets of providing legal services impacted by state-legal cannabis, and recommendations on next steps to pivot your strengths and grow your legal offerings to serve this new industry.
RZA Legal is a Denver-based boutique law firm providing legal counsel and advice on cannabis laws and regulations applicable to citizens, patients, entrepreneurs, employees, landlords, vendors, investors and others involved with or interested in the legal cannabis industry.
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Walker, Michigan – October 18, 2021 – Pipp Horticulture (a division of Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc.) (“Pipp”), the leading provider of space‐saving, multi‐level mobile cultivation systems, announced today that it has acquired the GGS Group of Companies (“GGS”). Based in Vineland, Ontario, GGS is one of the most recognized names in the Horticulture industry. They have been the leading manufacturer of top quality greenhouses and turnkey greenhouse growing solutions including traditional rolling benches, heating and ventilation systems, and curtain systems.
Rahn & Associates is pleased to announce that Erin Spitale has joined its Cannabis Insurance brokerage firm, S2S Insurance Specialists, as Accounts Manager. 
