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Guam Legalization Bill Sent to Gov.

3/28/2019

Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero will decide on whether or not cannabis will be legalized in the U.S. territory after senators narrowly approved the legislation on Wednesday night, the Pacific Daily News reports. Guerrero indicated she supports the measure, which passed 8-7, but needs to review the final version of the bill which received multiple floor amendments.

Cannabis use and possession of less than an ounce is already decriminalized on the island and voters approved medical cannabis legalization in 2014; however, due to a lack of testing facilities, the program is not yet operational. Last year, Guam lawmakers legalized home cultivation to give patients some access.

Sen. Clynt Ridgell, a Democrat and the bill’s sponsor, said he researched the pros and cons of legalization and that “data and science … paved a clear route towards the passage” of the legislation.

“The community has been engaged in every step of the process, and the legislative process was followed precisely,” he said during the debate. Vice Speaker Telena Nelson, also a Democrat, had accused lawmakers of rushing the vote and “shoving [legalization] down [constituents’] throats” because they refused to delay the vote until after some community members could hold a town hall meeting on the issue. Nelson ultimately voted ‘no’ on the bill.

Republican Sen. Wil Castro, who opposed the measure, told reporters after its passage that “the next only logical step is to strengthen…the rules and regulations that go with the bill.”

If signed by the governor, Guam would be the second U.S. territory to legalize cannabis for adult use. The Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands passed legalization in 2018.

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Canopy Growth Partners with ‘Pineapple Express’ Makers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

3/28/2019

Canopy Growth has announced a partnership with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg on a cannabis company called Houseplant. Rogen and Goldberg worked on ‘stoner’ comedy films “Superbad” and “Pineapple Express.”

“Houseplant is a passion we’ve brought to life through drive and dedication. Every decision we’ve made for the business reflects the years of education, first-hand experience and respect we have for cannabis.” – Rogen, in a press release

The company plans to offer three strains – Houseplant Sativa, Houseplant Hybrid, and Houseplant Indica – over the coming months. Their first product, Houseplant Sativa, is expected to be available in stores and online in British Columbia, Canada. Both Rogen and Goldberg are from Vancouver.

“We are so proud to be launching in Canada, our home,” Goldberg said in a statement. “After spending five years diligently preparing for the launch of this company, we’re excited to be able to share our passion for cannabis with Canadians in this way.”

Under their agreement with Canopy, Houseplant “will lean on the production and distribution capabilities of Canopy” and its subsidiaries. In the announcement, Canopy said Houseplant products would be available in flower, pre-rolls, and Softgel.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Seth, Evan and the entire Houseplant team,” Canopy President Mark Zekulin said in a statement. “Together we will make Houseplant a cannabis brand synonymous with quality everywhere it is available.”

In the statement, Houseplant said the company also has an “obligation to build an industry that commits to changing everything that’s been wrong about cannabis,” noting the racial injustices caused by prohibition and that the company plans to work “to help those unjustly incarcerated.”

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Lines of commercial-grade cannabis plants in pots inside of an indoor grow site.

Maryland Firm Sues Cannabis Commission Over Proposed License Expansion

3/28/2019

Maryland licensed producer Curio Wellness has filed a lawsuit in an effort to prevent the state Medical Cannabis Commission from awarding additional cultivation licenses in an effort to foster more minority participation in the state’s industry, the Baltimore Sun reports. The company argues that the commission is violating its own rules by soliciting applications without first completing a supply and demand survey.

David Nevins, a Curio spokesman, said the company was “compelled to file the action to protect their business and investments and rights and to enforce the promises made by the state of Maryland and the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission to induce private sector growers to invest and operate in this important public health program.”

The lawsuit alleges that the regulations promised to strictly limit the number of licenses. In addition to Curio, there are 12 other licensed producers in the state.

“Those promises include the state not expanding the number of cultivator licenses without first conducting a demand study to determine if additional supply is necessary to meet the demand for this newly established public health program.” — Nevins, to the Sun

Curio is owned by prominent Democratic donor Michael Bronfein.

Maryland Del. Cheryl Glenn, a Democrat who has advocated for social equity in the state’s cannabis industry, said the commission conducted a “disparity study” which found that none of the state’s 15 licensed producers were minority-owned. After the study was released a spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Larry Hogan told the Sun there was “clear and unequivocal evidence” of disparity in the industry.

Glenn, who chairs the state’s Legislative Black Caucus, called Curio’s position “unfortunate.”

“I would be ashamed to file such a lawsuit,” she said in the report. “It’s saying that you want to maintain the lack of diversity like we have in the rest of the country in this industry.”

The Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association said the state should continue with the new licensing process.

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Connecticut Committee Advances Cannabis Legalization

3/27/2019

The Connecticut Legislature’s General Law Committee voted across party lines, 10-8, in favor of a cannabis legalization bill that would create a regulated adult-use market and provide equity opportunities for citizens who were most negatively affected by the War on Drugs, CT News Junkie reports.

The social equity provisions included in the legislation were hotly debated during the committee meeting; Democratic Sen. Dough McCroy called the nation’s drug policy “probably the last” policy left over from the Jim Crow era. The representative from Hartford indicated he would not support any legalization bill that is anything less than the gold standard for social equity.

The legislation defines social equity as “individuals or communities disproportionately impacted by high rates of arrest and conviction, as well as individuals who can demonstrate, via affidavit and other documentation as the commission may require … requisite experience with cannabis cultivation, distribution or the sale or manufacture of cannabis products.”

Other Democrats on the committee voiced support for the social equity provisions and a regulated market, while most Republicans on the committee stood opposed due to public health concerns.

The committee also advanced legislation to add opioid use disorder to the state’s medical cannabis qualifying conditions list – which the state’s Board of Physicians voted against last year – and eliminate the $25 program registration fee.

Both bills need to be approved by both legislative bodies before being sent to the governor.

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A close-up shot of a cannabis plant grown under Washington's I-502 market regulations.

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Investing $1.5M for Cannabis Research

3/27/2019

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is investing $1.5 million in funding to the nation’s Institutes of Health Research for research into the use of cannabis to manage MS symptoms and its effect on the condition, the organization announced on Sunday.

The investment will span five years and will consider applications for basic science, clinical, health services, and policy research.

“The MS Society is pleased to invest in this first-of-its-kind funding opportunity in Canadian MS research. As an organization, we have a mandate to provide information that is rooted in evidence. Cannabis is still a relatively unknown substance from the perspective of evidence-based research, so investing in research on cannabis use is an important first step for determining its applicability and efficacy towards managing MS.” – Dr. Pamela Valentine, president and CEO of the MS Society of Canada, in a statement

The announcement is part of an Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy involving six agencies, including: the Institute of Cancer Research; Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health; Institute of Human Development Child and Youth Health; Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health; Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis; and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Addiction.

Along with the MS Society, the Arthritis Society, Canadian Cancer Society, and Mental Health Commission of Canada are collaborating with the Institutes of Health Research on the cannabis research project.

The agency is accepting letters of intent for research programs until May 15.

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Florida Ag Committee Advances Industrial Hemp Bill

3/27/2019

The Florida Senate’s Agricultural Committee has advanced legislation setting up a framework for farmers and other businesses to cultivate and sell industrial hemp, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Sen. Rob Bradley, a Republican and bill sponsor, said the measure is necessary following changes in federal law last year that legalized industrial hemp.

“The intent here is to get this emerging industry to be viable in the state of Florida and for us to be as cutting edge as possible while also respecting the guide rails … that the federal government has provided in this situation. We’re going to push it. We’re going to keep pushing it.” – Bradley in a Sentinel interview

Under the legislation, oversight of the hemp industry would be relegated to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried includes hemp – and medical cannabis – on her list of priorities.

The bill would require licensed producers and sellers to submit a background check every two years, require a state-certification hemp seed program, and create an industrial hemp advisory board.

Bradley said the proposed regulations “are not meant to be onerous.”

“This is not a reflection of the medical-marijuana system. That is a medicine, a controlled substance, and this is different,” Bradley said in the report. “But it’s also not the same as growing apples or oranges, either, until we evolve this industry and get to a point where perhaps it will be that one day.”

The majority of U.S. states allow some form of hemp production and more are considering comprehensive programs after the federal law changes last year.

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Survey: 40% of U.S. Adults Interested In Trying CBD Products

3/26/2019

According to a survey from High Yield Insights, about 40 percent of adults 21-and-older are interested in using CBD “under the right conditions.” The majority of those that indicated willingness in trying CBD were 35-and-older (64 percent), female (56 percent), with some college experience (79 percent).

The survey found that about half of current CBD users are under 35 and 54 percent had used CBD for less than one year.

Mike Luce, co-founder of High Yield, said CBD seems “to be benefitting from greater acceptance of cannabis.”

“Seven in 10 current CBD users have also used cannabis containing THC in some form in the past three months. This indicates that for some users, CBD-only products are serving a complementary function.” – Luce, in a statement

The survey found that 30 percent of respondents reported using products with CBD only, while the remaining preferred products with both CBD and THC. Forty-two percent indicated they had tried CBD because they could easily access the products, 34 percent had a physician’s recommendation and 44 percent believed there was available “unbiased research.”

The complete data, which includes responses from more than 2,000 consumers – 1,500 who had used a CBD product in the last three months and 500 who had not – will be published by High Yield in a report titled CBD Consumer Experience: Part One.

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New Jersey Lawmakers Table Legalization Bill Due to Lacking Senate Support

3/26/2019

Lawmakers in New Jersey have called off the vote on a measure to legalize cannabis because they did not have enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill, NJ.com reports.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a Democrat, indicated the vote would be held “as soon [as he has] 21 votes for sure. Sweeney had previously said that if the bill failed to make it to the floor they would table it until after next year’s elections.

“We’ll be back at this. Anybody who thinks this is dead is wrong. This is not an issue that’s going away. Marijuana will get passed in the state of New Jersey one way or another.” – Sweeney at a news conference via NJ.com

The vote was expected this week after the legislation passed two legislative committees last week. It was reported that Gov. Phil Murphy had made “dozens of calls” to lawmakers urging them to back the bill. Legalization was included in the Democratic governor’s campaign platform. Sweeney noted on Monday that Democratic lawmakers had been working throughout the week to whip the votes.

According to the report, the measure had the 41 votes required to pass it in the Assembly but had only received support from 17 or 18 of Senate members.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, a Democrat, said in a statement he was “disappointed” and echoed Sweeney’s statements that the bill would eventually make it to the floor in both chambers.

“We moved closer to the goal than ever before,” Coughlin said in a release. “Today does not mark the end of the process and effort. I remain committed to enacting the legislation.”

The move also delays two other cannabis measures tied to the legalization measure: an expansion of the state’s medical cannabis program and expunging low-level cannabis convictions.

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Medical Cannabis Bill Introduced In Alabama House

3/26/2019

by Lukas Barfield

A medical cannabis bill has been introduced in the Alabama House of Representatives by state Rep. Mike Ball (R-Huntsville).

HB 243 would extend Carly’s Law, which allowed a study at the University of Alabama Birmingham on using CBD-rich cannabis to treat children with intractable seizure disorders, for another two years, while clarifying a CBD-rich decriminalization bill known as Leni’s Law. The bill has twenty co-sponsors, including state Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) and Republican Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon.

Additionally, the bill would establish the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, which would be tasked with setting up a patient registry, issuing medical cannabis cards, and licensing the production, processing, and distribution of medical cannabis in Alabama. Patients would be required to be over nineteen and be suffering from one of a limited number of debilitating conditions to qualify for medical cannabis under the proposal.

“Carly’s law expires, and we need to extend that. There need to be clarifications on Leni’s Law. This is about helping sick people,” said state Rep. Mike Ball in an interview with AL.com. “The research is paying off. Some of the doctors want to do a medical card procedure. I’m doing one bill that will take care of that. We want to give doctors latitude on this.”

The study commissioned at UAB by Carly’s Law started dispensing cannabidiol oil to patients in 2015 and issued their findings in September 2018. The study which included 132 participants, 72 children, and 60 adults, found that CBD reduced the mean number of seizures from 144 every two weeks to 55 every two weeks — a “highly significant” reduction of two thirds, according to study authors.

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House-Approved Idaho Hemp Bill Moves to Senate

3/26/2019

A bill to legalize hemp in Idaho unanimously passed the Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday, paving the way for it to be voted on by the full Senate, the Associated Press reports.

Gov. Brad Little indicated that if the measure passed the legislature he would sign it so long as it includes amendments sought by law enforcement officials.

The measure already passed the House. The Republican governor told the AP he was “a little chagrined” it passed the chamber without those amendments. The amendments would include language that would allow police to intercept illegal cannabis – containing more than .03 percent THC – without being stymied by the new hemp law.

Scott Bandy of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association indicated his group opposed the bill because, he says, it would prevent law enforcement officials from detaining potential criminals or using drug-sniffing dogs to locate illegal crops.

State Sen. Chuck Winder also said he was concerned about legalizing hemp while THC-rich cannabis remained outlawed.

This isn’t about an Ag issue out there, at least to me. This is about how do you provide a balance of allowing for potentially a crop that could be beneficial, without the disadvantage of the THC. So if there’s a balance that can be struck between the sponsors and law enforcement, I think that’s how we ought to go.” – Winder, via the Associated Press

His colleague Sen. Abbey Lee, who presented the bill to the committee, said lawmakers “really needed to do something this session” with regard to hemp legislation due to recent changes legalizing hemp at the federal level.

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Canadian Government Proposes THC-Based Tax Rate for Edibles

3/25/2019

Canada’s Liberal government has included a THC-based tax rate for edibles and topical products in its 2019 budget, which are set to be allowed for sale in the state’s recreational market on or before Oct. 17, Investing News reports.

The plan is based on recommendations from the nation’s cannabis task force.

“Budget 2019 proposes that edible cannabis, cannabis extracts (including cannabis oils) and cannabis topicals be subject to excise duties imposed on cannabis licensees at a flat rate applied on the quantity of total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, contained in a final product.” – Canadian federal budget

Avtar Dhillon, president and executive chairman of Emerald Health Therapeutics, said the revised taxation structure could lead to reduced taxes on low-THC products and those derived from hemp.

“We expect that this proposed revision to the excise tax calculation will enhance our opportunity to utilize our purchased hemp in an economically viable way as feedstock for new cannabinoid-containing ingestible products.” — Dhillon, in a press release

The changes are expected to take place on May 1. The changes would not have an impact on the current taxes for flower, seeds, and seedlings sold in Canada.

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Louisiana Officials: CBD Illegal Despite Federal Law Changes

3/25/2019

The Louisiana Office of Tobacco Control plans to issue citations to state retailers selling CBD products out of their shops, the agency announced on Friday. Juana Marine-Lombard, the commissioner for the office, says that — despite federal approval for products containing .03 percent THC under the Agriculture Act of 2018 — products containing even trace amounts of THC remain illegal under state law.

“…The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy has issued guidance its Guidance Document re Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil that any product extracted from a marijuana plant is classified as a schedule I under the Louisiana Controlled Dangerous Substance Law.” — Lombard, in a March 21 guidance document.

Lombard said the state Drug Policy Board is expected to issue an opinion and officials are awaiting an opinion from state Attorney General Jeff Landry “on the possible conflict between federal and state law.” The Tobacco Office guidance directs enforcement officials to order the removal of CBD products from shops; and while they will “continue to process pending CBD store applications,” they will not issue any permits until receiving guidance from the Drug Policy Board and Landry.

CBD-rich cannabis products were legalized for medical use in Louisiana in 2015. The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy guidance requires all cannabis products must comply with the legislature-approved medical cannabis law.

“Louisiana law does not make a distinction between CBD extracted from hemp and CBD extracted from marijuana,” the Nov. 2018 guidance says. “CBD is a compound of marijuana and therefore is considered marijuana under Louisiana law.”

The state does not have a program permitting hemp cultivation.

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Cleveland School of Cannabis Triples Revenues

3/25/2019

Ohio’s Cleveland School of Cannabis more than tripled their revenue last year after operating with a deficit for its first 18 months, according to a Crain’s report. The school reported $1.125 million in revenues last year after logging $360,000 the year prior.

The school has graduated 111 and currently has 115 students enrolled in its programs with about 16 instructors and 10 full-time staff. Sixty-five percent of CSC graduates are currently employed or in paid, industry, internships, according to school tracking figures. The CSC partners with Ohio cannabis firms, including cultivators Buckeye Relief and Cresco Labs; and dispensaries Terrasana and The Botanist. It counts cannabis horticulture, dispensary training, and medical applications – along with an “executive” program combing the three – among its course offerings.

“Many of these students could be employed if they were willing to move, but they are waiting for licensees to open closer to their homes. More licensees are passing inspections every week, and we expect the demand for employees to grow rapidly.” – Cleveland School of Cannabis founder and CEO Austin Briggs, to Crain’s

Briggs said the school is planning to expand into Columbus with classes expected in the summer. Briggs indicated a plan to expand into two more states – possibly New Jersey and Florida – by 2021.

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Legalization Pulled from New York Executive Budget

3/22/2019

Cannabis legalization will not be included in the upcoming state budget, but New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expecting lawmakers will come together on a deal in the summer, according to a CNN report.

“If we could get it done by the budget, that would be great,” Cuomo said. “But there’s a whole legislative session after the budget and my take is it will be done during the legislative session post budget and therefore I took the revenue out of the budget.”

Cuomo did not attribute the change to counties who have threatened to opt-out of the market, noting that those communities would not get a share of the cannabis-derived state revenues. The Democratic governor – whose party controls both legislative houses – said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie “was quite clear” he thought it was better to do it outside of the budget.

“When it’s not done in the budget, then it is, in my opinion, harder to do as a standalone bill because it’s now just marijuana with a capital M. I said from day one that the marijuana issue was going to be controversial. There’s no doubt about that.” – Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in the interview

New York is bordered by cannabis legalization in Canada, Massachusetts, and Vermont; while New Jersey lawmakers are set to take up a legalization bill next week.

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CVS Carrying CBD Topicals in Eight States

3/22/2019

CVS has started carrying CBD products in eight states, the company announced on Wednesday. The pharmacy chain will not carry CBD-containing supplements or food additives, opting instead for topicals.

According to a CNBC report, the products are available in Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee.

“We have partnered with CBD product manufacturers that are complying with applicable laws and that meet CVS’s high standards for quality.” – CVS spokesperson, in a statement to CNBC

During an earnings conference call, Curaleaf CEO Joseph Lusardi said the company has been having “dialogue with national retailers for many months now” and they had reached a deal with CVS to sell its products at more than 800 stores.

CVS has not confirmed the partnership with Curaleaf; but stocks of the company jumped 17 percent on the Toronto Stock Exchange after the announcement. Curaleaf operates 40 dispensaries throughout the U.S.

Under the Farm Bill signed by President Donald Trump in December, hemp-derived CBD is legal but the Food and Drug Administration does not allow it to be added to food or beverages because it’s the active compound in the pharmaceutical Epidiolex.

Curaleaf indicated the products would be available on the CVS website.

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Canadian Cannabis ETF Considers Adding U.S. Firms

3/22/2019

Horizons ETFs Management Canada Inc., which provides cannabis exchange-traded fund Horizons Life Sciences Index ETF, is hoping to add U.S. firms to its roster of publicly traded Canadian cannabis companies, according to a Bloomberg report.

CEO Steve Hawkins said the company, which holds C$1 billion in assets, is also considering a roster of U.S.-only cannabis companies. The Toronto Stock Exchange currently does not allow HMMJ to hold any companies with U.S. operations because they conflict with federal U.S. laws. The firm did add Colorado-based Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. earlier this week because their business is only hemp-derived products, which were legalized via the 2018 farm bill.

According to Bloomberg, the Horizon’s cannabis fund has returned over 60 percent so far this year – the best performing equity ETF in Canada. Hawkins said the U.S. ETF wouldn’t be traded on the TSX. Several cannabis companies with operations in the U.S. are listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

HMMJ is considering leveraged and inverse offerings for the U.S. ETF.

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House Committee to Vote on Cannabis Banking Bill Next Week

3/21/2019

The House Financial Services Committee is set to vote on Tuesday on legislation to protect banks that work with the cannabis industry, according to a Marijuana Moment report.

The bi-partisan SAFE Banking Act, which carries 138 cosponsors, was discussed by the committee last month. The proposal calls on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council to issue “uniform guidance and examination procedures for depository institutions that provide financial services to cannabis-related legitimate businesses,” according to the report.

Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Democrat who chairs the Financial Services Committee, is one of the bill’s sponsors. The markup session is expected for 2:00 p.m. EST and will be live streamed. It will be the first Congressional cannabis vote of 2019.

In a statement, Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, noted the “unprecedented support” in the Democratic-led House.

“The fact that the SAFE Banking Act … is getting the serious consideration of a markup is a huge step in the right direction for the safety and transparency of the legal cannabis industry. We urge every member of Congress to support this legislation and help ease the unfair burdens facing cannabis businesses, their employees, regulators, and law enforcement due to current federal banking restrictions.” – Smith, in a press release

The measure would prevent federal regulators from punishing banks who work with cannabis-related businesses that are working within state laws. It would prevent them from limiting access to the Deposit Insurance Fund and protect ancillary businesses that work with cannabis businesses from being charged with money laundering and other financial crimes.

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Vireo Health International Begins Trading on Canadian Securities Exchange

3/21/2019

American medical cannabis company Vireo Health International, Inc. has begun trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol “VREO,” the company announced Wednesday.

Vireo currently has operations in Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Ohio.

Dr. Kyle Kingsley, Vireo’s CEO, called the listing “an historic milestone” for the company.

“We believe that science will drive the lion’s share of long-term opportunity in the cannabis industry. From novel, efficient, scaled processing equipment, to proprietary consumer products and our expansive intellectual property portfolio, Vireo has positioned itself as the cannabis company of the future.” – Kingsley, in a statement

Previously, Vireo raised more than $50 million through a brokered and non-brokered private placement offering in combination with Darian Business Development Corp.

The listing is the first public cannabis listing of 2019, according to Vice President of Corporate Communications Albe Zakes.

Canadian stock markets have been a haven for some American companies who could not otherwise list for public trading.

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4Blooms.Guru Announces APEX Branding Workshop for Cannabis, Hemp, and CBD Companies

3/20/2019

by Featured Announcement

San Diego, March 20, 2019 — 4Blooms.Guru, a national marketing agency for cannabis companies announces the APEX Branding Workshop which explores and crafts a cannabis, hemp or CBD brand. The problem they’ve observed is many companies are struggling to find their voice and can’t clearly articulate their mission, products, and services — visually or through words.

As a consequence, brands waste time and money executing weak marketing campaigns because the messaging isn’t built on a solid foundation of their origin story. This is where their APEX session intercedes and helps create the focal point for high-quality engagement, growth and success.

“An authentic voice can be the difference between a good brand and a great brand. Without a unique, recognizable branding approach, your products and services will get lost in the crowd, no matter how excellent they may be.” — Susan Rust, CEO, 4Blooms.Guru

A few of the most common branding and marketing issues clients have expressed include:

Don’t know their own brand story or how to communicate it
Don’t know their ideal target customers or want a different fan base
Spending money but ROI is weak
Site traffic is acceptable but conversions and sales are underperforming

The APEX Branding Workshop addresses these concerns and so much more.

What is 4Blooms.Guru’s APEX Branding Workshop?

4Blooms.Guru’s APEX Branding Workshop is a fully customized, proprietary half-day workshop created by national cannabis marketing company, 4Blooms.Guru. We’ll guide you through our tailor-crafted workshop to identify your origin story and purpose, to help you find and refine the message that resonates with your audience.

From this workshop, arrive at the truth: Why does your brand exist, and why should I care? You know yourself and your company best; what we do is help you identify the deep underlying reasons that inspired to create your company to begin with. Based on the outcome of the branding workshop, we’ll craft a campaign and articulate clearly why people should be a customer and advocate of your company.

How Does the APEX Branding Workshop Work?

Through the use of highly-targeted questions and our custom method for brainstorming, we lead you through an exciting process of self-discovery, reflection, and analysis. As you reach the end of the workshop, you’ll gain a more thorough understanding and expression of important points such as:

What is your company’s purpose?
What does your brand stand for?
What is your Origin Story?
Who are your ideal buyers?
Who is competing in your space?
What sets you apart?
What are the benefits of buying from you?

With that information, we create a custom brand architecture document that with the style guide becomes your company go-to reference book for content, imagery, voice and style for your content, media, print and packaging. Once all of the key brand architecture pieces are all in place and ready to go, we’re then in a much better place to craft a smart branding campaign just for you.

Crafted Campaign Concepts: Express Yourself

Using the workshop as a launching point, we’ll dive into a fully customized branding and marketing campaign that covers these crucial main points:

Campaign theme
Target audience: Where are they? What influences them?
Channel distribution (social media, YouTube, etc.)
Approach (every marketing campaign needs a clever angle)

It’s your Origin Story that shines through. The campaign is a vehicle for embodying and delivering your unique story, purpose, mission and values. You will remain the same — only more focused, amplified, and energized with new purpose and direction.

Who Can Benefit from the APEX Branding Workshop?

All companies can benefit from the APEX Branding Workshop. In particular, the workshop provides exceptional benefits for:

Newer brands — Companies uncertain of how to make an entry in the market
Rebranding — Those with an existing customer base, but slow/stalled growth
Expansion — Successful brands that want to expand or integrate vertically

Some companies who have recently launched are great examples of cohesive branding, web, packaging and print following their strong origin story:

LiveBlackRain.com
OKiWellness.com
RaywearCC.com
CannaPride.com

Work Directly with Cannabis Branding Professionals

We’ve seen firsthand how our APEX branding workshop can transform branding efforts from shy, timid presentations into powerful expressions of mission statements in ways that are creative, engaging, and impactful. This all becomes possible because, through the branding workshop, they rediscovered who they are, what they stand for, and what they can accomplish.

We’d love to work with your brand to develop your voice. You can only get this level of attention and inquiry at 4Blooms.Guru. Get in touch with us now to schedule your half-day APEX Branding Workshop.

Here’s a parting word from Susan Rust, CEO of 4Blooms.Guru, about the importance of creating your Origin Story:

“As humans, we’re wired to tell, hear and remember stories. It goes back to our pre-writing cultures. We want to know ‘who your people are’ and how that fits into our closest community of friends, family and beliefs. We look for that which resonates with our own selves. Through the Origin Story, we connect deeply with the customer to make them fans, someone who will repeat your story to others. Now that’s a win.”

About Susan Rust

With her deep knowledge and insight into the current legal cannabis bloom, Susan Rust is our resident guru at 4Blooms.Guru. Susan is also recognized nationally as a trainer, speaker, and mentor in the Drupal open-source community. Her expertise includes web project rescues and operations specialists who help companies scale through process, accountability and leadership training. Susan brings her extensive experience as leader of the 4Blooms.Guru agency. Her versatile team specializes in compliant cannabis packaging, branding, web, packaging and advertising for marijuana dispensaries, products, and services.

About 4Blooms.Guru

4Blooms.Guru was inspired by this unique ecosystem which needs a team that understands the marketplace and has the passion to serve you well. Let our talented team create exciting brands and creative campaigns for you. Let’s make your business bloom!

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New Jersey Legislature Could Vote on Legalization Next Week

3/20/2019

Lawmakers in New Jersey will reportedly vote on an adult-use legalization measure as early as next week after it passed two state legislative committees on Tuesday, NJ.com reports. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bill on a 6-4 vote with one abstention, while the Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced it on a 6-2 vote with two abstentions.

Gov. Phil Murphy included legalization in his campaign platform and, according to the report, “made dozens of calls” to whip votes. Both chambers must pass the bill before it reaches Murphy’s desk.

The measure would allow adults 21-and-older to possess one ounce of flower or five grams of concentrates and includes expungement language. During testimony to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, however, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called the bill’s expungement process “cumbersome and not effective.”

“It still penalizes individuals that have been convicted of marijuana charges. We should remedy all situations, and give people an opportunity to live their lives wholly and peacefully so that previous cannabis offenses do not deny them access to job opportunities that can help improve their quality of life.” – Mayor Ras Baraka to NJ.com

If the bill passes, legal sales would begin about a year later. If it fails, lawmakers will likely wait until after the November election before taking up the issue again.

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California Cannabis Firm Completes Renewable Energy Project

3/20/2019

Canndescent has completed its commercial-scale solar project in Desert Springs, California, the company announced on Monday. The 282.6-kilowatt system uses 734 solar modules to power the production facility. The Environmental Protection Agency and National Renewable Energy laboratory estimates the system offsets as much carbon as a 430-acre forest, reducing annual carbon emission by 365 metric tons.

The company points out that indoor cannabis growers consume an estimated 1 percent of the electricity in the United States and CEO Adrian Sedlin said it was “natural and appropriate for the cannabis industry and Canndescent to lead business community in addressing some of the world’s pressing challenges” as the industry “comes of age.”

The California Energy Commission requires all new nonresidential buildings to have rooftop solar by 2023.

Canndescent Chief Compliance Officer Tom DiGiovanni noted that the lack of access to traditional financial services delayed the project, which took eight weeks to construct.

“Given the restrictions around cannabis banking and lending and the complexities of energy projects and California civil construction in general, this was extraordinarily difficult to pull off. Nevertheless, we got it done and have established a template for the ‘green industry’ to go greener.” – Giovianni, in the release

The company plans to release an opensource whitepaper later this year sharing its solar project plans.

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Illinois-Based Cannabis Company Raises $90M

3/20/2019

Grassroots Cannabis has completed its first capital raise of $90 million to expand its operations, the company announced on Tuesday. The company announced in December it was seeking $40 million in capital and ultimately increased the round to accommodate the subscriptions.

Grassroots indicated they plan to expand cultivation facilities in Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, build out its recently obtained dispensary licenses, and work with Vermont-based partners PhytoScience Management Group to expand its cultivation and testing lab facility and hemp-derived CBD business.

Brian Schinderle, the company’s executive vice president of finance, indicated Grassroots’ footprint is now in 11 states.

“We would like to thank the strong support we saw from both existing and new investors and look forward to continuing to earn their allegiance by both executing on our existing plans and looking to prudently continue to expand our platform.” – Schinderle, in a press release

The company has so far raised $165 million in equity and equity-linked securities to date. The recent round was led by Beacon Securities, Ltd., and Stoic Advisory, Inc.

Grassroots also operates in Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota Arkansas, and Connecticut.

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Florida Gov. Signs Bill Allowing Smokable Cannabis Products

3/19/2019

Florida medical cannabis patients are officially able to buy and consume smokable cannabis products after Republican Gov. Rick DeSantis signed legislation this week overturning the state’s controversial smoking ban, NBC reports.

Senate Bill 182 passed Florida’s Senate on March 7 in a 34-4 vote and was approved by the House on March 13 by a vote of 101-11. The ban was originally imposed by the state legislature in response to Florida’s 2016 landslide vote in favor of medical cannabis legalization, but faced immediate backlash and lawsuits from patient advocates. A judge ultimately ruled that the ban was unconstitutional, but the state — under the leadership of former governor Rick Scott (R) — appealed that decision.

Gov. DeSantis requested legislation overturning the ban shortly after taking office in January. He said that if lawmakers failed to act by Friday, he would take action himself by pulling the state out of the appeal lawsuit, which would have also lifted the ban.

“Over 70 percent of Florida voters approved medical marijuana in 2016. I thank my colleagues in the Legislature for working with me to ensure the will of the voters is upheld.” — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), in a press release

The shift is expected to open the market up to potentially tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue. The bill takes effect immediately, but Florida dispensaries probably won’t start selling smokable flower products until this summer.

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