Alcohol, tobacco interests eyeing Michigan marijuana market

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By John Schroyer

At a time when Michigan’s medical marijuana regulations are being written – and adult-use proponents are finalizing a legalization measure for the 2018 ballot – representatives from the alcohol and tobacco industries have had a seat at the negotiating table.

It’s not yet clear how the alcohol and tobacco interests will be involved in the marijuana business.

But there are signs the tobacco industry is at least eyeing the retail end of the market. And MJ industry officials have…

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What the cannabis industry can learn from the natural products business: Q&A with Loren Israelsen

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By Bart Schaneman

Loren Israelsen feels the cannabis industry’s pain.

For more than three decades, he’s been dealing with regulatory and commercial issues in the global dietary supplement industry, including labeling and being viewed as a fringe business. Israelsen is the president of the United Natural Products Alliance.

The Salt Lake City-based trade association represents more than 100 natural products, dietary supplements and related companies. He’s watched firsthand the issues that arise…

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Week in Review: RI rec push slows, pushback on California cannabis plan & China opportunity

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By Omar Sacirbey, John Schroyer and Bart Schaneman

Adult-use legislation takes a hit in Rhode Island, California Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal for cannabis regulation faces opposition, and a marijuana-related firm sets up shop in China.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Rhode Island rec resistance

Prospects for legalizing recreational marijuana in Rhode Island hit a speed bump this week
MJBizConafter Gov. Gina Raimondo called on lawmakers to…

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Cannabis banking still unpredictable: Q&A with Colorado Bank Commissioner Chris Myklebust

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By John Schroyer

Colorado State Bank Commissioner Chris Myklebust flew to Washington DC in March to meet with a group of state bank regulators.

He also met with U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican, and a staffer for U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Colorado Democrat. He brought up cannabis banking, and was encouraged.

Marijuana Business Daily spoke with Myklebust after he returned to Colorado to see what he learned from his trip.

Myklebust estimated that only about five or six financial…

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Hemp providing avenue for marijuana businesses to boost profits, extend brands

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By Bart Schaneman

Marijuana businesses are increasingly expanding into CBD products derived from hemp, capitalizing on the hemp industry’s growth and less restrictive legal status.

The diversification allows cannabis-infused product companies, in particular, to expand their geographic sales reach, bolster profits and boost brand recognition.

Hemp-derived products don’t face the same restrictions as those containing THC, giving marijuana-infused products manufacturers the opportunity to expand…

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Week in Review: 4 takeaways from Canada’s recreational marijuana plan

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By Omar Sacirbey

The biggest marijuana business development this week – and quite possibly this year – originated north of the border.

On Thursday, the Canadian government introduced landmark legislation to legalize recreational marijuana, giving entrepreneurs worldwide a look at how the country could regulate the first adult-use cannabis market in a G-7 nation.

Among the four notable business highlights:

  • The government hopes to fast-track the program and have it up and running by the middle of…

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Cannabis investment climate warming, but big investors not writing checks

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By Omar Sacirbey

Investor interest in cannabis businesses is growing since the 2016 election, a development that ultimately could lead to more dollars flowing to cash-squeezed marijuana companies.

The growing interest comes after seven states legalized medical or recreational marijuana last November, providing more opportunities for investors.

New investors already are jumping in.

Last week, for instance, a venture capital firm that’s bankrolled non-MJ companies – including the news website…

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Does vape lawsuit foreshadow litigious future for cannabis industry?

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By John Schroyer

A turf war over Arizona’s medical cannabis vaporizer market has spilled into the courts, with one multistate marijuana company suing another over an alleged smear campaign.

While the case itself may not be a particular milestone, it’s another hallmark of the industry’s emergence into an atmosphere where high-stakes litigation is commonplace.

In the lawsuit – which is over a year old but was amended in early April to identify Colorado-based Openvape as the primary defendant…

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Washington state’s cannabis tracking contract up for bid

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By Bart Schaneman

Washington state regulators have begun accepting bids for a new seed-to-sale tracking system to keep tabs on marijuana commerce, a deal with an initial value of about $3 million.

The competition likely will be fierce, given that the contract involves one of the nation’s largest cannabis markets.

But businesses won’t be squaring off against the provider of the state’s current seed-to-sale system, BioTrackTHC. The company said it has no plans to bid for the new contract,…

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Week in Review: West Virginia nears legalization, NV distribution plan & Johns Hopkins exits study

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Week in Review: West Virginia nears legalization, NV distribution plan & Johns Hopkins exits study – Marijuana Business DailyWeek in Review: West Virginia nears legalization, NV distribution plan & Johns Hopkins exits study – Marijuana Business Daily

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California cannabis industry lauds governor’s ‘pro-business’ proposals

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By John Schroyer

California marijuana businesses apparently have an ally in the governor’s mansion.

Many in the cannabis industry are applauding a series of overhaul proposals issued Tuesday by Gov. Jerry Brown for his state’s regulatory system, which will begin overseeing cannabis businesses in January.

The proposed changes are expected to cut regulatory red tape and bolster MJ companies’ bottom lines.

They include a provision to eliminate a measure requiring every cannabis company to obtain…

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Week in Review: Pro-cannabis bills in Congress, Canada rec legalization & Ohio’s testing plans

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By John Schroyer, Omar Sacirbey and Bart Schaneman

Federal lawmakers introduce a slew of pro-marijuana bills, Canada eyes legalizing adult-use cannabis by July 2018, and concerns crop up over a little-known provision in Ohio’s MMJ law.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Congress tries again

Thursday’s news that seven bills were introduced in Congress to reform national cannabis laws was greeted with exultation from many in the…

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Groups working to develop standards for cannabis businesses

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By Bart Schaneman

Cannabis trade groups, state officials and marijuana industry leaders are pursuing the development of standards and best practices covering organic certification, labor practices and energy use in a bid to further legitimize and professionalize the industry.

These efforts could bolster both the marijuana sector’s image among consumers and MJ companies’ bottom lines.

Organic certification, for example, could allow cannabis companies to shore up consumer confidence about the safety…

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DC’s medical marijuana program progressing, though more change in store

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By John Schroyer

The District of Columbia’s medical cannabis companies have been ramping up in the past month, largely because of new business-friendly regulations that have reshaped the future in terms of possible market size.

But those companies still face big questions, especially with regard to expansion and uncertainty over the customer base’s potential size.

For instance, District Growers plans to increase its production space by adding 4,000 square feet to its existing 5,200-square-foot…

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Week in Review: New York’s MMJ changes, RI committee finally meets & advocacy group forms

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By John Schroyer and Omar Sacirbey

New York tweaks its medical marijuana program, a Rhode Island MMJ committee meets eight years after its formation, and a new cannabis advocacy group is born.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Not enough change?

New York’s medical marijuana program implemented two major reforms in recent weeks: Chronic pain is now a qualifying condition, and physician assistants are permitted to certify patients for…

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Industry officials encouraged as Florida’s medical cannabis law takes shape

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By Omar Sacirbey

After months of uncertainty, Florida’s new medical marijuana program is starting to come together and industry officials believe the number of MMJ business licenses will be expanded beyond the seven companies currently licensed under the state’s CBD-focused program.

MMJ industry advocates said they are encouraged with legislation that state lawmakers have begun to hammer out to implement last November’s voter-approved medical cannabis referendum.

That wasn’t necessarily the…

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Court-appointed receivers an option for troubled marijuana companies

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By John Schroyer

Say your cannabis company is in trouble because you chose the wrong business partner. You want to force that partner out. So you find a lawyer, file suit, have all your ducks in a row, and things are looking good.

Then you hit a snag: Who will run the day-to-day business operations while you and your partner duke it out in court over who gets what in terms of company assets?

The answer for at least four marijuana-related companies has been a court-appointed receiver. And it’s an…

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Week in Review: Sessions’ cannabis remarks, Oxford MMJ research & odd pairing in MA

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By John Schroyer, Bart Schaneman and Omar Sacirbey

Attorney General Jeff Sessions again criticizes marijuana without offering a clear policy plan, Oxford University receives millions to study medical cannabis, and Massachusetts liquor store owners are eyeing the rec MJ market.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Mixed messages

Attorney General Jeff Sessions – asked by a reporter if the federal government would be cracking down on…

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Cannabis public use measures could spur MJ sales, businesses

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By Bart Schaneman

From Alaska to Massachusetts, a number of states are weighing measures to allow people to consume cannabis in public places such as clubs and other venues.

Legalizing cannabis clubs and other venues for public consumption could spur MJ sales and create new business opportunities, said industry officials.

In particular, the move could lead to increased sales of marijuana flower. And it could give marijuana retailers an opportunity to add ancillary businesses – such as a coffee shop…

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An industry in flux: Cannabis mergers, acquisitions on the rise

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By John Schroyer

Cannabis industry mergers and acquisitions have been on the rise over the past year, and industry watchers say the number of sales and transactions is almost certain to continue as the marijuana trade at large matures.

A few examples from recent months:

  • One of the oldest marijuana dispensaries in Denver was sold to a Colorado chain.
  • The two top-selling recreational marijuana retailers in Washington state went on sale with an initial price tag of $50 million.
  • A 58,000-square-foot MJ…

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Week in Review: Los Angeles marijuana vote, Canada rec rollout & new cannabis standards

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By John Schroyer, Omar Sacirbey and Bart Schaneman

Los Angeles voters approve a groundbreaking marijuana initiative, Canada adult-use legalization may take longer than anticipated, and an influential standards-setting group eyes cannabis.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

L.A. industry now hitched to uncertain city rules

Those outside Los Angeles may not have heard wedding bells for the city’s cannabis industry and local officials, but…

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Week in Review: Canada’s tainted MMJ, tribal grow operation & DOJ policies

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By Omar Sacirbey, Bart Schaneman and John Schroyer

Canadian cultivators are unable to find the source of pesticide-contaminated medical marijuana, a giant MJ greenhouse is planned for tribal land, and Jeff Sessions’ Justice Department will enact “reasonable policies” on cannabis.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Contaminated MMJ repercussions

Will the brouhaha surrounding pesticide-contaminated medical marijuana in Canada produce fallout for the nation’s federally…

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Crafting an industry: Q&A with California cannabis czar Lori Ajax

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By John Schroyer

Lori Ajax has what may be one of the most influential governmental positions in the legal marijuana industry – chief of California’s Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation.

As such, Ajax is positioned to help craft regulations for what will be the nation’s largest medical and recreational cannabis markets when they’re up and running.

The agency she heads will be renamed the Bureau of Marijuana Control, pursuant to a provision in Proposition 64, the ballot initiative California voters approved in November that legalized…

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White House’s words won’t deter rec marijuana states

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By John Schroyer

Despite ominous overtones from the White House, the eight states that have legalized recreational cannabis are proceeding full-bore, whether it’s with existing infrastructures or plans to establish new markets.

Governors and attorneys general responded in unison: They’ll honor voters’ wishes, and conduct business as usual while awaiting specific policies.

The cannabis industry’s future was called into question Thursday when President Donald Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, said “greater enforcement” could…

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Week in Review: White House threat, CA growers at risk & unique cannabis investment fund

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By John Schroyer

The Trump administration hints at possible enforcement on recreational cannabis businesses, thousands of Northern California cultivation jobs are in jeopardy, and a new marijuana investment fund is in the works.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

White House signals potential crackdown

The cannabis industry erupted when the White House press secretary on Thursday intimated the recreational market could be in for a serious fight.

During a news conference, Press…

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White House press secretary predicts ‘greater enforcement’ on recreational marijuana

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By John Schroyer

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday said there will likely be increased federal enforcement on recreational marijuana businesses.

“I do believe you will see greater enforcement of it,” Spicer said in response to a question about whether the Department of Justice will enforce federal marijuana laws.

It was the Trump administration’s first public comment on the nation’s marijuana industry, and it comes as a growing number of states have legalized both recreational and medical cannabis.

Spicer sought to…

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Alaska MJ entrepreneurs find way to ship product – commercial flights

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By John Schroyer

The legal marijuana industry in the United States has been built by pioneers willing to risk the wrath of authorities.

That tradition is continuing in Alaska, where a retail shop owner has pushed the legal envelope by flying across her immense state with carry-ons full of marijuana inventory for her store.

She’s done so with the explicit blessing of state officials, ranging from Alaska’s Marijuana Control Office to airport police, many of whom are eager to establish a functional system under which cannabis businesspeople…

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New Market: Once Maryland fixes problems, ample MMJ opportunities await

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This is the 12th article in a series looking at the potential cannabis market in states that are rolling out new marijuana programs. The first eight articles examined states that approved recreational or medical marijuana initiatives in the 2016 election. This new round of installments focuses on states that have approved new markets through legislation. Click here for previous articles.

By Bart Schaneman

Maryland’s medical marijuana program rollout has been rife with stumbles, delaying what could become one of the largest markets on the…

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Wall Street takes notice of marijuana: Q&A with cannabis analyst Vivien Azer

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By Omar Sacirbey

Vivien Azer, apparently the first cannabis analyst at a mainstream investment bank, is bullish on the marijuana industry.

And her confidence in the market is a significant reflection of how Wall Street views cannabis. Azer is an analyst at Cowen and Co., a New York investment bank founded in 1918.

Her belief in the marijuana industry was reinforced last month when 150-plus investors – including representatives from such prestigious financial institutions as Blackstone Group, Fidelity Investments and Janus Capital Group –…

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Week in Review: Seniors + MMJ, Oregon faces changes & Cannabis Caucus debuts

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By Omar Sacirbey, Bart Schaneman and John Schroyer

A medical marijuana company in New York lands a nursing home deal, Oregon may align the state’s MMJ and recreational programs under one regulator, and the Cannabis Caucus officially launches.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Cannabis in nursing homes

Etain Health of New York made waves when it announced it landed an agreement to supply MMJ products to a Bronx nursing home.

Under the deal, Etain will help health personnel become…

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New Market: Ohio medical cannabis program set to be big, but license rules could curb growth

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This is the 11th article in a series looking at the potential cannabis market in states that are rolling out new marijuana programs. The first eight articles examined states that approved recreational or medical marijuana initiatives in the 2016 election. This new round of installments focuses on states that have approved new markets through legislation. Click here for previous articles.

By Bart Schaneman

Ohio’s medical cannabis program is expected to be large, generating up to $400 million in annual dispensary sales several years down the…

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Colorado infused products licenses skyrocket as MJ companies diversify

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By John Schroyer

The number of licensed infused cannabis product manufacturers in Colorado has exploded in recent years, according to state records.

The surge reflects factors including Colorado’s lack of business license caps, a resulting oversupply of marijuana, and companies diversifying to boost their margins in one of the nation’s most competitive cannabis markets.

The statistics tell the story of businesses, including retailers and cultivators, branching into a new area of business to stay competitive. It’s also cheaper for these…

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Week in Review: Contaminated medical cannabis, CO workplace safety & Ohio’s tech search

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By John Schroyer, Omar Sacirbey and Bart Schaneman

Tainted medical cannabis is suspected in a California cancer patient’s death, Colorado creates a workplace-safety guide, and Ohio is in the market for a seed-to-sale tracking system.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

More liability lawsuits?

The potential for costly lawsuits over defective – and possibly dangerous – products remains an overlooked legal aspect for businesses in the growing cannabis industry.

That threat…

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New Market: Fierce competition for licenses in Pennsylvania’s emerging MMJ program

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This is the 10th article in a series looking at the potential cannabis market in states that are rolling out new marijuana programs. The first eight articles examined states that approved recreational or medical marijuana initiatives in the 2016 election. This new round of installments focuses on states that have approved new markets through legislation. Click here for previous articles.

By Bart Schaneman

Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana market is positioned to become a large one, but the business opportunities will be limited with…

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Week in Review: Canadian exports, district attorneys policy group & dispensary lawsuits

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By Omar Sacirbey, John Schroyer and Bart Schaneman

A Canadian medical marijuana company brokers another export deal, the nation’s district attorneys form a group to possibly recommend national cannabis policies, and Southern California dispensaries sue their unlicensed counterparts.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Canada builds its export lead

Tilray, a federally licensed MMJ grower in Canada, has inked another export deal, this time with Alef Biotechnology SpA, a cannabis…

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New Market: Hawaii’s MMJ industry to benefit from readily available patient pool

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This is the ninth article in a series looking at the potential cannabis market in states that are rolling out new marijuana programs. The first eight articles examined states that approved recreational or medical marijuana initiatives in the 2016 election. This new round of installments focuses on states that have approved new markets through legislation. Click here for previous articles.

By Bart Schaneman

A well-established patient pool should allow Hawaii’s eight licensed medical marijuana companies to hit the ground running – once…

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The marijuana industry’s many faces: Q&A with California Minority Alliance co-founder Virgil Grant

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The marijuana industry’s many faces: Q&A with California Minority Alliance co-founder Virgil Grant – Marijuana Business DailyThe marijuana industry’s many faces: Q&A with California Minority Alliance co-founder Virgil Grant – Marijuana Business Daily

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Chart: Nevada medical marijuana patient counts soar, but more growth needed

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By Eli McVey

Nevada’s medical marijuana program is growing – with nearly 12,000 new patients joining in 2016 – but the market is still relatively small and some businesses are struggling to survive.

Consider this: Nevada allows MMJ recommendations for chronic pain, a catch-all diagnosis that historically has translated into patient counts representing around 2% of a state’s population on the high end.

By that metric, Nevada’s program falls woefully short. With a population of approximately 2.9 million and patient counts hovering…

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Week in Review: Marijuana industry trademarks, cannabis banking & Oregon rec sales

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By Omar Sacirbey, John Schroyer and Bart Schaneman 

A prominent marijuana pipe maker sues to defend its trademark, another state seeks Trump’s guidance on MJ banking, and adult-use cannabis sales continue to drop in Oregon.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Trademark rights

Roor might be the Gucci of marijuana paraphernalia.

Both the German glass pipe maker and the iconic Italian handbag label purvey high-end products, are counterfeited ruthlessly and have sought aggressively to…

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New Market: Maine’s tourism industry a potential boon for rec MJ businesses

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Maine flag

This is the eighth article in a series looking at the potential cannabis market in each of the eight states that approved recreational or medical marijuana initiatives in the 2016 election. Click here for previous installments.

By Bart Schaneman

Buoyed by the state’s reputation as an East Coast tourist mecca with a dramatic coastline, the recreational marijuana market in Maine should generate plenty of opportunities for cannabis businesses – provided delays don’t hamper the industry’s rollout.

In a close vote last November, 50.26% of…

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States with the best chance to legalize cannabis in 2017?

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By John Schroyer

After a landmark year in cannabis legalization, marijuana advocates have plenty of work left. And they’re not resting on their laurels.

The Marijuana Policy Project calculates a whopping 38 legalization bills for medical or recreational marijuana are likely to be introduced in 33 states and the District of Columbia in 2017.

“There’s more support for marijuana policy reform than ever before among the public, and that appears to be reflected in state lawmakers’ views as well,” said Mason Tvert, the advocacy group’s…

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California marijuana business owners in legal fog as they await statewide rules

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By Bart Schaneman

The absence of statewide medical marijuana regulations following passage of California’s recreational cannabis ballot measure has put existing MJ business owners in legal limbo, making it tougher for them to operate their companies and plan for the future.

Some of these businesses, for example, are finding it difficult to determine what’s legal and what’s not.

Entrepreneurs also are unsure how to properly structure their businesses to comply with Proposition 64 (the measure that legalized recreational cannabis) and…

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Week in Review: Florida’s restrictive plan, slow returns in NH & Pennsylvania app processs

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By Bart Schaneman, Omar Sacirbey and John Schroyer

Florida’s draft medical marijuana rules would bar new entrants, New Hampshire dispensaries have a ways to go before breaking even, and Pennsylvania releases MMJ business applications.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Work in progress

Entrepreneurs angling to capitalize on Florida’s new MMJ program may be out of luck – if state health regulators have their way. MMJ advocates, however, are confident this week’s draft…

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Trump, Sessions + the future of the cannabis industry: Q&A with Steph Sherer

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By John Schroyer

Steph Sherer has a good read on the pulse of cannabis politics, having spent years in Washington DC lobbying on behalf of medical marijuana patients and fighting for national MJ reform as executive director of Americans for Safe Access.

With Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Friday just hours away, she’s not optimistic about what the near-term future holds for the marijuana industry.

Sherer told Marijuana Business Daily she expects Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, to conduct audits…

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Chart: Similar support levels for marijuana, Trump in red states that voted on cannabis measures

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By Eli McVey

Marijuana proved to be about as popular as Donald Trump in red states that voted on cannabis ballot initiatives in November, highlighting the potential for a political backlash if the incoming president looks to crack down on the MJ industry.

Five states that leaned toward Trump in the 2016 elections – Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota – had marijuana-related measures on the ballot.

In each case, with the exception of Arkansas, the cannabis initiatives received almost as many or more votes than Trump…

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Week in Review: Sessions’ sleight of hand, scofflaws in CA & risky business in NY

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By John Schroyer, Bart Schaneman and Omar Sacirbey

Attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions plays his cannabis-enforcement views close to the vest, dispensaries sidestep California’s adult-use law, and an L.A. marijuana company attempts a risky rescue in New York.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Sessions hints at future enforcement

The likely next attorney general of the United States hinted at what may be to come for cannabis businesses during his first day of confirmation…

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New career, MMJ-rec tensions and cannabis under Trump: Q&A with pioneer Becky DeKeuster

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Becjy DeKeuster

By Omar Sacirbey

Becky DeKeuster went from being a Catholic high school teacher to a cannabis pioneer who co-founded the Wellness Connection of Maine.

DeKeuster helped Wellness Connection earn a reputation for caring service and left her mark nationally on an industry trying to find its footing. She’s now switching gears again. DeKeuster left Wellness Connection partly because of philosophical differences with her leadership team as well as to start a consulting firm.

She spoke with Marijuana Business Daily about transitions, tensions…

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Week in Review: Connecticut MMJ research bodes well, OH docs hesitant & Maine rec is a go

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By Omar Sacirbey and Bart Schaneman

Connecticut research could benefit the entire medical cannabis industry, a survey shows most Ohio physicians won’t write MMJ recommendations, and Maine’s adult-use program is a go after recount is halted.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Marijuana beats opiates

Research announcements this week from two respected Connecticut medical institutions provided a fitting year-end reminder that one of the biggest gains cannabis reform has made over…

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Which is best for cannabis – a Dutch or North American greenhouse?

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By Omar Sacirbey

High energy costs and declining cannabis prices have many cultivators thinking about moving their indoor grows into greenhouses.

But once that decision is made, those cultivators must determine whether to buy a North American-made greenhouse or import one from the Netherlands, which has dominated the industry since the 1800s.

Though many believe greenhouses can produce a high-quality cannabis crop, cultivators still must weigh abundant questions about which type is best.

Are you driven by design features? Or do you seek…

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New Market: Florida’s big MMJ program could be limited by lack of licenses

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This is the fourth article in a series looking at the potential cannabis market in each of the eight states that approved recreational or medical marijuana initiatives in the 2016 election. Check back each week through mid-January for new entries. Click here for previous installments.

By Bart Schaneman

Florida’s new medical marijuana market is poised to become one of the largest in the nation, yet a limited number of available MMJ business licenses could hinder the program’s growth.

Seventy-one percent of Florida voters last month…

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