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Showing posts from May, 2023

Pop’s Cannabis Pioneers New Ground with Mississauga’s First-Ever Legal Cannabis Dispensary

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – Pop’s Cannabis Co., Mississauga’s first legal cannabis retail store, is thrilled to announce its opening, marking a significant milestone in the city’s history. Five years post-legalization, Pops is thrilled to see that the city of Mississauga is now permitting cannabis retail sites, providing residents with a fresh and exciting cannabis experience. Conveniently located steps away from Clarkson Go station in the southwest of the city, on the border of Mississauga and Oakville, Pop’s is a fully licensed and accessible retailer offering a wide variety of cannabis products. From dried flowers, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, vapes, topicals, to accessories, Pop’s aims to meet the diverse needs and preferences of its valued customers. “We’re excited to introduce a fresh, unique, and accessible cannabis experience to the residents of Mississauga,” says Ryan Dymond, President of Pop’s. “Our commitment lies in education, safety, and providing quick, convenient serv

Auxly Furthers Manufacturing Optimization Plan and Related Cost Savings Initiatives

TORONTO – Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) (OTCQB: CBWTF) (“Auxly” or the “Company”), a leading consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, announced today that it has transitioned all remaining dried flower and pre-roll cannabis product manufacturing, processing and distribution activities from its Auxly Ottawa facility to Auxly Leamington, where these activities are already taking place. Auxly will continue to wind-down its Auxly Ottawa facility in an orderly manner and intends to sell Auxly Ottawa’s assets in due course and apply the proceeds from any such sale to support its ongoing operations. Auxly continues to focus its efforts on streamlining assets, simplifying operations, reducing costs, and achieving its 2023 goals of: increasing net revenues by 15% with a focus on key product categories; continuing to leverage Auxly Leamington’s large-scale, low-cost cultivation facility and its manufacturing automation to improve blended Cost of Finished Cannab

Minnesota Becomes the 23rd Legal Marijuana State

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation into law today making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize and regulate the adult-use marijuana market. “This victory is especially satisfying,” said NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “The passage of this law is the result of years of grassroots activism by consumers and stakeholders, including Minnesota NORML and its founder – who himself was once a victim of cannabis prohibition. Those destructive policies will soon come to an end, and this summer Minnesota begins to process of righting past wrongs.” The new law permits adults to purchase (up to two ounces from state-licensed retailers and/or 8 grams of concentrate and 800 milligrams worth of edible products), home-cultivate (up to eight plants, no more than four of which can be mature), and possess (up to 2 pounds in private) cannabis. The bill also facilitates the automatic review and expungement of records for those previously convicted of certain marijuana-related violations. A

Navigating the Weird World of Cannabis Social Media

Brands rely heavily on social media to raise awareness. With relatively low overhead costs and the potential for considerable reach, a robust social media strategy is crucial for sustainable growth. Compound that with the fact that nearly half of industry operators have an annual marketing budget of less than $50,000 , it’s clear social media is a must. But the relationship between cannabis and social media is fraught, filled with drama and intrigue at every twist and turn. Things seem to evolve on a daily basis, with each platform offering unique rules and attitudes toward the plant. One minute you’re going viral for an industry update on LinkedIn , and the next, your brand’s account is removed from Instagram for a seemingly innocuous post. Censorship issues, lack of opportunity for paid ads, and risk of account deletion are just a few of the struggles cannabis companies face on social media in 2023. In fact, 85 percent of survey respondents in last year’s New Frontier Data/Cannabis

Quicksilver Scientific and Ananda Health Forge Partnership for High-Quality Gummy Manufacturing

LOUISVILLE, Colo. – Quicksilver Scientific, Inc., a leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements featuring proprietary delivery systems, and Ananda Health, a cGMP-certified supplement manufacturer, today announced a partnership for Ananda Health to manufacture Quicksilver Scientific’s reformulated fast-acting CBD gummies, with an anticipated June 2023 launch. These next-generation CBD gummies will combine Quicksilver Scientific’s cutting-edge liposomal ingredient formulations with Ananda Health’s industry-leading manufacturing practices to deliver a best-in-class third-party tested hemp wellness product to consumers. Quicksilver Scientific’s partnership with Ananda Health exemplifies how businesses are proactively working together to comply with anticipated FDA regulatory changes on cannabinoid-based dietary supplements. Long-term partnership plans include the development of a Quicksilver Scientific liposomal CBD line made with Ananda Health extracts as well as additional CBD gumm

Higher Celebrations Introduces PRIDEJAYS Exclusively at Northeast Alternatives

FALL RIVER, Mass. – From the creators of the world’s first joint birthday candle, the BirthJay, Higher Celebrations launches PRIDEJAYS through partnership with Northeast Alternatives, and benefitting the nonprofit, Gay For Good. Launching on June 1st, this year for Pride Month we invite everyone to Puff Proudly! For every PRIDEJAY sold, a $.50 donation will go to the Boston Chapter of Gay For Good, a nonprofit that mobilizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) and ally volunteers to promote diversity, foster inclusion and strengthen ties to the broader Boston community. PRIDEJAYS are an ultra-thin rainbow cone, filled with the finest NEA flower for an easy, flavorful toke that will have you puffing proudly. Available as a one gram prerolled joint, PrideJays will only be filled with Cannabis of a Higher Stature, as we launch with two strains, Wedding Cake and ZSweet Inzanity. Higher Celebrations aims to be the innovative adult gift product leader helping to bette

Zelira secures additional US$3.25 million investment in HOPE SPV

Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ZLD, OTCQB:ZLDAF), a global leader in the development and commercialisation of clinically validated cannabinoid based medicines, is delighted to announce it has executed additional binding term sheets to provide a further US$3.25 million of funding to support FDA clinical trials for Zelira’s proprietary and patented protected HOPE 1 product (Term Sheet), via the SPV, further to the announcement made on 15 February 2023. The additional funds of US$3.25 million, to be provided by the Forman Family Foundation, founded by Michael Forman and Jennifer Rice (US$3 million) and Mr. Malik Majeed (US$0.25 million), combined with the initial cornerstone funding by Cantheon Capital LLC (Cantheon), who will provide up to US$8.6 million, brings the total funds secured to US$11.85 million representing approximately 34% of the total $35 million to be raised for the SVP. With this additional investment, Zelira will commence the start of the HOPE clinical trials once the de

Hulk Hogan Unveils New Wellness Brand After Stunning Transformation: “I Feel Like I’m 25 Again”

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Hulk Hogan announced his new health and wellness brand today. His brand joins Mike Tyson’s “Tyson 2.0” and Ric Flair’s “Ric Flair Drip” as a Carma HoldCo brand. The product line will include functional mushrooms, CBD, and THC. He will serve as its Chief Brand Officer. The backstory: Despite Hogan’s 28 surgeries in the past ten years–and dozens more over his 35-year career–the 69-year-old feels as good as he did at age 25 thanks to CBD, which inspired the Carma partnership. Why it matters: Hogan is not alone. According to a 2021 Frontiers in Physiology review, CBD is the second most used substance among contact sports athletes. By the numbers: Carma HoldCo is home to the fastest-growing cannabis brands in the U.S. Outside of cannabis, its products are in 100k+ stores across 17 countries and 40+ states. “Hulk Hogan is larger than life and beloved by wrestling fans and non-fans of all ages. His influence spans generations,” said Carma HoldCo President and Chairman

Organigram to Enter German Market Supplying Sanity Group

TORONTO — Organigram Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: OGI) (TSX: OGI), (the “Company” or “Organigram”), a leading licensed producer of cannabis, is pleased to announce today that it has entered into a supply agreement (“the Agreement”) for dried flower with the medical division of German cannabis company Sanity Group, a health and life sciences company based in Berlin, Germany, dedicated to the medical applications of cannabinoids. Through exports from its flagship state-of-the-art cultivation facility in Moncton, Organigram already services medical patients in Israel and Australia, and will now add Germany to its growing list of international markets. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company will provide high-quality, indoor-grown dried flower product to Sanity Group and grant Sanity Group strain exclusivity on certain genetics. “With the German cannabis industry slowly moving toward a recreational adult-use model, we are excited to begin solidifying our relationships with reputable med

Massachusetts Credit Union Lighthouse Biz Solutions Receives Certification for Cannabis and Hemp Banking Protocols

BOSTON — The Policy Center for Public Health & Safety (PH&S) today announced that Massachusetts-based Lighthouse Biz Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of GFA Federal Credit Union, is the first east coast financial institution to become certified for outstanding U.S. monetary banking protocols in banking cannabis and hemp operations. The honor is part of a financial services certification program overseen by the Policy Center for Public Health & Safety (PH&S) in collaboration with state attorneys general and endorsed by Safe Harbor Financial. “The marijuana industry continues to expand in Massachusetts, and it is important to have banking safeguards to mitigate illicit and criminal conduct. This is an important first step in partnering with legally compliant businesses in the marketplace,” said Karl Racine, former Attorney General of the District of Columbia, and current Board member of Safe Harbor Financial. The PH&S certification brings banking and financial

BZAM Ltd. & 4C LABS conclude strategic distribution agreement for the UK market

VANCOUVER, TORONTO, and LONDON  – BZAM Ltd. (the “Company” or “BZAM”) (CSE: BZAM) (US-OTC: BZAMF), is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, The Green Organic Dutchman Ltd. (collectively the “Company”) has entered into a strategic distribution agreement with 4C LABS Ltd. (“4C LABS”), a London, UK based import & distribution company focused on the medical cannabis space. The Company and 4C LABS expect to commercialize medical cannabis products under The Green Organic Dutchman brand in the UK beginning in Q4 2023. Pursuant to the agreement, signed on April 29, 2023, the Company will supply 4C LABS with approximately 600KG of flower annually for the next two years. The Company is a premier, certified organic grower of medical cannabis in living soil. The Company recently received EU GMP certification for its greenhouse facility located in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. This certification permits the Company to export certain medical cannabis products to numerous global markets, inclu

Fighting for Proper Compensation as a Black Content Creator

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Eight seconds. Frighteningly, a recent study from Microsoft found that the average human attention span has dropped by 25 percent over the last few years to only eight seconds. As this trend continues, businesses battle to capture the attention of potential consumers with captivating advertisements in a matter of seconds. Still, companies within the cannabis industry continue to downplay the contributions of Black content creators. A 2021 study from MSL found that the pay gap that divides white content creators and creatives of color sits at 29 percent. Furthermore, research shows that the pay gap that exists between white content creators and Black creatives is at 35 percent. With U.S. businesses spending nearly $60 billion on social media marketing , it is more imperative than ever that Black marketers know how to advocate for their work and receive adequate compensation for their skills. Having had the opportunity to create content for the Met Gala, Hall of Flowers , and several

Lift Cannabis Conference & Trade Show Returns to Toronto June 1-3, 2023

WHAT:  Lift Toronto Cannabis Conference and Trade Show 2023 will be pulling out all the stops with leading-edge content, new activations, attractions, an expansive array of exhibiting companies and the best networking in the business. The ultimate cannabis industry and community event kicks off on Thursday, June 1, with the Lift Cannabis Business Conference, a strategy-focused, advocacy-oriented business conference intent on meaningful change and sustainable growth in the industry. On Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3, the Lift expo floor will showcase leading and emerging exhibitors while debuting fresh experiences, education and activations. WHEN: Lift Toronto 2023 Event Schedule Thursday, June 1 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm)- Lift Cannabis Business Conference: Canada’s premiere business strategy gathering where top leaders, innovators, regulators, investors, researchers, suppliers and professional services come together to learn, network and forge a path forward. Friday, June 2 & Sa

BLAZE Cannabis Software Announces Entry Into New Jersey with First Recreational Dispensary Earth & Ivy

LOS ANGELES — BLAZE, the industry-leading cannabis software suite and point-of-sale platform for cannabis retailers and delivery services, proudly announced its partnership with the first recreational-only dispensary Earth & Ivy in New Brunswick, New Jersey. “We recognized the incredible potential and innovative spirit of Earth & Ivy on our first call with their team. We’re excited to be the software partner of New Jersey’s pioneering cannabis retail venture. This is a testament to our commitment to innovation, reliability, and sustainability, also a clear indicator of BLAZE’s ever-expanding reach and impact in the cannabis industry,” said Chris Violas, Co-Founder and CEO of BLAZE. New Jersey legalized recreational cannabis in April 2022 and has seen tremendous growth with nearly $329 million in adult-use sales and more than $226 million in medical sales. Despite only having 38 operational dispensaries, New Jersey is quickly becoming one of the most lucrative recreational ma

If You’re Not Selling to Budtenders, You’re Doing It Wrong

Targeting the right people along the supply chain, as opposed to focusing on the end user, is an essential part of gaining market share in a highly-competitive retail environment. When it comes to cannabis producers and manufacturers, if you’re not thinking about selling to budtenders, then your sales strategy is missing a critical component. Industry data and market research company Brightfield Group recently conducted its second annual survey of hundreds of retail workers in Canada to determine “ What Drives Budtenders .” The findings are based on comments from 482 budtenders who shared what they consider when recommending brands and products to customers, as well as what information brands can provide to help budtenders succeed in their roles. “We found that budtenders are influencing more than 50 percent of people that walk into a dispensary,” said Bethany Gomez, managing director at Brightfield Group. “We talk to consumers about their brands [of choice], what they care about, a

4Front Ventures Announces Change to Board of Directors

PHOENIX –   4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) (“4Front” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, today announced that Amit Patel has stepped down as a director and the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Company, effective May 16, 2023.  The decision was made by Mr. Patel to pursue new opportunities outside the organization. 4Front is currently considering candidates to fill the newly vacant board seat. Leo Gontmakher, Chief Executive Officer of 4Front, said: “On behalf of 4Front’s board of directors and management team, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Amit for his valuable contributions to the Company and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” About 4Front Ventures Corp. 4Front Ventures Corp. is a national, vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator who owns or manages operations and facilities in strategic medical and adult-use cannabis markets, including California, Illinois, Massachusett

Little Dragon Dabs Spotlights Safe Cannabis Use with ‘Clean’ Solventless Concentrates

DALLAS — Little Dragon Dabs, a startup delivery-only dispensary for dabbers that specializes in producing, packing and shipping potent cannabis concentrates to legally participating states, is leading the charge when it comes to the distribution – and user education – of solvent-free concentrates. The direct-to-consumer brand that’s powered by white-labeling agreements with top manufacturers through strategic partnerships – currently offering company shares during its IPO process through the TruCrowd equity crowdfunding portal – caters exclusively to dabbers, an arguably underserved consumer market whose user base is comprised of mostly Millennial and Gen-Z users that prioritize high-quality products with safe, reliable manufacturing methods. “As a leader at the forefront of advanced development processes, as well as AI-driven personalized strain selection that offers the highest quality dabs delivered directly to your door, Little Dragon Dabs utilizes solvent-free concentrates for

Canopy Growth Files Revised Proxy Statement, Modifies Canopy USA Structure to Comply with NASDAQ Listing Requirements

SMITHS FALLS, Ontario – Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy Growth” or the “Company”) (TSX: WEED) (NASDAQ: CGC) announced today that it has filed a revised proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which includes updates related to its strategy to accelerate entry into the U.S. cannabis industry through a U.S.-domiciled holding company, Canopy USA, LLC (“Canopy USA”). Upon receiving shareholder approval for the creation of a new class of non-voting exchangeable shares in the capital of Canopy Growth, Canopy USA is expected to exercise rights to acquire Acreage Holdings, Inc. (“Acreage”); Mountain High Products, LLC, Wana Wellness, LLC and The Cima Group, LLC (collectively, “Wana”); and Lemurian, Inc. (“Jetty”). In order to ensure continued compliance with NASDAQ’s listing rules, Canopy Growth has modified the structure of the Company’s interest in Canopy USA such that it will not be required to consolidate the financial results of Canopy USA with th