AUGUSTA – PRESS RELEASE – Preliminary sales data from regulators at the state’s Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) indicate Maine’s marijuana retailers grossed approximately $1.4 million and made 21,194 transactions during the first month of retail sales. The data, which was extracted from the state’s inventory tracking system, Metrc, shows that smokable marijuana made up 76% of sales, while concentrates and infused products accounted for 14% and 10%, respectively.

Maine’s adult use market launched on Oct. 9 and saw sales from six active licensees that month. An additional three adult use retailers opened their doors during the first week of November. The reporting period covers sales made from Maine’s retail sales launch date of Oct. 9 through the end of the day on Nov. 8, a total of 31 days.

“While it is easy to focus solely on the numbers, it is important to note that the Office of Marijuana Policy’s primary objective is maintaining the high standard of public health and safety we have set for the adult use program,” said OMP Director Erik Gundersen. “We appreciate the commitment our licensees have demonstrated to enact COVID protocols to ensure a safe launch and their continued commitment to these efforts in light of the recent spike in COVID cases in Maine.”

Adult use monthly sales totals and product types have been added to OMP’s existing transparency dashboard, available at: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/omp/open-data/adult-use. The initial data set includes the first month of retail sales. Beginning in December, sales information will be updated monthly with the preceding month’s totals.

Sales data are preliminary in nature, subject to further revision and have not been audited. The Office is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of legalized marijuana, including Maine's existing Medical Use of Marijuana Program.

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 23, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Village Farms International, Inc. has announced two positive developments with respect to its wholly owned Canadian cannabis subsidiary, Pure Sunfarms.

Pure Sunfarms Receives Cannabis Research License for On-Site Sensory Evaluation from Health Canada

Pure Sunfarms has received from Health Canada its Cannabis Research License to conduct human administration trials for sensory evaluation of cannabis, enabling it to engage in on-site assessments of the taste, sight, smell or touch of its products at its Delta 3 cannabis facility in Delta, British Columbia.

"This license provides us with significant new opportunities in the formulation and refinement of our products, and underscores our commitment to innovation and the advancement of the Canadian cannabis consumer experience," said Mandesh Dosanjh, president and chief executive officer of Pure Sunfarms. "We look forward to leveraging this new capability to continue to extend Pure Sunfarms' product leadership and further strengthen what is already one of Canada's best-selling cannabis brands."

Pure Sunfarms Brand Debuts Internationally in Hong Kong

Pure Sunfarms will be featured as part of a limited-edition Lane Crawford x Found CBD-infused gift set to be sold in the luxury department store's holiday pop-up shops in Hong Kong this holiday season. The luxury gift sets will feature Pure Sunfarms branded CBD gummies created specifically for the Hong Kong consumer, among other CBD-inspired items such as chocolates, bath salts, and tea bags. The co-branded Lane Crawford and Found holiday pop-up shops aim to educate consumers and elevate their awareness of CBD.

The inclusion of Pure Sunfarms-branded CBD products was facilitated through a partnership between Altum International Limited's Found, Asia-Pacific's first CBD retail platform and café, and Lane Crawford, an iconic luxury department store in Greater China. In August 2020, Village Farms acquired 6.6% of Australia-based Altum, one of the Asia-Pacific's leading cannabinoid platforms.

"We're so pleased for the Pure Sunfarms' brand to make its debut internationally, alongside such prestigious and progressive partners as Altum and Lane Crawford," said Dosanjh. "This is just the beginning of what's to come for Pure Sunfarms as we look to share our love of plants and B.C.-grown cannabis products with the global cannabis market."

"We are particularly excited to be able to present in Asia-Pacific for the first time, Pure Sunfarms, Canada's market-leading cannabis brand," Fiachra Mullen, chief marketing officer for Altum International. "We believe that the leading cannabis brands in the Canadian market will hold a special place in the Hong Kong consumer's heart. We are incredibly proud to have their trust in helping them access the Asia-Pacific markets for the first time through the most progressive cannabinoid jurisdiction in the region – Hong Kong."

BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, has announced plans to nearly double the square footage of its subsidiary’s grower-processor facility in Scranton, Pa., from approximately 90,000 sq. ft. to more than 160,000 sq. ft. in a phased expansion. The majority of the approximate 70,000 sq. ft. expansion project will be focused on increasing the facility’s canopy space, which upon completion will nearly triple to approximately 98,000 sq. ft. The first phase of the expansion is expected to come online in mid-2021 and the final phase will be completed by the second quarter of 2022. In total, Jushi expects to invest approximately $50 million on the expansion project, which is expected to create over 100 new jobs in the Scranton area. Jushi (through its subsidiary Pennsylvania Medical Solutions, LLC), will work with Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (through its subsidiary IIP-PA 1 LLC) to partially finance the expansion project via an upsize to the existing lease agreement between the parties. The expansion project is subject to the company’s successful completion of certain milestones, including receipt of all local and state approvals and permits, and the finalization of a mutually agreed lease amendment with Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. related to the facility.

“The medical cannabis market in Pennsylvania is rapidly growing and with our products in high-demand, this investment will significantly expand our cultivation capacity and market share,” said Jim Cacioppo, chief executive officer, chairman and founder of Jushi. “This is a robust operating environment and with the market intelligence gained through our eight currently operating BEYOND / HELLO retail dispensaries, we believe that patient demand for high-quality, medical grade cannabis products is still far from being satisfied. With the phased build out, the support of our financing partner Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc., and our strong balance sheet with ample liquidity, we expect to remain fully funded to operating cash flow positive, including our likely investment beyond Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.’s support. We believe that by investing in the expansion of our grower-processors, we will generate the greatest potential return for Jushi shareholders.”

Cacioppo concluded, “We are very excited by the opportunity ahead of us in Pennsylvania, and as one of the fastest growing jobs sectors in the U.S., Jushi and its subsidiaries look forward to bringing additional new local jobs and tax dollars to the region and further investing in Scranton’s economy and community.”

The company recently completed an expansion project in the third quarter 2020, which included increasing the Facility’s indoor cultivation from approximately 20,000 sq. ft. to approximately 45,000 sq. ft. (~33,000 sq. ft. of canopy) and supplementing the current CO2 extraction with new Class I, Division 1 ethanol extraction technology. The facility produces high-quality, indoor grown flower and extracts and is strategically located within minutes of Interstate 81, Interstate 84 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, enabling efficient wholesale distribution to the 98 dispensaries currently operating across the commonwealth, including the company’s eight operational BEYOND / HELLO dispensaries. The facility is expected to supply the company’s subsidiaries, and other licensed retail facilities.

Portland, OR -- PRESS RELEASE -- At its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 19, 2020, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) approved eight recreational marijuana license stipulated settlements. Additionally, the City of Portland’s Cannabis Policy Oversight Team (CPOT) provided the Commission with an update on the Portland Cannabis Program.

CPOT reviewed its efforts to make equity the center of all decision-making efforts related to cannabis regulation, including ensuring that patients should have access to cannabis for medicinal purposes. CPOT is also reworking its cannabis grant program to focus on distributed funding to BIPOC recipients.

OLCC staff provided assessments of how two ballot measures approved by Oregon voters earlier this month could impact the agency.

Measure 109, which establishes a program for the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms, directs the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to enter into an agreement with the OLCC to use the state’s Cannabis Tracking System (CTS) to prevent psilocybin diversion from therapy program. OLCC has initiated conversations with its CTS vendor the OLCC has deferred further action, until OHA, currently busy with the pandemic, can begin implementing the program.

One provision of Measure 110 reclassifies some drug convictions which will impact the evaluation process of OLCC licensee and permitee applicants. Currently, the OLCC rarely makes a license or permit decision based solely on drug convictions, but there are differences between the OLCC’s alcohol and recreational marijuana licensing and permitting criteria that will now be reconciled; this might require the OLCC to enter into rulemaking.

The Commission also ratified the following violation fines and suspensions based on stipulated settlements (detailed information on specific cases can be found here on the OLCC website):

LA MOTA (#28CC) in Portland will serve an 18-day recreational marijuana retailer license suspension OR pay a fine of $2,970 fine for two violations.

Licensee is: La Mota, LLC, Co-Licensee; Aaron Mitchell, Member; Rosa Cazares, Co-Licensee

VIBRANT HIGHS will surrender its marijuana processor license suspension for one violation.

Licensees are: OGX, LLC; Paul Luttrell, Member; Jonathan Showker, Member; Kathy Cook, Member

LA MOTA FRONT AVE in Portland will serve a nine-day recreational marijuana retailer license suspension OR pay a fine of $1,485 fine for one violation.

Licensees are: La Mota Front Ave, LLC, Co-Licensee; Aaron Mitchell, Member; Rosa Cazares, Co-Licensee

EVIO LABS MEDFORD in Medford will surrender its recreational marijuana laboratory license suspension for four violations.

Licensees are: Smith Scientific Industries, Inc.; Anthony Smith, President/Director/Stockholder; William Waldrop, Secretary/Director; EVIO, Inc., Stockholder; Lori Glauser, Director/Stockholder; William Waldrop, Director/Stockholder

MR NICE GUY RETAIL in Corvallis will serve a 10-day recreational marijuana retailer license suspension OR pay a fine of $3,630 fine for two violations.

Licensees are: MNG Holdings, LLC; Michael NG, Member; Patrick Martin, Member

MR NICE GUY RETAIL in Salem will pay a fine of $280 for one recreational marijuana retailer license violation.

Licensees are: MNG Holdings, LLC; Michael NG, Member; Patrick Martin, Member

NECTAR in Salem will serve a seven-day recreational marijuana retailer license suspension OR pay a fine of $1,155 fine for two violations.

Licensees are: Nectar Markets, LLC; Nectar Holdings, Inc., Member; Jeremy Pratt, President/Director/Stockholder; Jeffrey Johnson, Vice-President; Michael Olson, Secretary/Treasurer

ALBION FARMS will serve an 18-day recreational marijuana producer license suspension OR pay a fine of $2,970 fine for two violations.

Licensees are: MediRec, LLC; Vandaly Industries, Inc., Member; Eric Buckner, President