North Dakota Rep. Jason Dockter has sponsored an adult-use cannabis legalization bill, despite his opposition to legalizing cannabis in the state, according to The Dickinson Press.

Dockter believes legalization is inevitable as more states regulate cannabis within their borders, the news outlet reported, and says lawmakers should draft a legalization proposal instead of leaving the issue in the hands of a ballot initiative campaign.

North Dakota voters approved medical cannabis legalization in 2016, but rejected a 2018 measure that would have legalized adult-use.

Legalize ND backed a 2020 campaign to get adult-use legalization in front of voters last year, but ultimately refocused its efforts on the 2022 election after the COVID-19 pandemic largely derailed its signature gathering efforts.

Dockter’s House Bill 1420 would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess and transport up to one ounce of cannabis or an equivalent amount of edible cannabis products, The Dickinson Press reported. Cultivators and dispensaries would be licensed under the bill to produce and sell cannabis products, according to the news outlet, and the state Health Council would ultimately establish rules to regulate these businesses.

New York, New York - January 26, 2021 - PRESS RELEASE - Green Check Verified (GCV), a regtech provider of compliant cannabis banking solutions, has announced a partnership with Laika, an enterprise-ready compliance platform, to provide financial institutions with an extra layer of compliance oversight in the rapidly-growing cannabis banking space. 

Legal in 37 states, of which GCV is currently operating in 22, this $13B industry is of particular interest to banks and  credit unions looking for low cost deposit growth, increased fee revenue and strong commercial partnerships with local business owners. As financial institutions increasingly capitalize on this huge market opportunity, GCV’s partnership with Laika will help streamline its own internal compliance and security programs, providing additional assurance for all Green Check clients and partners.

"Having led vendor risk management for one of the largest financial institutions in the world, I am in a unique position to help fast growing technology companies build scalable security practices," said Eva Pittas, founder of Laika. "We're excited to be working with Green Check Verified - their seasoned team of entrepreneurs coupled with its innovative regtech platform will be pivotal for FIs looking to enter the legal cannabis banking space."

“At GCV, everything we do is hyper-focused on compliance,” said Kevin Hart, CEO of Green Check Verified. “We continue to identify ways to reduce risk and allow FIs to bank cannabis confidently and securely. By partnering with Laika, we are not only leveraging our internal regulatory technology expertise, but banks and credit unions will benefit from having the additional oversight from a third-party vendor, adding an extra layer of compliance associated with cannabis banking.”

Laika is an enterprise-ready compliance platform that enables growing companies to compete on the same level as any large organization. The collaboration between Laika and GCV empowers financial institutions entering the highly regulated industry of banking cannabis to satisfy internal vendor due-diligence requirements. Board and examiners are increasingly demanding that cannabis programs not only satisfy specific regulations but that individual firms showcase they are a fully compliant vendor, from top to bottom.

DENVER, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- GrowGeneration Corp., a national chain of specialty hydroponic and organic garden centers, has announced the acquisition of Indoor Garden & Lighting, a two-store chain of hydroponic equipment and indoor gardening supply stores serving the Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., area. The company will be consolidating its current Seattle operation into the acquired stores. This acquisition brings the total number of GrowGen hydroponic garden centers nationwide to 40 stores.

"We're thrilled to kickstart 2021 with our acquisition of Indoor Garden & Lighting, which boasts a strong commercial customer base and a talented team of grow professionals," said Darren Lampert, GrowGeneration's CEO. "This deal expands our footprint in the Pacific Northwest and puts us in close proximity to Tacoma's large commercial operators. With the addition of Indoor Garden & Lighting, we expect Washington's thriving adult-use market to generate annual revenues of $10 million for GrowGen."

Founded in 1995, by Mike Long, Indoor Garden & Lighting has operations in Tacoma and Mountlake Terrace. GrowGen plans to close its current Seattle storefront and consolidate it with Indoor Garden & Lighting's Mountlake Terrace location. GrowGeneration also plans to operate out of Indoor Garden & Lighting's 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Tacoma. As part of the deal, Long and his team of cultivation experts will join GrowGeneration. 

The Indoor Garden & Lighting acquisition is the company's first acquisition this year, and follows yet another quarter of record earnings. Earlier this month, the company pre-announced fourth-quarter revenues of $61.5 million, bringing full-year 2020 revenue to $192 million, up 140% from 2019. Same-store sales increased 63% for full-year 2020, compared to the previous year. The company also raised its 2021 revenue guidance to $335 million-$350 million, and raised its 2021 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $38 million-$40 million. GrowGen plans to have 55 garden center locations by the end of 2021.

LEAMINGTON, ON, Jan. 26, 2021 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Aphria Inc., a global cannabis-lifestyle consumer packaged goods company, has announced the addition of topicals to its award winning adult-use brand Solei. Known for its occasion-based offerings, our Solei Topicals will join a range of other formats currently available, including whole dried flower and pre-rolls, smoke-free oils, oral sprays, soft gels, and vapes.

Solei is the first brand from Aphria's portfolio to enter the topicals market with its lineup including three of its popular Moments: Unplug (Lavender), Balance (Orange Citrus), Free (Cucumber Mint) and Free Unscented. Solei Topicals have been carefully formulated to provide consumers with the highest potency topical currently available in the Canadian market (500mg of cannabinoid per container) and a superior texture comparable to a premium non-infused cream - rich to the touch. 

"Adding topicals to our Solei brand product line up is a natural expansion, and an exciting format offering for Aphria. Topicals are one, if not the most, accessible cannabis format available today, making it appealing to a large segment of consumers," said Irwin D. Simon, chairman and chief executive officer of Aphria Inc. "We are listening to the needs of our consumers. The team worked hard to create a cream with a range of premium scents, providing a compelling and relevant product for consumers."

Solei Balance and Unplug topicals are currently available online and in select retail stores across Ontario and will be rolling out in other markets in the coming months. Solei Free and Free Unscented topicals will be available in select markets starting February 2021.

Solei Topicals will be available in the following variants:

• Free Unscented – 500mg CBD 
• Free (Cucumber Mint) – 500mg CBD
• Balance (Orange Citrus) – 250mg THC, 250mg CBD
• Unplug (Lavender) – 350mg THC, 150mg CBD