Maine Dishes Out First Six Adult-Use Cannabis Business Licenses

Retail sales will begin Oct. 9.

September 9, 2020

Legislation and regulation News State by State: Maine

Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) today issued the state’s first six adult-use cannabis business licenses, paving the way for retail sales to begin in October. The businesses include three cultivation facilities, two retail storefronts and one testing facility.

As the Portland Press-Herald reported, the two retailers are Theory Wellness of Maine in South Portland, just outside the state’s largest city, and Sweet Relief Shop in Northport, farther up the coast.

Room 5, Gele and Grass Roots Marijuana each received a cultivation license. Nelson Analytics received the state’s first testing license.

More licenses are expected to be issued prior to Oct. 9.

“Maine will have the unique distinction of being the only state to launch its adult use marijuana program during a pandemic,” OMP Director Erik Gundersen said in a public statement. “Public health and safety are themes that have been part of the Office of Marijuana Policy’s mission statement since day one. Accordingly, our highest priority remains the wellbeing of this new industry’s employees and consumers.”

Indeed, the OMP had originally slated opening day for June, but the coronavirus pandemic threw those plans out the window.

How to Make the Most of Virtual Events This Year

Now that many of us have settled into our work-from-home routines, we’re also discovering new ways to take advantage of virtual experiences.

September 8, 2020

CBT Staff

News

Now that many of us have settled into our work-from-home routines, we’re also discovering new ways to take advantage of virtual experiences, such as industry conferences and events. Rather than catching a flight, booking a hotel and blocking off multiple days to hobnob with fellow attendees face-to-face—nowadays, all you need are an internet connection, web camera and email log-in to create meaningful industry connections and expand your market knowledge.

Cannabis Conference Virtual (taking place Sept. 15, 22, and 29) is making this possible by bringing together hundreds of industry professionals for the highest quality networking and education the cannabis market has to offer, all from the safety of your home or office.

It's a little different than attending a conference in-person, of course, so the Cannabis Conference Virtual staff put together a few tips to help you make the most of your experience at events like this.

You can read the full list here.

Here's one, for example:

1. CHECK OUT THE EDUCATION SCHEDULE EARLY

Cannabis Conference Virtual’s education program includes most of the line-up from our originally scheduled in-person event. That means you’ll have your pick from dozens of sessions, with 65+ experts at the top of their game ready to share their insights with you. Just like an in-person event, you’ll want to peruse the program ahead of time to make sure you’re attending the sessions most relevant to your professional development. Our intuitive platform also includes a personalized schedule, so you can add your most desired sessions and networking breakouts in a streamlined calendar.

Cannabis Conference Virtual has made compartmentalizing your event time easier than ever! For instance, we’ve split our education into targeted tracks—so no matter where you are on your cannabis journey, you’ll be able to find sessions geared toward your needs.

Day 1 (Sept. 15) is our Launch, Expansion, and Business Day—so if you’re new to the industry or expanding your operations, this should be your first stop. On this day, attend sessions such as, “How to Launch a Cultivation Business,” “Growing a Brand,” “Embarking on the Hemp Journey,” “Monitoring and Improving Company Performance and Capital,” and “The Global Cannabis Market Forecast and Legal Landscape.”
Day 2 (Sept. 22) will be specifically geared toward Cultivation & Hemp professionals. This education track includes the in-depth sessions, “Lighting and Its Impact on Plant Growth and Cannabinoid Production: The Latest Research,” “Find Your Ideal Genetic Line-Up: Cannabis & Hemp,” and “Lean Management and Six Sigma in Cultivation and Farming.” Plus, experienced cultivation experts will share their lessons learned in a special spotlight session, and much more.
Day 3 (Sept. 29) is our Deal-Making Summit, as well as our Dispensary education day—which means you’ll have opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s biggest players as it relates to mergers & acquisitions, as well as how to optimize a retail operation. Sessions on this day include, “Using Data to Boost Sales” and “Dispensary Marketing: The Best Options for Growing Your Customer Base and Fostering Loyalty.”

You can view Cannabis Conference Virtual’s full event schedule here!

And check out more tips for your virtual conference experience right here.

A2LA Accredits Viridis Laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025

Viridis, based in Lansing, Mich., is A2LA’s first cannabis testing laboratory accredited in the state of Michigan.

September 8, 2020

Posted by Eric Sandy

Vendor News

September 8, 2020, Frederick, MD – PRESS RELEASE – A2LA is pleased to announce the accreditation of Viridis Laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for cannabis testing. Viridis, based in Lansing, Mich., is A2LA’s first cannabis testing laboratory accredited in the state of Michigan.

“Our company is incredibly proud of achieving this milestone of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation through A2LA’s rigorous assessment program,” said Greg Michaud, Viridis Laboratories’ CEO. “The choice to partner with A2LA was a simple one due to their international reputation as a global leader in accreditation programs. Additionally, their partnership and certification program through the American’s for Safe Access strengthens our accreditation further and helps solidify Viridis as Michigan’s premier cannabis testing laboratory. “

“We congratulate Viridis Laboratories on achieving accreditation through A2LA”, said Chris Gunning, A2LA General Manager. “A2LA is excited to see the continued growth of our cannabis program into another state. This addition further promotes the value that accreditation adds in ensuring quality products in this emerging industry. We look forward to our continued relationship with Viridis Laboratories in serving their accreditation needs.”

Achieving ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by A2LA is the pinnacle in third-party laboratory accreditation, as it confirms that laboratories have management, quality, and technical systems in place to ensure accurate and reliable analyses, as well as proper administrative processes to ensure that all aspects related to the sample, the analysis, and the reporting are standardized, measured, and monitored.

About A2LA
A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation body, offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, sole-sampling organizations, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certifier.

About Viridis Laboratories
Our company’s roots start from decades of experience gained within the Michigan State Police forensic science laboratories. Our 75+ years of analytical knowhow ensures daily, that the highest quality and most ethical testing is being achieved, resulting in bringing maximum confidence to the consumer. We consider ourselves fortunate in keeping true to our mission of bringing health and safety to Michigan’s citizens.

Aurora Cannabis Appoints New CEO

Miguel Martin, who was hired as chief commercial officer in July, will begin the CEO role effective immediately.

September 8, 2020

Posted by Michelle Simakis

News Canada

EDMONTON, AB, Sept. 8, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Aurora Cannabis today announced that Miguel Martin has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Martin, a 25-year consumer packaged goods industry veteran who joined Aurora in July 2020 as chief commercial officer, was previously CEO of Reliva.

Michael Singer, who has served as interim CEO since February 2020, has stepped down from his temporary role and will remain executive chairman.

"In his short time at Aurora, Miguel has demonstrated decisive leadership," Singer noted in the press release about the appointment. "Miguel is a highly experienced executive with an exceptional track record of performance in a number of consumer products categories. After an extensive search which included evaluation of many highly-respected candidates, Miguel stood apart with both strong commercial and cannabinoid sector expertise, as well as his passion for Aurora's success."

Aurora also announced other business updates, including its expected Q4 net revenue of $70 million to $72 million, which is below the company's reported $75.5 million in Q3.

Cannabis net revenue is expected to be between $66 million and $68 million, compared to $69.6 million in Q3 2020.

"Over the last six months, Aurora has focused on building the infrastructure and capabilities necessary for a successful and diversified business," Singer said in a press release. "The first phase of our business transformation, which is now substantially complete, included the rationalization of our cost structure, reduced capital spending, and a more prudent and targeted approach to capital deployment. As a result, we now have a far more efficient asset base and infrastructure to supply our key global markets. I am delighted to now be transitioning the CEO responsibilities to Miguel, and I am confident that Aurora is in a strong position to succeed under Miguel's leadership."

sergign | Adobe Stock

Nebraska Supreme Court Takes Up Challenge to Medical Cannabis Ballot Initiative, Nevada Judge Rules State Can Proceed with Dispensary Licensing Process: Week in Review

The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments this week to determine whether a ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis can go before voters in November.

September 5, 2020

Melissa Schiller

Dispensary News Grower/Agriculture Legislation and regulation Medical Cannabis News State by State: Oklahoma State by State: Virginia State by State: Massachusetts State by State: Maine State by State: California State by State: Mississippi State by State: Nebraska State by State: Nevada State by State: Illinois

This week, the Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments to determine whether a ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis can go before voters in November after opponents challenged the secretary of state’s decision to approve the measure for the ballot. Elsewhere, in Nevada, a judge ruled that the state can proceed with its cannabis licensing process after a two-year legal battle between the state and companies that were denied dispensary licenses in December 2018.

Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.

Oklahoma: Supporters of an adult-use cannabis legalization initiative have withdrawn their petition, saying that gathering the 177,958 signatures required to get the issue before voters is unlikely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus crisis delayed the petition process for State Question 807, and by the time it advanced to the signature-gathering phase, it was already too late to qualify the measure for the 2020 ballot. Read more
Virginia: The Virginia Senate has approved legislation that would prohibit police stops based on cannabis odor in an effort to combat racial disparities in cannabis-related arrests. Senate Bill 5029 would outlaw search and seizures based on the small of cannabis alone, and now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration. Read more
Massachusetts: The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has voted to expand cannabis delivery in the state. Among the approved changes to the delivery license model, the CCC unanimously voted to divide the delivery licenses into two categories, which sets the stage for a courier-style license and a separate delivery license that would allow for the wholesaling and warehousing of product. Read more
Maine: Portland has received 38 applications for 20 available cannabis dispensary licenses, and after a recent court ruling declared the city’s scoring matrix unconstitutional, it is unclear how officials will decide who ultimately gets the licenses. Applicants had an Aug. 31 deadline to submit applications to operate medical and adult-use dispensaries within the city; four applicants are seeking medical cannabis retail licenses, while the rest would operate in the adult-use market, which is expected to launch Oct. 9. Read more
California: Since mid-August, wildfires have burned through more than 1 million acres of California land, another echo of a recurring environmental catastrophe in a state that more than 5,000 licensed cannabis growers call home. We spoke with Kaela Peterson, who’s family runs Sweet Creek Farm in the hills above Santa Rosa, about her experience and her tips for growers hoping to guard against the oppressive force of wildfire. Read more
A new lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that Los Angeles created new issues and inequities when it amended its cannabis regulations as part of a separate legal settlement earlier this summer. Three companies that share the same founder and that applied for cannabis dispensary licenses in the city—ARMLA One Inc., ARMLA Two Inc. and Gompers SocEq, Inc—filed the lawsuit Aug. 31, claiming that changes to the original rules favored certain social equity applicants over others. Read more
Mississippi: California-based FM3 Research recently conducted a survey in Mississippi that revealed that 81% of the state’s voters support medical cannabis legalization. Mississippi voters will have the chance to vote on two competing medical cannabis measures on the November ballot after Mississippians for Compassionate Care succeeded in qualifying Initiative 65 for the ballot this summer and state legislators have introduced a competing measure, Alternative 65A. Read more
Nebraska: The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments this week to determine whether a ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis can go before voters this November. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen approved the measure for the state’s ballot Aug. 28, but that same day, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner challenged the measure, arguing that it violates state rules that mandate that ballot initiatives must focus on a single question. Read more
Nevada: Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez ruled this week that Nevada can proceed with its cannabis licensing process after a two-year battle between the state and companies that were denied dispensary licenses in December 2018. The decision will allow some new retailers to open and some applications to be reviewed again by state officials, but some companies will still be denied licenses, and Gonzalez said she expects her ruling to be appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court. Read more
Illinois: Regulators announced this week that the long-delayed next round of cannabis dispensary licenses will be awarded later this month, when 21 social equity applicants will be included in a lottery to win the 75 licenses. Some of the applicants that qualified for the lottery share the same owners, and the system has drawn some criticism from those who have been denied access to the lottery. Read more

1. CHECK OUT THE EDUCATION SCHEDULE EARLY

Legislative Map