WALNUT CREEK, CA – December 2019 – PRESS RELEASE – Payroll Systems, LLC has announced the release of an advanced payroll automation solution for the cannabis industry. Since cannabis is not yet legal at the federal level, many financial service companies have declined to work with the cannabis industry. Payroll Systems’ compliance expertise and relationships with cannabis friendly banks and financial institutions allows for an open payroll processing solution, including safe ACH transactions (direct deposit for employees) and electronic tax payments to all states, municipalities and the IRS.

Many payroll companies and financial service providers have abruptly stopped providing services for cannabis related businesses due to the lack of a formal compliance program and lack of knowledge surrounding compliance issues. Various regulatory bodies such as FinCEN and the Department of Treasury require payroll service companies to adhere to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulations, similar to the regulations that are imposed upon banks. Payroll Systems’ compliance program ensures that cannabis clients can receive transparent and uninterrupted services without fear of termination because of their industry type.

“The cannabis industry faces unique challenges in finding a payroll solution,” says Tony Bowden, CEO of Payroll Systems, LLC. “Our internal compliance department and relationships with financial service providers sets us apart. This is coupled with our 30 years of experience in the payroll industry, tenured and experienced staff, and advanced technology. We are able to provide the best solution to the cannabis industry for the long term.”

Services include employee direct deposit, employer electronic payroll tax payments, integrated time and attendance systems, employee on-boarding, employee self-service, workers comp solutions, 401k solutions, HR services, Cobra administration, administration of employee benefit programs including FSA, HSA, and Transit plans, and ACA reporting.

Vancouver BC, Canada - December 12, 2019 - PRESS RELEASE - Argus Control Systems Ltd., based in Surrey BC, Canada, and urban-gro, Inc., based in Lafayette, Colo., USA, have announced the renewal of a multi-year strategic agreement to provide cannabis cultivators in North America with industry-leading, plant-centric solutions for environmental control, automation and nutrient management.

Having already worked together on over 50 projects, the extended agreement continues to demonstrate both companies’ commitment to client success through early and ongoing collaboration with cannabis cultivators throughout their project lifecycles. “urban-gro is well-recognized in the cannabis market for its design and integration of best-in-class technologies and equipment for cultivation,” said Michael Heaven, Vice President and General Manager of Argus Controls. “By working closely with urban-gro on these projects - from initial scoping and design, right through manufacturing, installation, commissioning and long-term service and support, we are able to deliver the best possible solution and ensure client success.” 

Heaven continued, “Our clients are at the center of our strategic agreement with urban-gro.  Argus Controls is investing in resources that will directly support projects with urban-gro and ease the transition from installation to operation for our clients. Further, we are increasing training of our broader reseller network so that we can provide enhanced regional support for our projects with urban-gro.”

Bradley Nattrass, urban-gro’s co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer, commented on the strategic agreement between the two companies, “Our objective is to be the industry’s leading provider of engineering design services and integrator of complex environmental equipment systems for indoor cannabis cultivation facilities. As such, we are excited to grow our relationship with Argus Controls and offer the controls system solutions that best meets the needs of our clients in North America."

SACRAMENTO – PRESS RELEASE – The Bureau of Cannabis Control and the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Cannabis Enforcement Unit (DOI-CEU) have announced a series of enforcement actions against illegal cannabis retailers operating in Los Angeles.

Search warrants were served on 24 unlicensed locations over a three-day period from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12 and resulted in the seizing of $8.8 million in cannabis and cannabis products. Enforcement staff also confiscated 9,885 illegal vape pens and $128,742 in cash.

“This week’s collaborative enforcement efforts were a huge success,” said Bureau Chief Lori Ajax. “We look forward to working with local jurisdictions and law enforcement as we continue to shut down unlicensed operators in the illicit cannabis market.”

All commercial cannabis activity in California must be conducted on a premises with a valid license issued by the appropriate state cannabis licensing authority. Manufacturing, distributing or selling cannabis goods without a state license or at a location that is not licensed is a violation of state law. To file a complaint regarding illegal activity, click here.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, Dec. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- PRESS RELEASE -- Veritas Farms, Inc., a vertically integrated agribusiness focused on the production of full spectrum hemp oil products with naturally occurring cannabinoids, has announced that it has signed a lease for a 34,000-square-foot product production and distribution facility in Aurora, Colo.

The new facility is located inside the Majestic Commercenter, a 1,500-acre master planned business park located just five miles from Denver International Airport, and will be used for production, warehousing, ecommerce fulfillment and commercial distribution of Veritas Farms' ingestible and topical product lines. The facility will also house additional office and meeting space for the company.

“This new facility represents an important part of our overall growth strategy moving into 2020,” explained Veritas Farms CEO Alexander Salgado. “When we move in, we will be joining the likes of Amazon, Crate and Barrel, Airbus and other leading corporations in the business park, and the site’s convenient location near the Denver International Airport makes it an important step in the continuation of our overall growth strategy, which focuses on expanding our vertically integrated operations to meet rapidly rising consumer demand.”

Veritas Farms will begin buildout work on the property as soon as possible and hopes to move into the new facility by the end of First Quarter 2020. The expansion of operations follows aggressive customer acquisition campaigns undertaken by the company, which management believes will support increasing sales during 2020.