Flower was the most-reported product amongst purposeful cannabis consumers, according to a report from New Frontier Data.

The report, “Cannabis Consumers in America: Part 2: The Purposeful Consumer,” was researched in partnership with Jointly, and examines who is consuming cannabis, which products they consume, when and where they consume, as well as why.

What and Who?

Flower (60%) led the way on product consumption while vapes (24%), dabs (8%) and edibles (6%) proved less popular. Tinctures (0.9%), topicals (0.4%) and drinks (0.3%) all registered below 1% in reported consumption.

Those figures are also similar by gender: flower consumption was reported by 62% of males and 60% of females. Consumption of vapes (25% male, 24% female), dabs (8% for both male and female), and edibles (7% male, 5% female) were also similar.

Flower consumption also remained steady amongst all age demographics, and was most-reported amongst the 58-76 age group at 64%. Meanwhile, 60% of the 42-57 age group reported flower consumption, 62% for the 26-41 demographic, and 60% amongst the under 26 crowd.

Vapes, in contrast, were most popular amongst Gen Z, with 27% of that demographic reporting vape consumption. Only 18% of the 58-76 demographic reported vape consumption, while both the 26-41 and 42-57 demos were at 22%.

Dabs were also more popular amongst younger consumers than older. A leading 9% of the under 26 demographic reported dab consumption, compared to 7% for 26-41, 5% for 42-57, and 2% for 58-76.

Inversely, edibles were more popular amongst older demographics than younger. A leading 12% of the 58-76 crowd reported edible consumption and 11% for 42-57 ages. The 26-41 demographic reported 7% while under 26% was at 4%.

Amongst tinctures, topicals and drinks, the only notable percentage was 3% of the 58-76 demographic consuming tinctures; every other age group and product registered 1.5% or below.

Consuming With Who, When and Where?

Evening (23%) and before bed (19%), perhaps unsurprisingly, were the most reported cannabis consumption times. Early morning (17%), however, was the next most commonly reported consumption time. Late morning (9%) was the least reported, while early afternoon (16%) and late afternoon (15%) were similar.

While those trends were comparable amongst most age demographics, one contrast stood out: 22% of the under 26 demographic reported cannabis consumption before bed, compared to just 8% for the 58-76 age group. The 26-41 (18%) and 42-57 demographics (13%) were between.

Consumers were alone for half (50%) of reported consumption sessions, according to the report. Meanwhile, 22% reported consuming with their significant other, 15% with friends, 10% with family, 1.9% with co-workers, 1% with kids, and 0.4% with strangers.

More than three-quarters (79%) of cannabis consumption occurs at home, according to the report. Of that 79%, 64% is inside at home while 15% is outside at home. Five percent reported consuming at work while 3% reported in nature; 6% reported combination while 5% said other.

Consuming Why?

Among consumer goals of consumption, relax and refresh (29%) was the most reported reasoning.

Relieve stress (22%) was the next most reported, while improve sleep (10%), ease pain (9%), enjoy socializing (8%), focus and create (6%), and energize and uplift (5%) were all comparable. The other goals of consumption were recover from exercise (3%), stimulate appetite (3%), enhance intimacy (2%) and replace other substances (1.3%).

This report compiled data collected since 2020 from 80,000 cannabis consumers across more than 200,000 experiences, according to New Frontier Data. More data and key takeaways from the report can be found here.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) announced six retailers and two micro-cultivators selected in the general lottery who can move forward in the licensure process.

The retailers selected are Debbie’s Dispensary, Shangri-La CT Inc., SHANGRI-LA CT INC., Hydra East, SLAP ASH, and Sara’s Dispensary LLC. Debbie’s Dispensary was also one of the two selected micro-cultivators along with Chillax LLC.

The general lottery included all general lottery applicants and all applicants who were not selected in the first round of the Social Equity Lottery, which took place in August. The Social Equity Council approved six retailers, two micro-cultivators, and three Equity Joint Venture applicants in the first round, Cannabis Business Times reported.

RELATED: Connecticut Progresses With Review Of Select Social Equity Applications

The next steps for general lottery applicants include submitting “information for the required background check and provisional license application, which will be reviewed by DCP,” according to a press release.

Approved applicants will then be required to pay licensure fees based on their application type. Licensure fees for non-social equity applicants and social equity applicants can be found here.

To the dismay of the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners, an adult-use cannabis ballot measure’s title is not misleading, and the question will be decided by voters this November, the state Supreme Court ruled Sept. 22.

That ruling also came as a defeat to Save Arkansas From Epidemic (SAVE) and Safe and Secure Communities, which forced their way into the lawsuit after filing motions to intervene in an attempt to keep the legalization measure off the ballot. The filing by SAVE included an affidavit from Kevin Sabet, the co-founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a notorious prohibitionist group.

In a split decision by the Supreme Court, the majority opinion ruled that the ballot title for Responsible Growth Arkansas’ proposed constitutional amendment properly informs voters and is sufficient for inclusion on the Nov. 8 ballot.

“We conclude that the ballot title at issue is complete enough to convey an intelligible idea of the scope and import of the proposed amendment,” Justice Robin Wynne wrote in the majority opinion. “Therefore, respondents and intervenors have not met their burden of proving that the ballot title is insufficient. The people will decide whether to approve the proposed amendment in November.”

The legal battle, in part, stemmed from the ballot referendum’s aim to repeal the THC dosage limit—specifically in food and beverage products containing cannabis—under Arkansas Amendment 98, the medical cannabis ballot measure that voters passed with a 53.2% majority in the 2016 election.

RELATED: Arkansas Cannabis Advocates File Supreme Court Brief, Argue Ballot Title Sufficient

In a Sept. 2 reply brief filed by Responsible Growth attorneys from Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLC, the legalization proponents argued that the referendum’s title specifically informs voters that the ballot question aims to repeal that section from Amendment 98 that places a 10-milligram limit on THC in infused edible and beverage products.

In that brief, the attorneys wrote, “Referring to existing law provides substantial information to voters. This court has held that ‘every person is presumed to know the law.’ Voters therefore presumptively know the existing law referenced in the ballot title.”

The Supreme Court’s majority agreed in this week’s opinion, reaffirming that the court has repeatedly stated in previous decisions that a ballot title “need not” summarize existing law.

“We are not convinced that specific details about the repeal of THC dosage limits in a category of marijuana-containing products is ‘so significant and material that it would give the voter serious ground for reflection,’” Wynne wrote. “Repeal of dosage limits is not a fundamental provision of the proposed amendment such that failing to describe it renders the ballot title insufficient.”

In addition, election officials and intervenors argued the ballot title didn’t sufficiently explain child-resistant packaging and restrictions on advertising; the effects of the proposed amendment on the industrial hemp industry; the creation of tier one and tier two cultivation licenses; and the definition of an adult as a 21-year-old as it pertains to “adult-use” cannabis.

The Supreme Court’s majority dismissed those arguments too, ordering that the 2022 adult-use cannabis measure appear on the ballot and be counted.

“The ultimate issue is whether the voter, while inside the voting booth, is able to reach an intelligent and informed decision for or against the proposal and understands the consequences of his or her vote based on the ballot title,” Wynne wrote. “It is not our purpose to examine the relative merit or fault of the proposed changes in the law; rather, our function is merely to review the measure to ensure that, if it is presented to the people for consideration in a popular vote, it is presented fairly.”

The Supreme Court’s decision comes after Responsible Growth Arkansas organizers submitted 190,000-plus signatures July 8—more than double the required 89,151 valid signatures necessary to land on the ballot. Secretary of State John Thurston certified the signatures on July 29 for the ballot, but then the state Board of Election Commissioners (chaired by Thurston) rejected the measure (as misleading in its title) on Aug. 3.

Responsible Growth advocates filed a lawsuit Aug. 4 in the state’s Supreme Court to challenge the board’s decision.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Supreme Court that they agreed with us and felt like it was a complete validation of everything we’ve done,” Steve Lancaster, an attorney for Responsible Growth Arkansas, said in a public statement Sept. 22. “We’re excited and moving on to November.”

Included in the nuts and bolts of the group’s ballot proposal, the measure aims to:

• legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older;
• establish a licensed program for commercial cultivation and retail;
• authorize the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Division to regulate the industry; and
• levy a 10% “supplemental sales” tax at retail with 70% of revenue going to the state’s general fund.

Existing medical operators would be grandfathered into the expanded adult market, while an additional 12 cultivation and 40 retail licenses would be awarded through a lottery. But existing medical operators would be given a leg up in the new market.

Under the ballot proposal, each medical operator would be able to double its existing retail footprint (but no more than 18 adult-use dispensaries per ownership) while new market entrants could not open a dispensary within 5 miles of those preestablished retailers. In addition, new market entrants in cultivation would be limited to growing no more than 250 mature cannabis plants at any one time.

Taking aim at the absence of a home cultivation provision, Arkansas NORML Treasurer Melissa Fults opposes the Responsible Growth measure on the heels of a 2020 initiative that she helped lead falling short on a signature gathering attempt more than two years ago.

Responsible Growth’s 2022 ballot measure also omits a provision to expunge criminal records. Within the filed initiative, there is no mention of expungement, social equity, restorative justice or individuals disproportionately impacted by prohibition.

CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Notiphy, a cloud-based work execution and intelligence software for the cannabis and manufacturing sectors, announced two key leadership appointments. Notiphy has added Laurie Parfitt as Chief Marketing Officer and Kerry Jordan as a member of the board of directors. These appointments strengthen Notiphy's focused leadership approach and position the company for continued long-term growth.

"I am excited to announce our new senior leadership appointments, which strengthen our leadership team and enable us to drive growth forward for our business," said Robert Wise, Notiphy CEO. "These exceptional leaders share an unparalleled passion for cannabis, and each of them brings an impeccable track record within the industry. I know that Laurie and Kerry will make significant contributions to our company and culture."

Notiphy Chief Marketing Officer – Laurie Parfitt

Laurie Parfitt is an accomplished executive, leader, and coach who inspires companies with her vision for what's possible and her ability to execute and drive results. She has over two decades of driving innovation and execution across multiple functional areas within companies from start-up to Fortune 500. Parfitt has honed her skills at organizations such as Kraft Foods, Beam Suntory, Topco Associates, Mizkan, and Mission Dispensaries. Since her time at 4Front/Mission Dispensaries, Parfitt has worked with cannabis and consumer products companies on marketing leadership, brand strategy/design, consumer insights and commercial go-to-market strategy. Parfitt's background includes experience in large-scale, integrated cross-channel marketing and experience campaigns, including a background in traditional marketing, category development and sales strategy in an omni-channel environment. Parfitt served as the Vice President of Customer Engagement and Marketing for 4Front/Mission Dispensaries, which owned 10 retail locations in six states. In that role, she oversaw consumer experience and marketing/brand strategies for the booming cannabis dispensary operator, as well as developed the concept of joint business planning, which includes strategic sourcing, assortment optimization and activation. Laurie holds a bachelor of science degree in Merchandising Management from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.

Notiphy Board Director - Kerry Jordan

Kerry Jordan is the co-founder of Supercritical, LLC, a Chicago-based cannabis consultancy. Her 30-year career spans from the early days of electronic trading at Nasdaq, to derivatives structuring at Bank of America in the dot-com era, to leadership roles in alternative investments. Prior to co-founding Supercritical, Jordan was the chief operating officer of D'Orazio Capital Partners, a Chicago-based family office focused on private equity and venture capital investments in small and middle-market companies. Prior to DCP, she was the director of development at RMB Capital Management. In that role, Jordan managed client development, fund acquisition, and capital raising for its hedge fund division. Prior to RMB, she served as head of development and chief compliance officer for Chicago Capital Management L.P., a risk arbitrage hedge fund. Jordan holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Massachusetts and a master of science in finance degree from the George Washington University. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Jordan is a former board member of the CFA Society Chicago, the International Women's Forum, and Truly Green Plastic, Inc. In addition to Notiphy, Jordan serves on the boards of Janelle Beauty, Inc. and FIN Compliance, Inc.