As we close another great year of cannabis features and b2b journalism at Cannabis Business Times, we wanted to take a look back at some of our favorite stories this year. Earlier this week, we ran the top-10 most read stories, according to pure web traffic and audience engagement. Now, the editors of CBT reflect on what they liked best this year.
At Dawn He Sleeps—Cover Story, August 2018
This was a fun story to report on and write for a litany of reasons: David Bonvillain is one of the hardest working individuals in the cannabis industry, his drive to innovate and stay ahead of consumer wants make the work he’s doing that much more exciting, and the story itself examines how you can set up a cannabis business that requires less direct oversight by ownership. It’s a must-read for any cannabis business owner looking for a light at the end of the tunnel of work and those looking to discover what it takes to make it in this industry.
Going Maine-Stream—Cover Story, September 2018
Meowy Jane’s Noelle Livas and Jar Cannabis Co.’s Erika Morrotta are noteworthy for a number of reasons: For one, their companies are both well-positioned to make moves in Maine’s newly adult-use market. But also, their friendship and willingness to share cultivation expertise with one another—even given that they’re close competitors—is an example of how cannabis education is truly the rising tide that raises all ships in this industry.
Black Label Images
The Golden State Rules—Cover Story, April 2018
As the roll-out of California’s combined medical and adult-use cannabis regulations grew increasingly fraught with public concern, we took the opportunity to run a conceptual cover story for the first time (rather than a personality- or business-driven feature). The resulting story was a deep look at how California lawmakers and regulators had designed the framework for a post-Prop. 64 industry landscape, and what issues business owners should keep on their radar for the months to come. The picture was not always optimistic. Along the way, farmers on both ends of the small-large scale offered their opinions on where the massive state cannabis industry was headed.
Scanrail | Adobe Stock
Buyers Beware—Highlights, April 2018
After picking up anecdotes about unscrupulous manufacturers selling untested and potentially unsafe extraction equipment to unwitting cannabis companies, we took a closer look at what business owners need to know to keep their company, and employees, safe. This story was a great, enlightening example of industry chatter turning into a broader conversation about the potential ills that await uninformed business owners.
Rethinking Strain Names—Guest Column, March 2018
This was a guest column that CBT picked up from our other GIE Media-owned publication, Cannabis Dispensary. Written by Andrea Sparr-Jaswa, co-director of education and outreach at Farma in Portland, Ore., this column gets into the debate over how to present cannabis chemistry to the general consumer. The sativa/indica dichotomy has gotten the industry only so far; what shortcomings can a more informed categorization method overcome? Learning to analyze, interpret and intelligently discuss this botanical powerhouse will help ensure better experiences for longtime users and newcomers alike,” Sparr-Jaswa writes.
