Women in Cannabis Tech: Mowing Down the Grass STEM Ceiling

Women in Cannabis Tech: Mowing Down the Grass STEM Ceiling by Sponsored

The national average of women with executive level business positions is just shy of 30%, but in the cannabis industry that statistic stands at only 22%, according to a 2021 MJBizDaily report.

Unfortunately, that number only represents the executive level. When you look at the rank and file, it is pretty clear the industry’s reputation as a bro-fest is embarrassingly well deserved. 

Now consider being a woman in cannabis working outside the C-suite in a technology role. The odds of encountering another woman on the job are dramatically low.

Women comprise only about 28% of the entire science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce across all industries. Consequently, women working in cannabis tech often face a double whammy: our chosen field and our chosen industry are both notorious for lacking gender diversity. As a result, we are likely to be the lone female voice no matter where we work.

Does this mean the industry isn’t for women? Absolutely not! However, it does pose the challenge of learning how to adeptly sidestep some antiquated attitudes.

Pioneering the Field

Working as a team as a sales consultant and field service technician, our job is to help customers install their new Green Mill Supercritical extraction system, as well as train the team that will be overseeing and managing the extraction process.

There’s almost always a look of surprise when two women show up to perform the installation and training. It sometimes feels like people are waiting for “the guys” to follow behind us, carrying the heavy equipment and machinery needed for the installation. Then there is often another look of surprise when they see us hauling the machinery ourselves. 

So what’s a woman to do in the cannabis tech space? It’s helpful to connect with other women in cannabis if you can. The two of us were lucky in that we found each other right away, and recognized immediately how unique it was to have women in these roles in cannabis.

We have both worked a lot in male-dominated occupations, so we’re used to feeling a bit isolated. However, working with other women and gaining the trust of our customers has been an incredible experience. It does feel a bit like we are pioneers in a way, and it’s always a pleasant surprise when we find other pioneers out there. 

On a recent job working with Alaska’s Herban Extracts, we were delighted to discover an entire team of female cannabis entrepreneurs.

Lisa Coates, who co-owns this CO₂ extraction company in Kenai with her husband, Buddy Crowder, has created a cannabis team composed entirely of women. We knew their extraction technician was a woman, and that their operator was also a woman. So when we discovered everyone else was also female, we were very excited to make the trip. 

Coates said she did not create Herban Extracts’ all-female team by design. It just sort of evolved over time. But she admits she loves working with women in the cannabis industry, who she says “just have their act together.”

With an impressive and growing list of awards and accolades for their products, the team is proof that women, technology, and cannabis do indeed make a winning combination.

The usual one-day installation and training became three days of collaboration and community. We had never met the team, but there was a quick connection, and the camaraderie we felt made for a really great, comfortable experience. In time, we believe these encounters will become more and more commonplace, as women continue to enter the industry and more young women seek out a STEM education path.

Changing the Statistics

It won’t happen overnight, or without a great deal of persistence.

As an example, take a look at how quickly things can change. In 2019, an MJBizDaily survey showed that a whopping 37% of executive-level cannabis positions were held by women. At the time, this was the highest percentage of any industry. But as noted earlier, that number dropped considerably to just 22% by 2021.

According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, young girls are systematically steered away from science and math education, which helps explain the absence of women in the workforce of STEM industries. This gender gap occurs at increasing rates in the fastest-growing industries of the future, including the cannabis sector. 

Until we bridge the gender gap, women in cannabis tech must find each other, support each other, learn from each other and encourage other young women to enter the space.

In the meantime, when you’re doing your job like a boss, and someone asks to see the “dude in charge,” do your best to answer politely. As we work together to expand roles for women in cannabis tech, eventually those questions will stop. The opportunities are there for those ladies with the brains and boldness to take the reins. 

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Technology Systems in the Cannabis Industry

Technology Systems in the Cannabis Industry by Culta

Conversations about the evolution of the cannabis industry often focus on year-over-year industry growth, innovative new products, and the growth of the legal adult-use market, but technology is often a leading driver of change.

This is especially true at cannabis farms and cultivation facilities, like CULTA’s. In an effort to continue the conversation around technology in the cannabis industry and shed some light on how it’s being leveraged by cultivators, we’ll discuss a few of the most important pieces of technology we use at our own farm in Cambridge, Maryland.

But first, a little bit about CULTA and our farm. Established in 2015, we’re a Maryland-based vertically integrated cannabis company with partners that include Cookies and Grass. We have both an outdoor and an indoor cultivation facility and we were the first organically managed outdoor farm in Maryland to be certified by Clean Green Certified.

In 2021, we launched the state’s first cannabis tissue culture lab and have aggressive goals to improve our sustainability efforts. Now, let’s talk tech!

Fertigation & Building Management System

Although indoor growing allows cultivators to produce cannabis year-round and in a fully controlled and clean environment, there are a lot of moving parts to manage.

That’s why we use a fertigation and building management system that’s designed specifically for indoor operations. Not only does it help us deliver the exact nutrient recipes to our grow rooms multiple times a day with amazing precision, but it also monitors and controls environmental factors like temperature, humidity, CO2, and light intensity.

We use Priva, which provides insight into our processes and crops and allows us to view in-depth graphs of our rooms, helping us make better data-driven decisions.

LED Lighting

At CULTA, we have aggressive goals to reduce our carbon footprint.

One of the first improvements we made to reach that goal was to upgrade our lighting to LED. Not only does being able to control our lighting enable us to enrich our plants’ cannabinoid, terpene, and flavonoid profiles (which makes our medical patients happy!), but it also helps us achieve dramatic savings in our operating costs. Plus, they’re a much better option for the environment.

When seeking an LED lighting supplier, it was important to us that they specialize in lighting for commercial cannabis cultivators, which is why we chose Fluence.

Ozone Generator

Healthy cannabis plants start with clean water, which is why we invested in a state-of-the-art ozone generation system for our crops. This system destroys any pathogens that may be in our water so our plants are only drinking the cleanest water possible.

The dissolved oxygen helps keep root zones clean, healthy, and pathogen-free. As an added bonus, it also helps keep our irrigation lines clean and sanitized which, over time, also cuts down on our maintenance and repair costs.

We use the DRAMM water ozone system, which is engineered for greater efficiency and safety.

Environmental Monitoring System

In addition to the Priva system, we also use an EarthScout environmental monitoring system.

We use this system to develop irrigation, lighting, and environmental strategies that are specific to each individual strain. Yes, you read that right — we use this system to create “recipes” for each and every strain we grow.

The system uses multiple sensors to monitor soil moisture, temperature, salinity, air temperature, and humidity, among other environmental factors. We just started using this system so we don’t have any data to share but we do hope it will help us cut our irrigation and nutrient costs by at least 50%.

Cannabis Tech is Constantly Changing

The best thing about cannabis technology is that it’s constantly changing. New, innovative products are always being released month after month, and for each groundbreaking product, there are ten more that have come and gone without much fanfare, making it difficult to decipher what the future will hold.

While it’s impossible to predict what the next big technological advancement will be, one thing is for certain: it’s coming and it will change how we all do business.

“It is incredible to see how quickly the cannabis industry has embraced technological growth, and it is very exciting to think about the advancements that are just around the corner that could potentially change the industry forever,” Senior Director of Cultivation Jay Bouton said.

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Building Pre-Rolls Into Your SKUs: What to Know Before Your Brand Starts Producing Pre-Rolls

Building Pre-Rolls Into Your SKUs: What to Know Before Your Brand Starts Producing Pre-Rolls by Ebby Stone

Building a brand is about strategy. With a dazzling array of SKUs available, knowing where to direct one’s focus is crucial. Offering a pre-roll line is fairly inexpensive and a convenient form of consumption for users. 

Dope Automation Chief Operations Officer Jessica Jaeger offered a key consideration for moving into pre-rolls. 

“The question that should always be asked first is what the expected consumer experience will look like for your brand,” said Jaeger. “This single question is the driver to achieving a strong, efficient, and optimized pre-roll manufacturing program.” 

Once the operator has a vision in mind for the customer journey, it’s time to consider the other factors for pre-roll success.

Cone Size

Pre-rolls are usually available in sizes ranging from a half gram to a full gram. “The paper size is the most critical as this will determine the pre-roll appearance,” Jaeger said. Will this be a luxury item; are you selling in a pack; what size cone will be used? The answers to these questions will dictate the cost of production and the cost to the consumer. 

Paper Type

There are two different types of pre-rolls: cones or tubes. Cones are larger at the top and taper down to the filter. Tubes are cigarette-shaped with a consistent width from top to bottom. Cones tend to be easier to load with most manufacturing equipment. 

There are several types of paper available. Each will have a unique appearance impacting brand design. Paper options include: hemp, flax, rice, refined white, unrefined brown, cotton cellulose, or palm leaf. Each type of paper burns at a different speed and has its own flavor profile. 

Equipment

An equipment provider can offer guidance and help choose the right machines for your brand. 

“The most important answer that any company should be looking for when vetting an equipment supplier is ‘What kind of after-sale support will this equipment supplier provide?’” said Jaeger. 

Successful supply partnerships start with a staff that understands market restrictions and compliance regulations. A knowledgeable staff, Jaeger said, “allows for educated purchasing and supports building a foundation designed for future expansion.”

Grinding Machines

Material must be milled into a consistent particle size. An operator may choose a low-, mid-, or high-volume mill. Low volume milling could be as basic as using a food processor. High-volume milling may require industrial solutions. Industrial machines also tend to offer more consistent particle size. 

Cone-Filling Machines

Cone-filling machines range in price, quality, level of automation, and scalability. Many use vibration to sift the ground material into openings that feed into pre-roll tubes or cones. These “benchtop” machines are sufficient to enter the pre-roll market. They also give most programs “the ability to establish and grow the segment before moving into the larger capital expenditures of operating with complete automation,” Jaeger said.

Packaging

Packaging is an important brand decision with options ranging from bags to tubes. Regulations typically require containers to be child-resistant. Tubes are customizable and available in many colors and transparencies. Cost and scalability should be considered.

Final Considerations

This article offers a brief summary — an equipment provider could offer more depth. “The right partner will not simply look to sell you a piece of machinery. The right partner will look to help build the success of your brand,” Jaeger said.

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How to Market Your Brand as a Cannabis Authority

How to Market Your Brand as a Cannabis Authority by Miles Oliver

It’s an exciting and fascinating time to build a business in the cannabis industry.

Changes in legislation are opening up new avenues to reach consumers. The public is becoming more mature and discerning about their relationship with the product.

According to some analysts, the global cannabis market is expected to exhibit growth of 32% between 2021 and 2028. As such, building your brand now can see you capturing a significant amount of consumer attention.

Part of the issue with a booming industry is a lot of entrepreneurs are keen to engage. Competition certainly isn’t a bad thing. But it does mean you need to work harder to reach your audience and maintain your growth.

One effective way of approaching this is to market your brand as a clear expert in this thriving but underexplored sector.

This isn’t always easy to achieve, particularly with a product as dependent on tastes and trends as cannabis. So, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can approach marketing your company as an authority.

Leverage Your Professionalism

One of the most important components of the cannabis industry today is the continued need to legitimize it. In many ways, you’re battling against historical biases built on inaccurate perceptions. As such, it’s important to present high levels of professionalism and customer care as primary elements of your brand identity.

This doesn’t mean your company needs to be bland or even overly serious. But you do need to be able to demonstrate that your consumers can trust you to deliver the best quality cannabis products safely.

Alongside creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere, you need to make sure images and videos of your premises show it is clean, well-maintained, and accessible. Ensure your website is easily navigable and that members of staff are on hand to provide clear and unbiased advice.

Behind-the-scenes looks into your operation can be key in this regard. Produce content in which you discuss the botanical sciences behind your cultivation procedures.

Show images and videos of the safety components involved with your growing operation. Highlight what steps your company takes to make improvements in your product and what considerations go into your quality control procedures.

Promote Health and Wellbeing

There’s nothing wrong with demonstrating the recreational uses of cannabis. Much like any other consumable or gourmet product, there are a variety of ways your customers can engage with cannabis simply for their enjoyment. However, your authority as a brand can be enhanced by showing you have a good understanding of the ways your product benefits consumers’ health and wellbeing.

You can find your authority is emphasized when you take an educational approach. Health literacy is an important tool for patients to maintain and advocate for their wellbeing. Yet, the majority of Americans struggle with it.

As a cannabis brand, you can produce literature on the various physical and mental health benefits of products in your industry. Highlight the different methods of consumption and how products like CBD oil can be incorporated into daily health practices.

You may also find it effective to offer your expertise as part of community outreach events. Get involved with health education organizations in your local area either as a sponsor or education provider.

The events you engage with don’t have to be specifically about cannabis. In fact, providing your insights as part of wider community health efforts demonstrates how it can be a tool in general wellness. The most important part is you’re positioning your brand as an advocate for public health initiatives. This can boost your authoritative reputation.

Showcase Your Expertise

Content marketing is often at its most powerful when it highlights you as an expert in your field. As such, your actions to position your brand as an authority can benefit from making smart content choices. You need to showcase your valuable insights into the various aspects of your product.

Your website should include a blog that provides in-depth discussions related to your business.

It can be wise to have members of your staff from different areas of your operation to write articles about their specialist subject. This could include your technicians discussing how light impacts the chemical profile of your plants.

You can involve your sales staff in producing reviews and recommendations. Even your compliance manager may be able to offer fascinating insights into the development of industry legislation.

Wherever possible, you should go multimedia with your content. This exposes your expertise to a wider audience. Podcasts remain a popular approach to long-form discussions.

Team up with other experts in your field to capitalize on one another’s positions of authority. Ethnobotanists can help you discuss the role of plant medicines in society. Therapists can talk about how cannabis is increasingly featured in mental health care.

Post all of these materials regularly on your social media channels. This ensures your audience is drawn to prove that your brand is an authority in your field.

Conclusion

The cannabis industry is undergoing rapid growth. Marketing your brand as an authority in your field can help you maintain a competitive edge and cultivate a solid reputation.

Make certain you lean into the image of your company as a highly professional contributor to the industry. While recreational use is great, highlighting the wellness benefits shows you have an understanding of how cannabis can improve lives.

Importantly, make sure you use content marketing in a way that best showcases your company’s expertise on the subject. This is a fascinating and enriching sector to be an entrepreneur in; it’s worth taking the time to push your brand to the forefront.

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Mike Tyson Teams Up with WWE Champion on New Cannabis Line

Mike Tyson Teams Up with WWE Champion on New Cannabis Line by Aron Vaughan

Boxer, entrepreneur, and cannabis advocate Mike Tyson has announced his newly launched cannabis company, Tyson 2.0, will acquire a majority stake in Ric Flair Drip, Inc.

Heavyweight Matchup

Ric Flair, popularly known as “Nature Boy,”  is a 16 time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. The strategic alliance between the two heavyweights furthers Tyson’s house of brands strategy and establishes the company as a leading celebrity cannabis brand powerhouse. 

Tyson 2.0’s acquisition of the company allows the brand to assume control of Ric Flair’s trademarks and intellectual properties to launch cannabis flower and edible products under the Ric Flair brand name in the near future.  

“Thanks to Mike Tyson and Tyson 2.0, I’ve become a true cannabis advocate and enthusiast,” said Flair. “I am thrilled to partner with a long-time friend and fellow warrior whom I greatly admire and respect.”

Burgeoning Brand

Since its launch in October 2021, Tyson 2.0 continues to execute its nationwide growth strategy bringing cannabis products to consumers and fans nationwide. Through licensing, cultivation, and agreements, Tyson 2.0 products are available in dispensaries and retail locations across the states of Colorado, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Michigan with plans to expand nationally and internationally.

Tyson 2.0 was co-founded by Mike Tyson, who serves as Chief Brand Officer, and Chad Bronstein. The venture is led by CEO Adam Wilks.

“For the last fifty years, Ric has been synonymous with high impact, high energy experiences,” said Bronstein. “Similar to how we rolled out Tyson 2.0, Ric Flair cannabis products will reach nationwide distribution through our robust network of industry partners. With flower strains named after Ric’s iconic sayings like ‘limousine riding’ and ‘jet-flying’, we aim to honor Ric’s energy and share it with his fans.” 

Flair’s Legacy

Flair will be featured in the seventh episode of Peacock’s first-ever WWE original series WWE Evil which begins streaming exclusively on Peacock starting Thursday, March 24.

The eight-part docuseries, created and hosted by John Cena, is the first-ever original from WWE Studios. The show takes an unprecedented look inside the psyche of the most diabolical antagonists in WWE, unveiling rare behind-the-scenes details from some of the biggest names in the industry and their impact on mainstream culture.

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Meanwhile in Canada the Smoke is Heavy

Meanwhile in Canada, the Smoke is Heavy by Patricia Miller

A recent editorial in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, by a University of Toronto sociologist reviewed the brief history of cannabis legalization in Canada and concluded in rather unequivocal terms that by and large, we as a nation have come through legalization and are now moving on.

“Canada took a fairly restrained approach to the initial rollout of legalization, and it seems to have paid off. The sky has not fallen, use has not skyrocketed, and a steady increase in the proportion of legal sales mean public health and safety are being strengthened”, stated Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, the director of research for Cannabis Amnesty at U of T. 

According to the data, legal cannabis sales, in the form of retail and medical distribution channels, totalled $1.28B (CAD), about 1.8x illicit distribution; this is a remarkable turnaround from just three years earlier, where illicit sales were $1.2B and legal sales were just over $175 million.

The author, a faculty member at U of T, also noted that societally we did not experience any ‘Reefer Madness’ hysteria moments that were initially anticipated, if not predicted by some. Perhaps this was due to the high rates of cannabis use among the Canadian population generally, which created the groundswell support that prompted cannabis reform at the federal level in the first place.  

That is not to say that certain societal and safety concerns don’t remain. Drug-impaired (as well as alcohol and text-impaired) drivers still present a real and tangible risk to those taking to Canadian roads, and after years of successfully reversing the trends of tobacco smoking, respirologists may be faced with increasing cases of lung-related illnesses from increased cannabis use. 

Two years ago, I wrote an article about how people across the country were opening their first government-approved, and duly excise tax-paid cannabis containers only to find disappointment waiting for them inside, in the form of dry, stale, and underweight product they were about to consume.  

In the early days, cannabis products, in the form of flower, pre-rolls, and other basic consumption products were generally horrible, as much had been sitting on shelves for as long as two years prior to them being legally available.  Moreover, other derivative products such as extracts, vapes, waxes, as well as various edibles would not be sold for at least another year from when the piece was published. To paraphrase an old cigarette ad from the 70s, we’ve come a long way baby… 

As the article goes on to allude, evidence of the change in both attitude and consumption patterns has appeared in the commercial real estate market, where generally weak demand for rental space caused by business failures and closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been softened in some areas by the opening of something like 2,500 new retail cannabis outlets across the country.   

This growth has been uneven, for sure, with certain urban markets being well served and other farther flung locations still waiting for a retail outlet.  To compound the confusion, many jurisdictions and municipalities made the decision in advance to ban commercial sales of cannabis on their streets.    Based on the commercial tax intake of the areas that have accepted these new merchants, this is a decision some municipalities may regret.  

There’s no doubt that “cannabis 2.0 products” (as they were referred to at the time), more so than the pandemic, has changed both the consumption patterns and acceptability of cannabis generally in Canadian life; this was predicted by many industry experts who spoke at our last O’Cannabiz Conference in 2019. 

In the Canadian Cannabis Survey 2020, compiled by Statistics Canada, both the smoking and the eating of cannabis derivative products have increased slightly from 2019, with two-thirds of respondents reporting occasional use and more people associating the product with lower health risks over alcohol or tobacco.

The elephant in the room might be whether the Covid-19 pandemic has had any influence on cannabis consumption, in Canada or elsewhere. Based on the study, 56% reported using the same amount of cannabis, 22% reported using more and 22% reported using less, so that sounds like pretty much a wash.

In light of the progress we’ve made as a country as it relates to cannabis, there are big opportunities for those in the industry or are interested in the space. The first relates to retail distribution of cannabis. This field of enterprise has migrated quickly to mainstream distribution in commercial areas of city streets. 

Where the provincial government has taken absolute control of distribution, such as Quebec and Nova Scotia, retail success is largely guaranteed or rendered moot. In other markets, where the government controls distribution at the wholesale level, as a retailer there are few opportunities to promote one’s business, as it contains adult-use products and general media advertising is prohibited. Strategies for retail consumer success will separate the good performers from the business failures and this will be a key focus for our 2022 Conference & Expo.  

Post alcohol prohibition in Canada, the Liquor Control Act of 1927 allowed for the sale of alcoholic beverages for individual purchase, but public drinking in public settings, like pubs, taverns, restaurants, etc., was still a no-no. 

It took another seven years, before you could get a beer in a beverage room and probably another three before you could get a glass of wine with dinner, things we take for granted in permitted venues today. 

In the U.S., prohibition ended in 1933 and even to this day there are 83 dry counties in nine different states. It seems there are and will continue to be holdouts regardless of what the vice is.  What direction will Canada head? We’re still waiting for the smoke to clear. 

Cannabis tourism, travel, and hospitality is an area that is yet to gain traction here, but surely can’t be far behind. Humans are social animals, and it won’t be long before those who have historically consumed cannabis in the company of others in private locations will want to do so in public venues. Reason overtook regulation with respect to alcohol. I look forward to the next three years post-legalization here in Canada to see what changes are in store.

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Basketball Hall of Famer Launches New Line of Cannabis Products

Basketball Hall of Famer Launches New Line of Cannabis Products by Aron Vaughan

Former NBA player and 2021 Hall of Fame inductee Ben Wallace is launching a new brand of cannabis products.

The Detroit Pistons legend is naming the brand Undrafted, a reference to his unique distinction as the first undrafted player in the NBA to reach the Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Undrafted

Undrafted’s line will offer cannabis flower, pre-rolls, and vape cartridges, with future products to be announced. Wallace is partnering with Michigan-based cannabis company Rair to facilitate the rollout. Detroit-based advertising agency, Atomic Honey, represents both Rair and Ben Wallace and developed the logo and packaging design for Undrafted.

Speaking from Experience

Wallace seems the ideal candidate to form his own cannabis line, as he benefited from the plant’s anti-inflammatory effects following years of aches and pains related to injuries sustained in his 16-year professional basketball career.   

“There’s no denying that marijuana has a healing upside for athletes or anyone struggling with pain—so alongside launching the Undrafted brand, the Rair team and I will continue to push to end this stigma associated with cannabis use,” Wallace said. 

Good Friendships are Rair

Rair currently has four dispensary locations around the state—with a fifth location opening in Kalamazoo on 4/20—and is the only Michigan cannabis company to grow aeroponically. Aeroponic growing is a method of cultivating plants in an air or mist environment as opposed to in soil or an aggregate medium. The method uses fewer resources but yields faster growth, healthier plants and bigger harvests. It also drastically reduces the chance of contamination while allowing for real-time grow recipe adjustments.

“Our partnership with Rair formed so organically,” said Wallace. “I believe the marriage between our two brands automatically sets us apart from any other cannabis line out there. Rair products are of the highest quality, and I’m excited to partner with them on Undrafted, as I’m confident the brand will be nothing short of exceptional.”  

The venture will be the first time Rair has worked with an outside vendor, but CEO Kevin McFadden believes in Wallace’s approach. 

“We could not have asked for a more dedicated partner to align with on our first go around,” said McFadden. “Ben’s work ethic and commitment to excellence align with our promise to deliver the best cannabis products and experience possible to the patients and recreational customers in Michigan.”

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5 Important Considerations for Keeping a Medical Cannabis Card

5 Important Considerations for Keeping a Medical Cannabis Card by Tess DiNapoli

Renewing your medical cannabis certificate can be more stressful than it should be.

There are many problems you can face when renewing your medical cannabis card, whether the process goes quickly or takes months to finish. Hopefully, this article can help you avoid these common problems and make the renewal process run smoothly so you can continue to enjoy the use of your medical cannabis card.

1.  State Requirements

There are many state requirements in order to get a medical cannabis card. Some of these include residency, medical necessity, and an appointment with a physician, among others.

Make sure you understand all of your state’s requirements before visiting a doctor. One example of this is Arkansas’ medical marijuana act qualifying conditions. Once you have your medical cannabis card, you’ll have access to a number of different dispensaries where you can purchase various strains of cannabis for treatment purposes.

Before making any purchases at these dispensaries, make sure that they’re selling products that will be useful for your specific condition(s). If they aren’t carrying any products to treat what ails you, consider looking elsewhere to save yourself some time or money later on down the road.

2.  Updates to Personal Information

If you haven’t already registered with your state’s medical cannabis program, it may be time to do so.

However, it’s important to remember that you need to update your application as soon as possible if any of your personal information changes. For example, if you move or change your phone number, there could be delays in receiving a renewal notification. If that happens, you need to contact your state directly before your card expires.

3.  Verifying Your Eligibility

Once you’ve decided to renew your medical cannabis card, it’s important to verify that you are still eligible. Fortunately, it is quick and easy to check whether or not you can keep your certification. All you need to do is visit your doctor to obtain a certificate of verification. Make sure it’s dated and signed with an original signature stamp, as any other signature will make it invalid.

Also, make sure the doctor you go to is one you trust to be informed on cannabis, as this will make everything go more smoothly.

4.  Payment Processing

Fees are almost guaranteed to be part of the renewal process, whether it’s for the doctor’s appointment or application. Once you have paid these fees, you will have to wait for them to be processed and approved before moving on to the next step.

Depending on the system used, some payments can take several business days to go through. However, there are some options available to medical cannabis cardholders who are concerned about whether their provider will have reliable payment processing.

New technology now allows for places to take payments via mobile devices or online to speed up the process.

5.  Waiting for Approval

Once all the other steps are complete, the only thing left to do is wait. The problem of waiting for approval is one that plagues countless medical cannabis patients.

While a speedy renewal service is always the hope, most people don’t know what to do about their long wait when renewal time rolls around. Making sure you complete things early and giving yourself enough time will make waiting a bit less stressful. The only other thing you can do is be patient.

Remember: once you get approval, you will still have to wait for your new card to arrive before being able to purchase any products.

Conclusion

There are many ways you can recover from renewal problems, especially when you find yourself with limited time remaining on your medical cannabis card.

Using this advice is sure to make renewing your medical cannabis card process easier. There’s always hope for a solution, so be proactive—don’t just sit back and let things pass without trying to resolve them. Doing these things early can help save you time and stress in the long run.

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The Fine Line Between Cannabis Product Appeal and Requirements

The Fine Line Between Cannabis Product Appeal and Requirements by Gina Kranwinkel

By Gina Kranwinkel and Mark Gorman

We’re living in “high” creative times. The creativity in today’s cannabis marketing is soaring; it’s not just enough to have great marketing and a nice package for your product — your brand and product must stand out, shouting above the noise to be seen and heard. Cannabis marketers are doing that amazingly well. 

Packaging & Labeling: Compliance Components

However, creativity and branding aside, there are myriad compliance components that must be adhered to in packaging and labeling your product — with some of the most critical being that the product is light-resistant to what’s visibly inside, and child-resistant; the latter includes the requirement that it not be easy for a child five or under to open, while also not being appealing to children (a subjective concept that must be handled with the utmost care — especially with edibles).

Your local and state government requirements may or may not go even deeper into what is important and required, so it’s crucial that cannabis product marketers know and follow what’s required. 

The first National Association of Cannabis Businesses’ national standard was Cannabis Safety: Packaging and Labeling. The standard’s goal is to be as all-encompassing as possible, which may feel onerous to marketers who want to sell, but is critical to ensuring not only compliance but best practices.

As a self-regulating organization, we created this standard with a committee of experts and made it publicly available to anyone regardless of membership status. We also provide a checklist for use when creating or updating existing packaging or when reviewing any packaging inventory.

This checklist is a great tool to help marketers with their compliance. 

Consumers Accustomed to Warnings & Protections

Here’s the good news — most Americans are familiar with consumer protections and regulatory requirements on most packages we buy.

While, as a marketer, it may feel like your entire package looks like a warning label, the reality is that’s normal. From alcohol and tobacco (a given) to the foods we eat daily with their “Allergen information: may contain milk, soybean, wheat or nuts,” most Americans are very familiar with these kinds of protections that help us make decisions on what we purchase and consume.

We expect manufacturers and retailers to ensure not only the quality of their product but also the safety. Cannabis is no different. If anything, our industry must hold itself to the highest standards, going above and beyond what is required and expected. 

What’s Your Packaging Challenge or Victory? 

As the industry continues to evolve, more and more cannabis brands now are competing for retailers’ shelf space. It’s not enough to have a great package — there’s a small amount of space to make a big impact. Getting products in stores, appealing visually, and then also ensuring marketing, packaging, and labeling compliance are at the forefront of the right sales mix.

What’s your latest packaging challenge or victory? We’d love to know — drop us a line at info@nacb.com.

This article was originally featured in the fall 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Join the newsletter and read the full issue for free.

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State Legislatures Move Opposite Directions On Hemp Delta-8

In the latest legislative update released to us by the US Hemp Roundtable, South Dakota and Utah pass bills governing the legal age requirement for delta-8 THC consumption (SD) and the ability of veterinarians to discuss CBD with pet owners (UT), and Illinois pushes a resolution to repeal the drug felon ban from the 2018 Farm Bill. 

South Dakota

Enacted the week before last (Mar 10), HB 1292 in South Dakota prohibits the sale, purchase and/or distribution of “a product intended for human consumption containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, THC-O acetate, or hexahydrocannabinol to a person under the age of twenty-one.”

The cannabinoid delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol is a very close relative to delta-9 THC, both in molecular structure and in many of the compound’s intoxicating effects, such as dizziness, fatigue, irritability, and euphoria, which is why many states have been moving to close the delta-8 loopholes left wide open when it was first popularized. 

Utah

On a more definitively pro-hemp note, SB 209 in Utah is summarized in the official language as a bill that “clarifies that a licensed veterinarian is not prohibited from discussing the effect of cannabis on an animal with the animal’s owner.”

Utah enters a growing list of states now legalizing this specific line of discussion, but it’s important to note a distinction between states that legalize recreational marijuana use in humans versus those like SB 209, as the two don’t always coincide.

SB 209 has officially passed both chambers of the Utah legislature and only needs the governor’s signature before enactment.

Illinois

Finally, Illinois is looking to bolster HR 6645, the Hemp Advancement Act, with HR 0707, a bill that “asks members of the U.S. Congress to allow persons with felonies related to controlled substances to obtain an industrial hemp license,” a provision initially introduced by the 2018 Farm Bill.

The Hemp Advancement Act seeks to address several other obfuscating or restrictive components of the 2018 legislation, including raising the legal THC threshold for industrial hemp and freeing hemp testing laboratories from mandatory DEA registration among other key items, for which HR 0707 and other shows of support from the states will provide a springboard. 

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5 Funny Women Breathing New Life Into Cannabis Comedy

5 Funny Women Breathing New Life Into Cannabis Comedy by Taylor McLamb

It’s no joke that women love cannabis. In fact, according to the cannabis data analytics firm Headset, Gen Z women had the fastest growth in legal cannabis year-over-year sales during the pandemic.

However, the majority of cannabis consumers still lean heavily male. How much of that is because of the negative stigma still attached to women smoking cannabis? 

From television to movies to stand-up comedy, cannabis has long been associated with men. The bros had their Cheech and Chong, their Dazed and Confused, and every single Judd Apatow movie, but what did women have?

It’s no surprise then, that women are afraid to admit their cannabis use. In a poll created by cannabis lifestyle brand Van der Pop, 66% of the 1,530 women interviewed admitted that they hid their cannabis consumption for fear of being judged. 

Thankfully, in the last few years, there have been fantastic women creators and comedians showcasing relatable female-oriented cannabis content to reduce the stigma.

Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson released their groundbreaking comedy Broad City, which was a breath of fresh air, depicting what for many women was an authentic, relatable relationship with cannabis. Recently, the comedic television series High Herstory focuses on female-identifying individuals reenacting the stories of historical women — all while high. 

Representation onscreen and in the media matters, and we’re excited to highlight some trailblazing women who are making an impact in the comedy scene.

Cannabis is empowering, it’s healing, and most of all, it’s feminist. After all, only female cannabis plants can produce buds. 

Iman Richardson

New York actress and comedian, regular performer at the famed Upright Citizens Brigade.

Richardson has performed on shows like Crashing on HBO, Frank & Lamar on IFC, and High Herstory. Richardson describes herself as a very physical actress and a former dancer. 

C&T Today: How does cannabis play a role in your creative process, particularly when writing comedy?

“When creating comedy, cannabis allows the doubt to go away for me. I naturally over think too much, but the plant holds space for me to listen to my inner voice and my inner experience, and I think that’s where the [laughs] come from. I go into this cosmic portal after a few hits and then the thoughts, ideas, and jokes start flowing. Like a lot. Like pouring out of the synapses in my brain.”

Annette Mia Flores

Founder, director, producer, and actress in the television series High Herstory.

Her goal is to create an inclusive space for those who identify as female and who also love cannabis. Flores is devoted to intersectional feminism, cannabis education, and ending the war on drugs. 

C&T Today: Why did you choose to incorporate cannabis into your comedy routine? 

“Comedy comes from honesty and I feel being a cannabis user is just one facet of my personality. If I can exploit and exaggerate some qualities of my life that I find funny I will, period. The fact that I like to toke-up at parties rather than drink is part of that persona. I grew up listening to comics like Mitch Hedberg and watching movies like Dazed and Confused, so I feel like it’s part of my comedic make-up, and that it comes naturally to me.”

Wowashwow

Comedian, musician, and cannabis social media influencer.

As she raps in her music video RICK ROSS, which premiered on 4/20, Wowashwow is the self proclaimed “queen of bops.” With her stunning visuals and clever lyrics, it’s no surprise that her songs can reach up to 60,000 plays on SoundCloud. 

C&T Today: What’s the strangest experience you’ve had with cannabis?

“The first time I smoked weed was in college in NYC, and that’s when I discovered the movie Half Baked was not just a comedy, but a real-life documentary. A true, poignant, real-life think piece of the NYC stoner. 

For example, I discovered delivery services were a real thing in the city. I was standing in a McDonalds minding my own business waiting on my nuggets, then this random guy hands me a business card and walks away.

Obviously, I had to call the number and waited with my dorm mates for a return call. Within 45 minutes a girl shows up with a Gucci satchel and lays out five different types of strains to select from. At that moment I believed everything Dave Chappelle said about weed. Not anything else, but weed? Absolutely.”

Rachel Strauss Muniz 

Comedian, actress, voice actress, and co-host of the Webby Award-nominated podcast Latinos Out Loud.

Muniz is a seasoned sketch performer and is part of comedy group Room 28, which holds the title as the longest running multicultural sketch comedy troupe in New York City. 

C&T Today: Why did you choose to incorporate cannabis into your comedy routine? 

“When I took the leap from corporate to comedy seven years ago, I hid behind the smoke… not really revealing my canna-passion. I was afraid of judgement and of my habits affecting potential job opportunities. And, of course, the fear of my mom finding out I smoke and throwing a flip flop at my mouth. But then I checked myself. And if I truly take pride in being who I am on the podcast airwaves and off, then I must speak my truth and be me 24/7.”

Mary Jane Gibson

Actress, writer, former editor at High Times magazine, and an avid cannabis advocate.

Gibson is the co-host of the raved about cannabis podcast Weed + Grub and was named as “one of the 15 most powerful women in the weed industry,” by Complex. 

C&T Today: What’s the strangest or most enjoyable experience you’ve had with cannabis? 

“When’s the last time you laughed so hard you felt your soul expand?

Lately, I’ve settled into an evening routine of eating an edible and curling up in front of the TV with my fur fam (dog, cat) and my squeeze (human) with a Must Love Bananas non-dairy frozen dessert (trust me).

Two nights ago we laughed so hard at something we were watching on the Food Network that I almost cracked a rib. I was crying, I couldn’t breathe. It was so, so good. The joy of an edible high when you’re cozy at home is absolute medicine, whether or not you think of it that way.”

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A Cannabis Company Wants to Make a $450 Million Deal with the Taliban

A Cannabis Company Wants to Make a $450 Million Deal with the Taliban by Aron Vaughan

A German company wants to invest $450 million in cannabis farms in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Cpharm, a German-based cannabis company currently operating in Australia, is looking to strike a deal with the Taliban to cultivate cannabis in Afghanistan. 

Cpharm is Determined to Plant Roots in Afghanistan

The trade deal is currently on hold due to Cpharm’s founder and CEO, Werner Zimmerman, receiving death threats from European drug cartels.  His long-term friend, now minister of interior of Kyrgyzstan, has offered advice against his ambitions within the region, according to Vice. 

Undeterred by threats and advice against doing business in Afghanistan, Zimmerman is confident the plan to invest in the region will yield results. the company plans to use the middle-eastern nation as a base to distribute cannabis products to western European countries including Germany, which may be on the brink of legalizing the plant for adult use. 

Fertile Ground

Afghanistan is an ideal country for cannabis farmers, as the plant is native to the region and can grow year-round. However, cannabis companies have largely avoided the country due to its ongoing political instability. Cpharm’s designs on the region and looming deal with the Taliban — an organization not recognized as a legitimate political party by much of Europe — did not go unnoticed, despite Cpharm’s best efforts. 

“Last November, the company Chief Financial Officer, Tony Gabites publicly denied having ever connected with the Taliban and called the rumors ‘media lies,’” according to CannabisLifeNetwork. 

Despite the public relations campaign in 2021 to play down the deal, recent news confirms the rumors were true. 

International Concerns

People from the public and private sectors in Europe are also raising concerns about further legitimizing the Taliban by providing relief from sanctions through private investments. 

“There is also the obvious concern that an injection of capital will enrich and empower the highly problematic Taliban regime — which is the reason why traditional aid donors have been very reluctant to return to Afghanistan since the allied withdrawal, despite the obvious needs of Afghani people,” said Steve Rolles, a senior policy analyst with the Transform drug policy foundation in the UK. 

Cpharm has already established a presence in countries in the region including Lesotho, Morroco Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, and Cyprus, with the project at Kazakhstan raking up over a $500 million investment.

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Working Out With Cannabis for Beginners

Working Out With Cannabis for Beginners by Lisa Smith

Most people want to enjoy the benefits of better health, but many of us can’t get ourselves going for a workout, or we have trouble getting the full benefit of the exercise time available to us. What might surprise some people is the fact that many view cannabis to be the key to getting the most from the exercise time they have.

With cannabis becoming legal in jurisdictions around the country, we are starting to see an increase in health-conscious people considering its applications for a healthy lifestyle. For some, it might be about relaxation and stress relief, but you will find many who swear by the benefits of cannabis for exercise and athletics.

This leads to the obvious question: can cannabis products enhance your exercise routine? Let’s take a look at some of the ways it might be beneficial for working out and take a look at what some of the scientific research says.

Why Cannabis Might be Good for Working Out

You will find several theories about the ways cannabis can be beneficial for working out. Some focus on the mental side of exercise, and others are more concerned with the ways cannabis can affect the body. 

The first benefit many will mention is that they believe cannabis helps to relieve pain after they workout. Since chemicals like THC and CBD interact with the endocannabinoid system of the body, the belief is that there is a pain relief effect to consuming these compounds.

Another potential benefit is that some believe cannabis can help a person recover after an exercise session. Cannabis has been shown to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation. Many workout enthusiasts believe that using cannabis after a workout will help the body recover and make it so they can return to the gym sooner.

You also have a lot of people who believe cannabis helps with their mental state as it concerns exercise. The belief is that cannabis helps to enhance the mood and it makes you feel more up and ready to go workout. Some also believe that cannabis makes the workout more enjoyable, so you work out longer.

Another important point is that you don’t have to smoke cannabis to get these benefits. You have different options like cannabis edibles, which can be taken right before starting a workout. You could even take them mid-workout if you feel like you are starting to lag.

Is there science to support the benefits of cannabis for exercise?

If you ask people who already use cannabis as a part of their workout routine, they will express confidence in their belief that it is beneficial. However, that is not the same as it actually being beneficial. So what does the science say? Since cannabis decriminalization is still relatively new, we don’t have all the answers, but researchers are looking into the issue.

One study from the University of Colorado Boulder surveyed more than 600 cannabis users. Of those surveyed, over 80% endorsed the use of cannabis as a part of an exercise routine. Most of the participants said they use it both before and after working out, and only about 18% said they would not recommend using cannabis before or after working out. The study also found that users who include cannabis as a part of their workout routine get about 43 minutes more exercise per week than users who do not.

Another point is that 70% of the survey participants said that using cannabis before they workout made the activity more enjoyable. Along with that, 77% said that it helps with recovery after working out. While this isn’t a controlled study, it does show that many people take cannabis as a part of their workout routine and that there is reason to believe that it could be beneficial.

Making Cannabis a Part of Your Workout Routine

While there is the potential for cannabis to enhance your workout routine, you should take your time when making this decision. Even many who promote the idea of using cannabis and working out would recommend avoiding certain types of exercise when using cannabis. 

Another point is the legality. If you live in a place like Sacramento, California, finding a cannabis dispensary and delivery service will be safe, legal and easy. If you live in a place where it is still illegal, using cannabis to work out might not be an option. 

As another point, you might want to consult with your doctor before making this decision. If you are on any medications or have specific health conditions, you might not be able to use cannabis as a part of your workout routine. 

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Cannabis-Infused Cupcakes Youll Love This St. Patricks Day

Cannabis-Infused Cupcakes You’ll Love This St. Patrick’s Day by Sara Brittany Somerset

While St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday in Ireland, in the U.S. it seems to be more of an excuse for parades, parties, barhopping, and general revelry. And what is a bit of festive debauchery without edibles? 

While I am no Betty Crocker, I can’t resist making my annual Guinness cupcakes with a handy recipe I found on Live Journal. 

First, infuse the butter. You can do this the messy, old-fashioned, and time-consuming way with cannabis, a cheesecloth, and a strainer. However, I prefer to use a Levo or a Levo II. This sleek little countertop appliance looks innocuously like a Keurig coffee machine, when in fact it infuses oil and butter with the “herbs” of your choice. 

In this case, choose cannabis flower as your herb. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Green Goblin or Lucky Charms might be suitable strains to use. 

Next, all you have to do is add the flower, oil, or butter to the Levo, push the button, and wait. 

(For purists who want to decarboxylate their cannabis flower first, try using an Ardent Nova from a WOC-owned business. Personally, while I have a Nova, I am of the school of thought that in this case the baking will handle the decarbing.) 

I like that the Levo comes with a child safety lock feature, so you can set it and forget it, until your infused oil is ready. 

Once your butter or oil is infused, it’s “time to make the donuts…” err… cupcakes. 

Guinness Chocolate Cupcake Recipe:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) of cannabis-infused butter

1 cup Guinness extra stout

2/3 cup dark cocoa powder, sifted

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups brown sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

2 eggs (or egg replacer)

1/2 cup sour cream

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 24 to 30 muffin cups or line them with paper liners. In a heavy saucepan heat the infused butter, Guinness and dark cocoa powder until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool. 

In a large bowl, sift together the salt, flour, sugar and baking soda. Add the Guinness-cocoa mixture and beat for 1 minute on medium speed. Add the eggs or egg replacer and sour cream and beat for another  two minutes on medium speed. Evenly divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick poked into the center of the muffin comes out clean without any cupcake residue.

Bailey’s Irish Cream Frosting:

About 3 to 4 cups confectionary sugar

1 stick (1/2 cup or 4 ounces) unsalted infused butter at room temperature

pinch of salt

About 3 to 4 tablespoons of Bailey’s Irish Cream or to taste (I added a little Barista almond milk so mine wouldn’t be too strong.)

Cream butter until light & fluffy. Slowly add the sugar and pinch of salt, a little bit at a time. Once combined, add the Bailey’s and beat on high until the mixture is fluffy and smooth.

H/t to Live journal for the original (non-infused) Guinness cupcake recipe. 

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Is CBD a Performance Enhancing Drug?

Is CBD a Performance Enhancing Drug? by Johnny Green

Cannabis consumers have historically been portrayed as couch potatoes who lack motivation, especially when it comes to personal fitness.

However, the reality is that cannabis can be a part of an active lifestyle, as proven by the significant number of professional athletes who admit to having consumed cannabis during their careers.

Olympic champions consume cannabis; NBA champions consume cannabis; mixed martial arts champions consume cannabis. The list goes on and on.

The increase in cannabis use among athletes and people who live active lifestyles has simultaneously led to an increase in research on the subject.

CBD and Exercise

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a particularly popular cannabinoid among the athlete community. CBD does not cause euphoria, and that is an appealing feature for many athletes.

A team of researchers in Australia recently conducted a study that looked at aerobic exercise, CBD, and physiological and psychological responses in study participants.

“Participants received CBD (300 mg; oral) or placebo 1.5 h before exercise in a randomised, double-blind design. Respiratory gases (V̇O2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), blood glucose (BG) and lactate (BL) concentrations, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and pleasure–displeasure were measured at three timepoints,” researchers stated.

“CBD appeared to increase V̇O2 (T2: + 38 ± 48 mL·min−1, dz: 0.25–1.35), ratings of pleasure (T1: + 0.7 ± 0.9, dz: 0.22–1.32; T2: + 0.8 ± 1.1, dz: 0.17–1.25) and BL (T2: + 3.3 ± 6.4 mmol·L−1, dz: > 0.00–1.03) during RUN 1 compared to placebo,” researchers concluded.

“CBD appears to alter some key physiological and psychological responses to aerobic exercise without impairing performance. Larger studies are required to confirm and better understand these preliminary findings,” researchers said.

Is Cannabis Performance Enhancing?

Cannabis policies in professional sports around the globe are experiencing an interesting evolution.

For many years cannabis was prohibited in sports due to it being considered by league owners as being bad for players’ health.

That position by owners, at least in some instances, seems to be shifting to continuing to prohibit cannabis, yet now it’s due to cannabis being considered as performance enhancing.

Cannabis is definitely beneficial to athletes. However, does it provide so much benefit during competition that it warrants the performance-enhancing label and to be prohibited as a result? The latest studies suggest it does not. More research in the field of cannabis and CBD’s effects on athletes will likely be carried out in the near future, providing much-needed data on the subject.

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Quebecs Ban On Cannabis Home Cultivation To Be Reviewed

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Mike Tyson Launches Ear-Shaped Edibles as Part of New Line of Cannabis Products

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How Sustainable Investments in Cannabis Can Change the World

How Sustainable Investments in Cannabis Can Change the World by Andrea Morhardt

Just as fast as new cannabis strains pop up, unique investment philosophies and strategies emerge every day. One such emerging system has investors weighing the financial returns an investment produces against a company’s consciousness about sustainability. 

It’s called sustainable investing. And investors everywhere have their eye on the cannabis industry to be a significant player in this movement.

What is Sustainable Investing? 

The strategy aims to encourage, support, and create momentum for companies who exhibit responsible environmental behaviors. Another part of the strategy, naturally, is profiting from these forward-looking, innovative behaviors.

But the most serious sustainable investors will accept lower financial returns in return for the peace of mind that comes from supporting companies with a moral compass aimed at environmental sustainability. 

Why Sustainable Investing?

You may be wondering why an investor would do such a thing. Investors invest their hard-earned money, and most companies are founded in hopes of generating profits — not to save the world — right? 

You might assume the answer is “yes.” But the answer is actually “not necessarily.”  According to the Circularity Gap Report 2020, only 8.6% of the global economy is currently circular.

Today’s investors and corporations are becoming more and more environmentally conscious and are finding new strategies that can be profitable and environmentally sound at the same time.  

Environmentally concerned investors are looking at the status quo of the global economy and its traditional investment strategies. As a result, they’re feeling uncomfortable about putting their money behind businesses that — they believe — are damaging the earth.

Here’s what has sustainable investors concerned:

According to Accenture, by 2050, maintaining the current global economic structure, which is almost entirely linear and focused primarily on production, could result in overusing the earth’s capacity by more than 400%. 

Although the world has operated with a “linear economy” focused only on production for centuries, this linear model produces incredible amounts of waste. Consider this information from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation:

•Every second, the textile industry produces the equivalent of a garbage truck full of waste that ends up incinerated or in a landfill.

•The food industry throws away enough perfectly edible food to fill six garbage trucks in that exact second.

Investors who feel outraged by these statistics — and countless others — are taking action. They are reallocating their portfolios to invest in innovative companies focused on moving the needle toward a circular economy. 

This circular approach eliminates waste by creating a closed-loop system. Such a system keeps the production loop “closed,” so all materials produced stay inside — rather than having some funneled off to a landfill. The materials remain within the loop because the system is engineered to reuse byproducts as future inputs. 

The traditional linear business model is not sustainable, so sustainable investors are eager to invest in companies that adopt a more circular approach in their business models. 

Are Sustainable Investors Really This Altruistic?

Not all investors putting their cash behind sustainability-focused companies are doing it for the “kumbaya” reasons you might think.

Sustainable investments can produce significant returns. The circular model ultimately minimizes labor and energy costs with strategies powered by renewable energy and innovatively recycled materials.

By reducing these costs, companies can see a significant boost in their bottom line by driving profitability. 

The cost savings from reusing and recycling, when compared against sourcing virgin materials, can be surprising. New research from Closed Loop Partners indicates a shift toward circular manufacturing will generate $2 trillion in annual U.S. revenues and $7 billion in new revenue opportunities.

The Cannabis Industry: A Perfect Case Study

Cannabis companies, whether in the plant-touching segment of the industry or elsewhere, should be refocusing on reusing, repairing, and recycling materials rather than only making them.

Regennabis — an advisory, convening, and investment services company — is helping cannabis companies reimagine their approach to production. According to co-founder Geoff Trotter, by helping cannabis companies define and deliver a sustainability-focused continuous improvement plan, Regennabis accelerates existing relationships and opens doors for additional conversations with investors. 

This production reimagination involves:

•Collaborating with suppliers, customers, and consumer-facing organizations

•Engaging these stakeholders in discussions that nurture sustainable behaviors

•Demonstrating that social due diligence also delivers economic success  

Smart and Sustainable Cannabis Solutions

According to various sources, today’s average investor is increasingly utilizing non-financial factors as they identify opportunities. Leaders in the cannabis industry recognize the challenges likely to arise and are investing in practices that proactively reduce their carbon footprint by improving the way they use water, soil, and even building materials.  

Take AltoVerde, for example. After moving growing practices indoors for efficiency purposes, they kept an eye on sustainability by designing those indoor operations to recycle close to 100% of the water they use by capturing the perspiration from the plants.

Other cannabis organizations are looking closely at regenerative farming practices. Innovative cultivation methods ensure that the soil is fully replenished and repaired after each use. 

Another solution involves farmers using harvested hemp to create building materials like hempcrete. Just like it sounds, hempcrete is concrete made from hemp.

Hempcrete has a negative carbon footprint. The production of the hemp used in hempcrete removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it ultimately produces.

Companies like Hempitecture are dedicating their entire value proposition to plant-based building materials. And it’s not just hempcrete. The company found that fiber batt insulation products like hemp wool are sustainable, high-performing, and easy to install. 

Balancing Risk, Return, and the Right Intentions With Sustainable Investing

Consumers and investors alike now expect — and demand — more from today’s businesses. They want to buy from and invest in companies focused on sustainability and creating meaningful change that’s good for society and the planet as a whole.

However, sustainable investing is still an emerging concept. And although emerging markets are filled with growth opportunities and massive amounts of potential, these opportunities also come with their fair share of risk, so proper due diligence is critical. 

Making the shift toward a circular global economy won’t be easy, but it is vital for the planet’s health. Early adopters and their investors will ultimately see a moral and financial return on that investment by focusing on reusing, repairing, and recycling materials rather than only making them. 

Which return is more important? We’ll leave that question up to you.

This article was originally featured in the fall 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Join the newsletter and read the full issue for free.

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Five CBD Review

Welcome to our Five CBD review!

After a secret-shopping campaign, a conversation with Five founder JP Larsen, and plenty of product sampling, we’ve arrived at an overall rating for Five CBD. 

Our overall rating for Five CBD is 89.1/100.

Speaking of, we use a 27-point ranking system to evaluate every brand we review across the following six key criteria: quality, transparency, website experience, customer service, value, and brand value.

For a complete breakdown of how we score each item, check out this guide.

Before we get to the actual scoring, here’s one of our favorite products.

Learn More

Recommended Product

Daily Buzz CBD Gummies

These gummies were among the most effective gummies we’ve ever sampled, exerting significantly more noticeable effects than the vast majority of competing brands.

The 50mg concentration and synergistic boost of the generous cannabinoid/terpene content propels these gummies into a category of their own.

They’re easy to take, easy to bring with you, and perfect for people who want to cover up the bitter hemp taste without taking in a ton of artificial ingredients.

Five CBD Review: Table of Contents

1. How Five CBD Got Started
2. What Makes Five CBD Unique?
3. Our Five CBD Review
4. Our Five CBD Overall Rating
5. Five CBD Product Reviews
6. Recommended Five Products
7. Conclusion

How Five CBD Got Started

According to founder JP, Five CBD was launched in late 2020 as an opportunity to bring top-quality CBD products directly to consumers.

Thanks to his already successful track record at Medterra—Five’s parent company—JP and company were able to lean on their experience, resources, and well-established presence in the CBD space to get this new brand off the ground in the middle of a pandemic.

When asked to summarize Five’s mission, the founder told us, “We’re focused on the highest quality product at the best price to the consumer.”

What Makes Five CBD Unique?

The greatest differentiator between Five and everyone else cramming into the CBD industry at the moment is what they call their “fully powered full-spectrum” formulation.

“A lot of the products on the market are diluted with (CBD) isolate to make them cheaper,” said JP in reference to full-spectrum CBD, which is Five’s sole focus.

As their way of one-upping the status quo, Five has vowed to maintain a 5:1 ratio of CBD to minor hemp compounds (terpenes, flavonoids, etc.) in all formulations.

Soon, they’re going to establish a 5:1 ratio of CBD to minor cannabinoids as well.

By sticking to this unconventionally high ratio of minor compounds to CBD, Five is leveraging the entourage effect (strength-boosting action of multiple hemp compounds working together) for greater absorption speed and potency.

They aren’t shy about the THC content, either.

Unlike other brands who only cordon off the bottom half-inch of the product page footer for tiny THC content warnings (or 0.0% THC claims, which are problematic in the case of full-spectrum products), Five THC doesn’t make you dig for this information. 

Best of all, their lean, direct-to-consumer model allows Five to keep prices low while competing against the biggest names in CBD for highest product quality.

Our Five CBD Review

From product packaging to CBD research ventures, the following categories are designed to provide the most comprehensive brand review possible.

Each category is weighted based on the number and importance of sub-criteria within it, contributing to a total score out of 100.

Let’s start with the all-important issue of quality.

Quality

Max score = 35
Five CBD = 30.75

More than the hemp extract itself, we take into account packaging, sourcing, product variety, and several other factors when grading brands based on quality. 

Product Quality

Five’s gummies, capsules, and oils are packaged in durable matte white bottles.

All of the packaging was completely intact after shipping, but there’s no product description on the bottle, resulting in a small deduction.

We found no products that contained artificial ingredients, and only the gummies have added sugar.

All hemp is reliably sourced from Oregon farms, and the high ratio of hemp compounds to CBD earns full marks for hemp quality and sourcing.

We would like to see more use-specific formulations (i.e., “rest,” “relax,” and “active,” etc.) in the future, as Five currently has melatonin-infused CBD gummies for sleep and no other use-specific formulations.

Testing and Certification

All Five products are tested by an ISO-accredited third-party lab (Green Scientific), and the Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are thorough, providing detailed readouts on:

• Cannabinoid content
• Pesticides
• Residual solvents
• Microbes
• Heavy metals

Considering Five’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and ISO 9001 certification, which is earned for consistent product quality, we award Five full points for testing and certification. 

Extraction Method

Finally, Five uses CO2 to extract CBD from the hemp plant.

This is considered the gold standard for its safety and efficiency, since CO2 can be consistently removed from the extract with negligible amounts of residual solvent—full points here.

Transparency

Max score = 12.5
Five CBD = 9.375

The more included a customer feels in the inner workings of a brand, the more comfortable they are investing (or not investing) in the product. 

As such, we reward brands for openly sharing information beyond the customary taglines and product descriptions.

Here’s how we break it down.

Info Accessibility

Customers can access Certificates of Analysis for all Five products on their website.

Product pages are well supplied with beginner-friendly information, nutrition/ingredient info, etc., yet at the same time attractive and easy to navigate.

The “About Us” section furnishes a solid introduction to the Five hemp extract and the brand’s quality standards, but it doesn’t feature any staff bios.

Supply Chain Transparency

As mentioned, Five uses a direct-to-consumer model.

They source their hemp from Oregon farms and ship the products straight to customers.   

We were able to find most of this information fairly easily on the Five site. 

Website Experience

Max points = 7.5
Five CBD = 7

Pandemic or no pandemic, brick-and-mortar or online only, it’s never been more important for brands to provide a seamless online experience.

We reward points for mobile responsiveness, educational resources, and the overall ecommerce experience (browsing products, checking out, etc.)

Product Navigation and Purchasing

Browsing and the checkout process were clean and intuitive; we found no bugs or design flaws. 

The site also earns full points for mobile responsiveness, which refers to how well-adapted it is for smartphone users (formatting, page load speed, etc.)

Site Content 

Newbies to full-spectrum CBD or anyone looking to learn more about how CBD affects the body in general can peruse the full-spectrum CBD breakdown on Five’s site.

This introduction covers the endocannabinoid system, the entourage effect, and more.

Customer Service

Max points = 10
Five CBD = 9.5

Truly competitive brands approach customer service as a frontline issue, not an afterthought.

Prompt and accommodating customer service is especially important in an environment as fraught with misinformation as the CBD space.

This is why we reward brands for putting in the effort to meet their customers where they are with strong support services and flexible policies.

Contact Options and Responsiveness

Five offers the three customer support channels we look for: phone, messenger, and email.

The messenger response time was extremely short, the phone service/email response time was above average, and we reached a real human each time.

Shipping and Return Policies

We awarded full marks for the shipping and return policy, which is in line with most of the leading brands across CBD and other industries: 30-day return policy with receipt, Five will send the shipping label and instructions.

Value

Max score = 10
Five CBD = 8.69

Because CBD products can come in so many concentrations and varieties (which means broad fluctuations in price), we make sure to weigh price against ingredient quality so that both ends of the price spectrum can have equal opportunity to score well (or poorly).

Pricing and Ingredient Quality

The cheapest CBD oil you can find from a well-established brand costs just $0.02/mg, a stubborn threshold that Five gets surprisingly close to with their 6000mg CBD Oil Tincture, which costs $0.029/mg.

Considering how powerful their full-spectrum hemp extract is, Five more than made up for falling short of the $0.02/mg mark—there’s a prime example of the quality-vs-price mechanism in action.

Not to be outdone twice, Five actually took the crown for cheapest CBD gummies (also included in article linked above) at $0.04/mg with their Daily Buzz gummies.

This is one of the few gummies packing 50mg of CBD per piece in addition to a bountiful cast of supporting cannabinoids and other hemp compounds.

Brand Value

Max score = 25
Five CBD = 23.5

One way to easily conceptualize a company’s brand value is with the following question: What would happen to company x’s industry and local/global community if they were suddenly removed from existence?

Brand value is the impact that a company makes on its surroundings, whether or not that is related to the industry the company is in.

More specifically, we define this somewhat elusive idea as the level of community and industry involvement, regulatory and legislative involvement, product innovation and knowledge, and more.

Product Innovation and Institutional Knowledge

Five is really good at what they do—raising the bar for well-balanced, full-spectrum CBD products.

However, this is more of a quality standard than a true innovation, and because their formulations, delivery methods, etc. are otherwise consistent with the majority of leading CBD brands, we’ve applied a medium-sized deduction in the area of product innovation.

They earned full marks for industry knowledge, considering how influential Medterra has been in the CBD industry.

Community, Research, and Legislative Involvement

We decided to give Five credit for Medterra’s efforts in these areas, mainly because of the large overlap in leadership between the two brands (and because Five is so young).

That said, Five and/or Medterra have been actively involved in pro-CBD legislation efforts as board members of the US Hemp Round Table.

They’ve also supported/are supporting several studies, including animal trials testing CBD for osteoarthritis and others.

Finally, Five and Medterra have joined forces with the Susan G. Komen and Realm of Caring foundations, and they offer military and veteran discounts.

Our Five CBD Overall Rating

All tallied, Five CBD earns an overall rating of 89.06/100.

We were most impressed with the combination of high-quality, potent hemp extracts and competitive pricing.

This adds credence to the words of founder JP, who told us,“We’re not doing crazy sponsorships, we don’t have corporate offices. We’re just bringing high-quality products straight to the consumer.”

Here’s a summary of our key takeaways for anyone considering Five CBD:

• Strong, well-balanced full-spectrum extract rich in CBD and supporting compounds
• Competitively priced products across the board
• Knowledgeable and experienced team
• Practical, attractive website 
• Full-spectrum only, not recommended for the THC-weary

All things considered, Five CBD is a great choice for anyone serious about getting the most out of a full-spectrum product at a very reasonable price.

Five, What’s Something You Wish More People Knew About Hemp-Derived CBD?

It’s our custom to ask this question as a way of bringing actionable insights from key players in the CBD industry directly to customers. 

Here’s what JP told us:

“Everyone needs a quick rundown on what CBD actually is, how it affects your body, and the difference between isolate/broad-spectrum/full-spectrum.”

Conclusion

In the small window of time since their inception, Five has already managed to get out of Medterra’s shadow by doing two things very well:

• Setting a higher standard for full-spectrum CBD formulations.
• Saving customers money on top-tier CBD products with their lean business model.

Where they fall behind in variety of extracts, they gain ground in full-spectrum CBD potency and quality.

Their products are clean, effective, and affordable, and the Five leadership team knows what they’re doing.

We recommend Five to anyone comfortable with hard-hitting full-spectrum CBD products, THC and all.

 

via The CBD Insider https://thecbdinsider.com/review/five-cbd-review/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=five-cbd-review

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