Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2019 i Cannabis & Tech Today

Over the past few years, CBD has become a major topic in the cannabis space, with its medicinal benefits and THC-free nature making it ideal for use in every type of product from lotion to gummies. However, while the casual consumer may be knowledgeable on the basics of CBD, they may not be aware of how to acquire the substance in a convenient manner that checks all the boxes legally. Let’s take a look at a few options you have when it comes to acquiring CBD in its various forms, whether you prefer a brick-and-mortar store or the convenience of online shopping, and examine the current state of the legal status of the substance. Go to the Store This is the most direct route for potential CBD users, especially those…

In December of 2018, President Trump officially signed off on the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill. About every five years, a new version of the bill is presented, shaping food and agriculture, rural economies, trade, on-farm energy production, and more. This $867-billion package dealt with certain areas like local food system funding, urban farming, and continued funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps”). However, there was one key detail in 2018’s Farm Bill that turned a lot of heads: the legalization of industrial hemp. By removing hemp from the controlled substances list, the federal government now allows farmers and ranchers within the U.S. to produce this high-value cash crop, while retaining federal farm program benefits that were previously not allowed. Hemp farmers…

Building a business is an incredible feat. Thousands of hours and countless dollars went into turning your vision into reality. But now that your investment is finally providing returns, how are you protecting it? Working with financial planners to secure insurance, patents, and even the dreaded last will and testament can make all the difference in ensuring your company’s sustainability. First and foremost, defend your intellectual property (IP). You created an original brand, you’re creating new products, graphics, and blogs, and you have a unique methodology for executing your business plan. All of that is proprietary information that should be protected from theft. Josh Camitta is the co-founder of MJ Arsenal, an online retailer of specialty smoking accessories. He’s well-versed in the complexities of patent law and has dozens of…

The American hemp industry is poised for incredible growth in 2019. With the wider availability of hemp-derived products, consumers will have to pay close attention to the quality and integrity of the products they’re purchasing. Business owners too, will find increased competition and more pressure to create quality products backed by scientific research. In light of these changes, we spoke with PrimeMyBody (PMB), a health, wellness, and lifestyle company that’s setting the example for hemp retailers across the country. Their team is working with physicians and scientists to create cutting-edge formulations that may shape the future of the industry. From their proprietary RECEPT broad spectrum hemp extract to their high-quality pet care line, PMB is creating products with the fastest absorption and highest bioavailability on the market. The team is…

In running a molecular biology laboratory providing (among other things) cannabis genetic fingerprinting services, there’s a situation and term which consistently reappears in variations on a theme like something out of Groundhog Day. In its basic form, the situation is that a cultivator has been maintaining a plant line for an extended time through the use of a mother plant and cuttings. After some time, the mother plant seems to be less and less vigorous, and so it’s retired and one of its cuttings is retained as the new mother plant. However, it often doesn’t seem to start off quite as healthy as the original young mother plant did, and its decline occurs faster than the last generation. Particularly over successive rounds of replacing mothers with their own cuttings, the…

When people talk about cannabis, all eyes turn to Canada. After all, the country was of the first to legalize cultivation and usage for medical purposes in 2001. Then, of course, they fully legalized the cultivation, sale, and adult-use of recreational cannabis last year. Canada also houses some of the largest and most notable companies in the industry, including Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, and Tilray. However, those excited about the future of cannabis might want to turn their attention south to Latin America. While the continent is made up of a number of countries, each with a unique view on cannabis, the region may soon become a powerhouse in the industry, attracting new business as countries move toward legalization. In 2013, five years before Canada, Uruguay was the first country…

GOING FOR THE GOLD With the Super Niche 2019 event holding their Niche Media Awards in March, numerous publications were looking to take home one of the prestigious Nichee Awards. Cannabis & Tech Today finished the evening with an award in one of their major categories, “Best Magazine Launch.” Seeing as our publication has found a perfect niche in the intersection of cannabis and technology, we are ecstatic to see that all our hard work is getting recognized within the industry. INVESTING TIME AT THE INVESTING EVENT As the largest group of high net worth cannabis investors, ArcView brings together some of the brightest minds in the industry with each of its events. Covering their International Investor Forum in February, we were able to meet such personalities as hip-hop artist…

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is currently the most frequent form of the disease within the U.S., with an estimated 9,500 citizens diagnosed daily. Ultraviolet (UV) rays, which come from both the sun and natural lighting, are one of the most common risks, with infrared (IR) and visible rays presenting additional damage. Clearly, skin cancer is a sadly common illness throughout the country. However, there is one segment of the population that appears to be at a heightened risk: cannabis cultivators. Cultivation of cannabis is done in one of three ways: outdoors, in a greenhouse, or indoors. Each of these present unique dangers for the skin. Outdoor cultivation means contact with direct sunlight, which exposes the skin to burns and increases the risk of skin cancer.…

When we talk about adding renewable energy to the U.S. power supply, there is often a lot of talk about getting that power from the supply source (the solar farm or wind turbines, etc.) to the local power grid. There is less talk of what happens once that power hits the grid and how buildings may be able to adapt to the influx of power from renewable sources. Can site managers capitalize on renewable energy inputs to optimize energy consumption? Capitalizing on Peak and Off-Peak Demand and Availability Building technologies are changing at a fast pace. The rise of smart systems has made it possible for site managers to control buildings from afar, but what if such systems could be taken further and tweaked to optimize a site’s energy resources?…

In 2017, Bitcoin was on every investor’s mind. Starting the year worth $1,013.13, the currency’s value topped off in December at approximately $18,900 before dipping to $13,422.72 by December 31. In 2018, the limelight moved to cannabis stocks. Cronos and Canopy Growth were the first two cannabis stocks to list on the New York Stock Exchange. From their listings to March 2019, Cronos had grown nearly 200 percent and Canopy had grown over 50 percent. More and more of these companies have listed themselves on the New York Stock Exchange, and Canada’s legalization of cannabis has allowed companies to expand their operations. Now, looking into 2019, which is a better investment, cryptocurrency or cannabis? Signs point to cannabis. “If you want to be in something that’s very growthy, and actually…

There are few companies that have experienced such rapid growth as Aurora Cannabis. The publicly traded juggernaut started selling medical marijuana from its headquarters in Cremona, Alberta in 2016. Since then, its operations have spread to 23 countries, allowing the company to claim its place as the second largest producer of cannabis on the planet. Their diverse array of acquisitions and assets have given Aurora incredible production potential, with their peak annual output estimated to reach between 700,000 - 1.2 million kilograms a year with their current projects. Their gregarious and charismatic frontman, Chief Corporate Officer Cam Battley, touts the company’s achievements with the same enthusiasm one would expect from a boxing promoter. Yet he does so with the eloquence of a man who spent his career working in medicine.…

A shifting climate, energy concerns, and space restraints have all pressured horticulturalists to find new ways to efficiently grow their crops. By tapping into the ingrained abilities plants possess to physically respond to different light qualities, cultivators have much more control over the outcome of their harvest than they did only five years ago. They now have the option to elicit faster growth with fewer square feet, all without sacrificing quality. Much of this progress – and the exciting possibilities ahead – is credited to spectral tuning. Spectral tuning is one of the most talked about advancements in LED capabilities. Growers get the most out of spectral tuning by understanding the complexities behind plant receptivity to light and the contexts in which spectral tuning can become a major game changer.…

I was a rarity in Colorado. I lived here for 12 years and didn’t smoke weed. It blew people’s minds. “Wha, wha, why, what?!” It just wasn’t something I enjoyed anymore. About six years ago, I started working a job with random drug tests and the option was off the table. But then, I started doing stand up comedy, which led me to quit my “real” job for any job that allowed flexible hours and didn’t smell my breath too closely when I showed up for work in the mornings. Drug tests were a thing of the past. Then I started dating a girl who smoked. She mainly smoked at night to help relieve pain issues she had from a car accident. After a few months of laying in bed…

Cultivation is undoubtedly an essential factor of the cannabis industry. However, because the industry is so young, many are not aware of some of the current stats and trends when it comes to the cultivation side of the space. Additionally, looking at these numbers shines a light on the current state of sustainability within cannabis, a major topic that those outside of the business may not be aware of. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the intriguing stats around cannabis cultivation.…

Possibly one of the fastest growing trends in the cannabis industry is the demand for quality and compliant packaging. If you were at the most recent MJBizCon in Las Vegas, you probably had a hard time not noticing the slew of booths catering to consumer-facing companies and their various packaging needs. It is a hot topic for good reason: direct branding has become a key part of serious strategy, ad restrictions persist nationwide, demand continues to grow steadily, and companies are trying to remain compliant over multiple borders. With everyone competing to stay more clever and innovative than their competitors, we are seeing an emergence of sustainable initiatives throughout the industry. More and more companies are beginning to focus efforts on reducing their impact on landfills, oceans, and parks. A…

How dirty is your pot? Odds are, it’s probably teeming with mold and mildew. In sizable markets such as Colorado and Nevada, as well as Canada, growers are required to report Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYMC) as part of their required regulatory compliance. If numbers exceed established minimums, whole crops and millions of dollars can be lost. Established technologies from the food industry are now being applied to the cannabis industry, allowing growers to overcome this risk and sell more product. Yeast and mold are microbial pathogens. Depending on the type of grow, indoor or outdoor, they can be incredibly pervasive. It turns out, the conditions that are perfect for growing cannabis are also the ideal growing environments for mold and mildew. Growers nationwide are looking for treatment options.…

In the modern era, each industry seems to grow with the technology that supports it. Looking to the cannabis business of today, it’s amazing to see how sophisticated and modernized this once grassroots and obscure industry has become. To this end, the cannabis industry of 2019 is beginning to mirror more mainstream businesses, as well as share in the technological advancements that support them. Of the novel technologies being entertained in the cannabis space, artificial intelligence shows some promising potential on the cybersecurity front. In any U.S. state with a legal cannabis market, compliance and security are some of the most integral features of successful business operations. In fact, if one is even interested in pursuing a cannabis business license in a state like Colorado, they must have functional security…

Rejection sucks. No one wants to labor over crafting the perfect resume only to find out weeks or months later they didn’t make the cut. Creating a resume for cannabis can feel especially daunting. Which skills are valuable? How does my work history translate to a new field? We spoke with an expert in cannabis recruitment to learn the dos and don’ts of building a top-tier resume for any position. “Make sure to highlight translatable skills and experience on your resume, and, ideally, try to tailor every resume you submit to the position you’re applying for,” advises CannabizTeam President and CEO Liesl Bernard. Bernard has over two decades of experience in executive recruiting and translated her work history into a thriving business focused on connecting skilled professionals to top-tier cannabis…

Only a few months into the new year and numerous states have made progress on adult-use cannabis legislation. However, some of the states expected to legalize next may be held up for one reason or another. In other cases, bills are making their way through once restrictive states. Here is the latest on some of the states most likely to legalize in 2019. NEW JERSEY New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy began 2019 with a call to push for adult-use cannabis legalization in the state. At his State of the State address, Gov. Murphy called for reform to reverse the inequality of the War on Drugs while shifting public resources to other safety measures. Since then, not as much progress has been made as some would like. Some fear that legalization…

Over the past few years, CBD has gone from a relatively obscure substance to a well-known asset, being incorporated into everything from soap and coffee to medications and even desserts. With more and more types of products incorporating CBD, its many benefits are becoming more accepted within the general public. This is something Josie Maran had in mind when she released her newest line of CBD products. An experienced model and entrepreneur, Maran has built up quite the resume over the years, modelling for Sports Illustrated, Maybelline, and American Eagle. Eventually, her experience in the industry developed into her founding of Josie Maran Cosmetics, a skincare and cosmetics line with a dedication to environmentalism and social responsibility. 2019 saw the introduction of Skin Dope, a new line of oils incorporating…

The slow but steady legalization of cannabis throughout the U.S. has certainly opened many doors for entrepreneurs eager to enter a booming industry. However, along with this opportunity has come the need for regulation, something companies such as BioTrackTHC are looking to innovate. Based in Fort Lauderdale, BioTrackTHC’s seed-to-sale software tracking technology looks to help businesses remain compliant with tracking and reporting requirements in each state throughout the U.S. In this exclusive interview with BioTrackTHC President and CEO Patrick Vo, we discuss how his company stands out among competitors, the process of keeping cannabis away from the black market, and the integration of blockchain in seed-to-sale tracking. Cannabis & Tech Today: What makes BioTrackTHC unique among seed-to-sale tracking systems? Patrick Vo: Well, there are a lot of things that make…