Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol. 6 Issue 1 i Cannabis & Tech Today

FROM THE EDITOR “There's plenty to catch up on at any new job, especially when the work includes staying current on all things cannabis.” Hey, how's it going? I'm Andrew, the new managing editor at Cannabis & Tech Today. Some of you might recognize my work from various cannabis and media outlets or perhaps from one of my two books. There's plenty to catch up on at any new job, especially when the work includes staying current on all things cannabis. Patricia (Trish) Miller set a high bar as editor of Cannabis & Tech Today. As a freelance writer, I enjoyed working with her on two editions and, in the process, witnessed her ability to produce top-notch digital and print content. As the new managing editor, I hope to pick…

Ag-Con 2024 Indoor Ag-Con 2024 saw its largest event to date with a 16% increase in attendance and a sold-out expo floor. Held at Caesars Forum Las Vegas on March 11-12, the conference hosted 1,584 attendees from 49 states and 31 countries. The exhibitor list expanded by 54%, featuring 207 companies in 287 booths. Co-located with the National Grocers Association Show, the event attracted over 1,700 participants in total. Next year, Indoor Ag-Con will move to the Westgate Las Vegas to accommodate its considerable growth. Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference Spring 2024 The Spring 2024 edition of the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, held on April 16-17 in Hollywood, FL, attracted over 2,000 attendees, including more than 200 investors. Key highlights included sessions with industry leaders such as Kim Rivers, CEO of…

CULTIVATION // Presented By The need for innovation begins with the everyday. The practice of repetition often results in a powerful realization: your routine could improve exponentially if you just tweak the process a little. For cannabis, innovation centers on an optimized consumer experience — a.k.a., various modifications that result in the highest-quality products possible. For growers, it's universally known that one of the most important stepping stones to excellent cannabis is a proper drying and curing pathway. Once this tip became common knowledge, global growers began implementing their own methods of curing cannabis. Today, no one is refuting the importance of this step. Instead, growers are embracing curing technologies and moving from old-school jar and paper bag methods. The Humble Origins of Curing Cannabis As the cannabis industry progresses,…

While it's unlikely that a second Trump administration would actively seek to undo a finalized rescheduling, there may be a lack of urgency to expedite the process shortly after an inauguration. On the legislative front, the outlook is somewhat different. Trump's approach suggests that he may not stand in the way of any cannabis legislation that reaches his desk, particularly if it enjoys bipartisan support. However, the political landscape, characterized by potential split houses or narrow majorities in Congress, adds a layer of uncertainty to the prospects of bipartisan support and legislative action. Critical Elements in Threes As we watch the rescheduling process unfold, everyone is asking whether it will be done before the Election in November. Many also want to know if Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, wins…

BUSINESS INNOVATIONS // Presented by: Giving a Dry Cure The Cold Shoulder The process of dry curing cannabis is one of the last mystical arts left in the pantheon of the cannabis 'growtopia'. Understanding what's happening to your flower in the weeks it's hanging upside down is vital to producing a viable end product. It seems pretty straightforward, no? Find a warm, dry place to hang the plants for 'X' number of weeks until it's at the right moisture level of around 15% for the final curing stage. What's tough about that? Well, it depends where you are. I've heard hundreds of horror stories of amazing harvests completely ruined in the final stages by power cuts, inclement weather or worse — a botrytis outbreak. All in an effort to mimic the…

Mike Glazer, the L.A.-based comedian, writer, actor, and gold medal winner (yeah, that's right) has established his name as one to watch for on stage, on camera, and behind the scenes. Influenced by pot and psychedelics at times, Glazer's work demonstrates how to manage life while looking toward the bright side whenever possible. Glazer, a mainstay in the cannabis comedy and culture scene for years, is now breaking through onto the mainstream stage. The well-earned notoriety comes after years of cutting his teeth. Over the years Glazer has served as a comic at the NHL Awards and co-hosted at pot-centric events including the Emerge Virtual Cannabis Conference. A down-to-earth, funny dude in the eyes of many, Glazer's industry ascent includes being a must-have at pot events and becoming a monthly…

Anthony Coniglio is the president, Chief Executive Officer and board member of NewLake Capital Partners, Inc., an internally-managed real estate investment trust that provides real estate capital to state-licensed cannabis operators through sale-leaseback transactions and third-party purchases and funding for build-to-suit projects. Jack Grover is the founder and CEO of Grove Bags, a provider of cannabis packaging specifically tailored for the unique physiology of the plant to create the perfect climate for cannabis preservation. Patricia Miller is the former executive editor at Innovative Properties Worldwide, where she explored science, technology, and policy shaping the legal cannabis sector. Alex Rogers is the founder and CEO of the International Cannabis Business Conference, which offers world-class industry networking as well as investment and capital opportunities. The International Cannabis Business Conference has upcoming events…

SUSTAINABILITY // Presented By Power Struggle Reduced energy consumption provides the quickest path to a smaller carbon footprint. Cannabis marketers have done an excellent job creating the illusion that growing cannabis equates to being environmentally friendly, but the truth is that many environmental practices of the “green” industry are not so green. As the industry has grown, it has come under increasing criticism for its energy consumption, water use, industrial pollution, and consumer packaging waste. At the top of this list is energy use, which has emerged as the industry's biggest environmental concern. In an indoor cannabis cultivation facility, fans and lights sometimes need to be working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure a quality crop. Now, take into account that about 40% of growers in the…

Iration is an alternative reggae band with eight albums and over a billion streams and counting to its name. Each member of the five-piece act is a proponent of the plant and sustainable living. In February 2024, the band announced a partnership with Autumn Brands, a Santa Barbara-based brand of ethical growers and plant enthusiasts. As part of the deal, the two brands collaborated on a new curated line selected by the band, offering fans a curated trio of indica, sativa, and hybrid offerings. In March, Hanna Brand, Autumn Brands' owner and chief strategy officer, and Micah Brown, Iration lead guitarist and backup vocalist, spoke with Cannabis & Tech Today's Patricia Miller to discuss the collaboration, their shared views on the world, and how tech is changing the landscape for…

INNOVATOR PROFILES Cannabis & Tech Today recently announced the winners of its 2023 Innovation Awards, recognizing the most groundbreaking products and solutions in the cannabis industry. These awards celebrate the exceptional innovation, efficiency, and sustainability that these products bring to the market. The Inno Awards is the perfect opportunity to spotlight the innovative products significantly advancing the cannabis sector. The Cannabis & Tech Today Innovation Awards highlight the creativity and forward-thinking approach of companies leading the way in this dynamic industry. “Our inaugural Innovation Awards were quick to unveil the inventiveness in the current cannabis landscape,” said Cannabis & Tech Today Chief Revenue Officer Jessica Ferranti. “The winners have made remarkable strides in enhancing the cannabis industry by introducing innovative solutions that drive efficiency, sustainability, and market growth. We are…

James V. Canepa, who was named to the newly created position of Ohio's superintendent of the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) on Dec. 14, 2023, possesses a unique background. Before his new appointment, he was enjoying a successful six-year stint as Ohio's superintendent of the Division of Liquor Control. Canepa assumed his new post on Jan. 1, 2024. As superintendent, Canepa is charged with ensuring the safety of both medical and recreational cannabis, which is now legal for consumers to possess in Ohio. However, there is currently nowhere to buy legal cannabis in the state as the methods for certifying those dispensaries, laboratories, and processors have not yet been codified. When Canepa was head of the Division of Liquor Control, his department oversaw more than 80 permit types, including retail…

BUSINESS INNOVATIONS // Presented by: Can biotechnology help the cannabis industry increase accuracy and reduce testing time? Can this innovative approach help labs handle bacterial, fungal, and viral contaminants more effectively? In this chat from MJBizCon, PathogenDx Co-Founder and CEO Milan Patel and Cannabis & Tech Today's Patricia Miller discuss if DNA-based molecular testing technology is the best for traditional testing methods like petri dishes. In addition to the latest biotechnological advancements, Patel also shed light on the importance of sustainability, including minimizing plastic waste, and how these efforts contribute to the industry's environmental conservation efforts. Cannabis & Tech Today: Tell us about your company. Milan Patel: We're basically a biotech company. We make testing kits that are specifically focused on pathogens. Pathogens are bacterial, fungal, and viral organisms that…

Do you enjoy cannabis products loaded with CBG, CBN, and other minor cannabinoids? Those products may rely on sophisticated biotechnology to make their active compounds. In this on-site interview from MJBizCon 2024, Patricia Miller and Baymedica Senior Vice President and General Manager Dr. Shane Johnson delved into how companies use chemistry, like yeast fermentation, for mediation processes to harness and synthesize rare cannabinoids. With a growing demand for rare cannabinoids, such as CBC (cannabichromene) and THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin), the demand for safety and regulation only grows stronger. In this interview, Miller and Dr. Johnson delve into this demand, the future of the market, and how the current regulatory landscape benefits synthesized cannabinoids. Cannabis & Tech Today: So, you're making synthetic cannabinoids? Shane Johnson: We basically employ what would be traditional biotechnology…