Author: News Room

Cannabis Business Times regularly interviews cannabis cultivators to learn more about how they manage their growing operations, including top tips for success, tools and technologies they couldn’t live without, and how they deal with perennial challenges like burnout. In this installment, Joe Gibson, head grower at Gibby’s Garden, details how he took his skills from home growing to a professional level. Read more about Gibby’s Garden in CBT’s December issue.  Name: Joe GibsonCompany: Gibby’s GardenLocation: Uxbridge, Mass.Title: Head GrowerIndoor, outdoor, greenhouse or a combination?Indoor. Q: Can you share a bit of your background and how you and your company got to the present day?A: I am a cannabis enthusiast…

The head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says that the Biden administration is committed to supporting evidence-based policies for marijuana as it works to complete a review of federal cannabis scheduling that was directed by the president. That science-focused approach also applies to policy decisions on other drugs, he said. At an event on overdose prevention on Friday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra was asked about broad drug decriminalization efforts. And while he said that it isn’t within the department’s “jurisdiction” to make policy decisions like that, the government won’t be using “20th century modalities and…

TORONTO, Dec. 2, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – TerrAscend Corp., a leading North American cannabis operator, announced the appointment of Ira Duarte to its board of directors, effective immediately. In addition, Duarte will serve as the chair of the Audit Committee of the board.Duarte is an accomplished senior finance professional with more than 25 years of experience in a variety of finance, accounting and auditing leadership roles. She currently serves as chief financial officer of Veloxis Pharmaceuticals Inc., a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the global development and commercialization of medications utilized by organ transplant patients. Prior to joining Veloxis, Duarte…

The Department of Justice sent a memo to the congressional lawmakers about a marijuana banking bill that’s expected to be taken up imminently, saying the legislation as drafted could “significantly complicate law enforcement investigations and prosecutions” of crimes involving other drugs or money laundering. However, the agency did suggest that the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act is fixable from its perspective and offered guidance on how to resolve various issues. And Senate sources told Marijuana Moment on Friday that since receiving the memo earlier this year, lawmakers have effectively addressed DOJ’s concerns as a product of bipartisan negotiations…

MIAMI, Florida., Dec. 02, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Ayr Wellness Inc., a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator, announced its three retail locations in New Jersey, formerly known as Garden State Dispensary, are now operating under the AYR dispensary name.Since acquiring Garden State Dispensary in September 2021, Ayr has made significant progress in elevating key facets of the business, including improvements to the menu and overall retail experience. 2022 has been a pivotal year for the company in New Jersey, as it opened a large-scale cultivation expansion, launched adult-use sales at its three retail locations, the maximum allowed in the…

Florida’s agriculture commissioner is calling out Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over his decision to cancel an executive clemency board meeting that she hoped would be used to facilitate pardons for people with marijuana convictions on their records. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) sent a letter to the governor on Wednesday to express her frustration over what she described as a “dereliction of duty” by cancelling the final Clemency Board meeting of the year. Fried previously sent a letter to DeSantis in October requesting that he place cannabis clemency on the board’s agenda for the now-cancelled December meeting. Florida Sen. Shevrin…

The Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) issued a letter to the industry Nov. 30 to say that regulators will cease enforcement of residency requirements for the state’s cannabis dispensaries and caregivers.The move follows an August court ruling that the state’s residency requirement for cannabis business owners is unconstitutional.RELATED: US Circuit Court Ruling Demonstrates Cannabis Businesses’ Constitutional Rights, Attorney SaysA First Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 Aug. 17 to uphold a Maine federal judge’s August 2021 decision that overturned the residency requirement.The state then appealed the ruling.In light of the decision from the Court of Appeals for the…

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – TerrAscend Corp., a North American cannabis operator, announced that its subsidiary, WDB Holding MI Inc., and all subsidiaries of TerrAscend (collectively, the “borrowers”), refinanced the existing senior secured term loan of $55 million previously announced on Nov. 22, 2021 (the “Michigan loan”), pursuant to an amendment. The amendment provides for a senior secured term loan with a principal amount of $25 million, plus incremental term loans of $30 million at the option of TerrAscend and subject to consents from the required lenders for an aggregate amount of $55 million. On Nov. 29, 2022, the borrowers repaid $55 million outstanding principal amount under the original Michigan…

Over 50,000 valid petition signatures have been collected to place an adult-use legalization measure on the 2024 ballot in Florida.The initiative, “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana,” sponsored by political committee Smart & State Florida, would allow adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or consume adult-use cannabis.The measure would also allow “Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and other state licensed entities to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories,” according to the proposal text.The initiative has received 53,702 valid signatures, but to qualify for the 2024 ballot, Smart & State Florida must submit 837,887 additional signatures…

Hello Stargazers! Happy Holidays and festive greetings. December is a happy time of year for many, but if the holidays aren’t your bag, do not stress. Whether you’re flying solo this holiday season or gathering with those you love, remember that this is a crucial month to take care of your health and well-being—as much as it is humanly possible to do!  As for the stars, December is shaping up to be a warm (metaphorically speaking) and generous month. Mercury saunters into Capricorn on December 6, followed closely by a full moon in Gemini on December 7. Jupiter pays a…