Innehållsförteckning för Vol. 5 Issue 1 från Cannabis & Tech Today

Both domestically and abroad, the demand for cannabis is rising. While more access to cannabis is cause to celebrate, can the industry step up to embrace sustainable agriculture? On March 23, 2023, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres released a statement regarding the climate crisis, noting, “Climate change is making our planet uninhabitable.” Guterres went on to say humanity must “live up to our responsibilities and ensure that future generations inherit a better tomorrow.” In the spirit of this call to action, let's take a look at some of the numbers around sustainability and cultivation in the cannabis sector.…

Patrick Brown is a fourth-generation Black farmer in Henderson, North Carolina. He considers himself a steward of family land. Brown's great-grandfather Byron Brown earned 200 acres of land by sharecropping after the Civil War ended. The land gradually grew to 2,000 acres. Over the next couple of hundred years, the Brown family held on to some of the acreage and continued to improve it. Patrick took over his father's portion in 2015 and added hemp crops in 2016. Brown never imagined he would manage a large farm. Although he was raised working in the fields for the family, he left home to earn a degree. He ended up working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and traveled the world as an agricultural adviser for the United States Agency for International…

DEPARTMENTS // ESG As the cannabis industry continues to gain momentum globally, it is crucial for companies operating in this space to prioritize sustainability and align their practices with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a cultivator (or a vertically integrated company with a cultivation license) one effective way to achieve this is by implementing an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, with a strong foundation based on Regennabis’ adaptation of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's (SASB) Standard for Cultivation. The Regennabis-enhanced SASB Cultivation Standard provides a comprehensive framework for cannabis companies to identify and address the most material ESG issues associated with cannabis cultivation. It covers a wide range of topics, including energy and water use, waste management, product quality and safety, labor practices, community relations, and…

// SUSTAINABILITY // The Big Experiment Cannabis’ impact on the environment has been widely reported. Its impact on wildlife and local water systems, and the immense amounts of agricultural waste it produces, are just a few of the issues currently haunting commercial cultivators. Ecoconscious cannabis farmers are working on incorporating more sustainable farming practices, like rainwater collection and composting, into their production. Yet, few have considered tackling these issues from a macro perspective, which works toward truly sustainable commercial cultivation within a broader biodiverse ecosystem. Permaculture, a decades-old ideology, addresses cannabis’ environmental issues head on. But, interestingly, it's never been applied at scale to commercial cannabis cultivation. Now, the founders of a Connecticut hemp farm have teamed up with a climate scientist to put permaculture's fundamental principles into practice within the…

Technology has been big business in Washington state for decades. Its tech-forward atmosphere is ushering in a wave of innovation from cannabis companies. Cultivators, retailers, and manufacturers are finding new ways to automate processes and streamline production. Washington makes an attractive headquarters for businesses thanks to its strong economy, highly educated workforce, low cost of living, and zero state income tax. STM Canna is a pre-roll automation company based in Spokane that's been developing technology solutions for cannabis companies since 2017. STM's Marketing Coordinator Chanse Watson believes the company's location is pivotal to its ability to set itself apart in the marketplace. “Washington is very tech savvy and open to technology companies and friendly to the cannabis industry” Watson noted. As a veteran-owned company specializing in American-made products, a spirit…

“In the city, city of Compton…” Go ahead, let your brain sing the rest of the song. 2Pac and Dr. Dre's Grammy-Award-winning track “California Love” topped the charts in the mid-90s, adding to Death Row Records’ acclaim as a hitmaking label. The West Coast franchise launched in 1992 under the leadership of Marion “Suge” Knight and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young. A year later the label signed Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus, Jr. and released his first album, Doggystyle, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Skip past the conflicts and tragedy that defined Death Row in the late 90s and flash forward to 2022. Snoop Dogg, who premiered with the label before ultimately parting ways, took control of the company last year and acquired rights to its trademarks. The…

Love Yer Brain Gummies — When inspiration strikes, these strain-specific, live-resin gummies will elevate your creativity and ignite your curiosity. Developed by Wayne Coyne of the American psychedelic rock band The Flaming Lips, Love Yer Brain gummies are available in three flavors: Watermelon, Green Apple, and Blue Raspberry, with potency varying from lOmg to 25mg. Each flavor is derived from a strain that stimulates creativity, like Sour Diesel, Purple Haze, or Dosidos. Coynes brain-shaped edibles are for sale at select retailers in Oklahoma, with New Mexico coming soon. Prices vary by retailer. Malus Granny Smith OG — This lightly infused cider is perfect for an afternoon barbecue or stroll through the park. At just lmg of THC per can, Malus offers an uplifting, consistent experience with flavors reminiscent of lemon…

It's 8:15 a.m. and you're running late for work. As you grab your keys and scramble for the door, there's a “boop” against your calf. At your feet sits a sad canine with big, mournful eyes, begging you not to leave. It's a daily experience for many dog owners. If only there were some way to calm their fears and leave them in a more relaxed state … Recent research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that CBD may help. Reportedly separation-related anxiety is the cause of up to 50% of referral cases to behaviorists. The study titled “A single dose of cannabidiol positively influences measures of stress in dogs during separation and car travel,” is just one in a growing body of veterinary research around cannabinoids. Separation and…

Cannabis isn't all fun and games. But sometimes, it is! SOHiGH by Affektiv Games is a cannabis game show where contestants are asked to take part in various competitions, from building a bong with random objects or answering cannabis-themed questions, all while under the influence of copious quantities of cannabis. Consumption is voluntary but it wouldn't really be SOHiGH without a little smoke beforehand. SOHiGH originated on YouTube and is now available on CBDTV, a streaming channel dedicated to cannabis content. Founder Chris Abney came up with the idea one night while searching for a cannabis card game. When he couldn't find what he was seeking, he made up his own. After several iterations while testing the concept around the community, Abney had the foundations for SOHiGH, the cannabis game…

According to numerous studies, patients in the United States are frustrated with the healthcare system. In a retrospective study by The National Institutes of Health in 2018 involving 587 patients, 77% cited lack of empathy and nonchalant treatment as their biggest complaints. Fifty-five percent reported being annoyed by physicians’ poor communication and refusal to involve their patients in treatment approaches. In 2021, Harvard Medical School published the article “Is Our Healthcare System Broken?” in which they concluded patients’ top complaints were: • Skyrocketing costs combined with insurance companies’ frequent denial of coverage • The prescription pad vs. lifestyle changes and/or plant medicine • Treating symptoms vs. getting to the root cause • Prescribing medications with dangerous side effects • Uneven access to healthcare for communities of color and those from…

Growing up in New York, I loved the griddled corn muffins you could get in diners. You could also get a cup of lousy coffee for a dime. This recipe takes the griddled corn muffin to a very special place. If you are using medicated cornbread, use regular butter for the sauteing unless you want that double dose. No judgments here! Griddled Cornbread (from HERB: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis) Yield: 4 Servings Difficulty: Easy What You'll Need: ■ 2 tablespoons butter ■ 4 teaspoons canna-butter ■ 4 slices cornbread, recipe below ■ 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt ■ 1 cup mixed seasonal fruit Directions: 1. In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butters. When foaming, add the cornbread and saute for 3-4 minutes. Flip and sauté on…

Welcome to the Lighter Side of the magazine. The part where we leave you with a funny thought or idea to make your day, you know… lighter. The thing is, sometimes writers run out of things to write, despite having all the cannabis samples in the world to inspire us, we just run out. Following in the footsteps of pretty much every college student, when faced with nothing to write, I turned to ChatGPT to do my job. I mean why not? This is Cannabis & Tech Today, why not use tech to do my job? How hard can it be? Apparently, funny isjust as hard for ChatGPT as it can be for us humans. Ok, I can let slide the “I do not have the ability to identify humor…

If you're a woman working in a STEM field and considering pivoting to a career in cannabis, there's never been a better time. Year-over-year sales for the industry have seen steady growth. In 2015, MJBizDaily reported cannabis sales reached $3.18 billion annually. By the end of 2022, the industry saw sales rise to $33 billion. Based on this trend, MJBizDaily and other industry analysts believe that by 2026, sales will exceed $50 billion. Indeed, these are difficult projections to make. As more states and U.S. territories continue legalizing cannabis for either medicinal or adult use, these figures could prove conservative. And if the feds can get their act together to legalize on a federal level, there's no telling how this will positively impact sales. As the industry continues growing, whether…

Welcome to the latest installment of the Cannabis Clock — our countdown to the federal legalization of cannabis. When the Cannabis Clock reaches midnight, we will have achieved federal legalization. The last time we checked in, it was 11:53 p.m. Now, let's examine the latest developments at the state and federal levels. This will inform the new clock time … and our new countdown. Federal Updates Federally speaking, quite a few things have happened since we last checked in. In Oct. 2022, the Biden administration announced it would pardon a group of offenders arrested for simple possession of cannabis. Sounds good, right? Well, yes. But these pardons were for people charged with simple possession at the federal level — only about 6,500 people. While meaningful, one could argue the true…

Growing cannabis with crypto? It may sound like the plot for a new HBO television series, but this once far-fetched concept is now a reality. It s all thanks to a new business strategy courtesy of California nursery Mendocino Clone Company. In January, the nursery was announced as a combined venture from tech firm Global Compliance and the EMTRI project, the latter of which focuses on Northern California's legendary Emerald Triangle region and bills itself as “a complete ecosystem created to build better outcomes throughout the entire cannabis supply chain.” Together, they're hoping to prove that utilizing smart contracts to verify the authenticity of plants is the way of the future for cannabis cultivators. Smart contracts serve the blockchain by acting as programs set to run upon completion of predetermined…

// REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT WASHINGTON // Presented by MM MELTTOMAKE™ Washington state is known for its diverse geography, fertile growing regions, and major metropolitan areas such as Seattle and Tacoma. Since it became the second state to legalize cannabis for adult use in 2012, it's been central to America's developing cannabis industry. It has also served as an example of what to do and what to avoid when rolling out a newly regulated industry. Its cannabis taxes are among the highest in the country at 46.2%, including excise, state, and local taxes. While high taxation has made it difficult for consumers to turn away from the illicit marketplace, taxes and license fees continue to bring in hundreds of millions in revenue for the state. Healthcare and law enforcement are two of the primary…

Washingtonians are known for their healthy lifestyle. It's the ninth healthiest state in the country, according to Sharecare's annual Community Well-Being Index. It's also a state that prides itself on sustainability and ecoconsciousness. WalletHub ranked it the ninth most environmentally friendly state in the U.S. Is it Washington's unprecedented access to medical cannabis that's driving a trend toward health and environmental wellness? There aren't many metrics to measure causation between cannabis legalization and citizen health, but states led by Democrats tend to be more eco-friendly, according to WalletHub. Plus, blue state citizens are on average healthier and more accepting of cannabis decriminalization. At the intersection of these areas are health and wellness companies specializing in sustainably-produced products. Verdant Leaf, a cannabis company and beneficial mushroom producer has been selling mushroom…

// MEDIA+ENTERTAINMENT // Something about Ivan Moody's vocals cut through a person. Listening to “Wrong Side of Heaven” while writing this article gave me goosebumps. There's an intensity and sincerity that comes across in his songs. When I last interviewed him via phone in 2021, the same raw clarity came through in his voice as he told me about Moody's Medicinals and his graphic novel Dirty Poetry. His emotional vulnerability is likely a large part of the success of Five Finger Death Punch. The band recently tied with Foo Fighters and Shinedown for the most top 10s in the history of Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Its multiple platinum-selling albums further define the band as one of the most successful heavy metal groups of the last decade. When Moody discusses…

In recent years, blockchain technology has emerged as a powerful tool with the potential to revolutionize various industries. A partnership between ACS Laboratory, the largest hemp and cannabis testing facility in the eastern United States, and Blockticity, a leader in guaranteed certificates of authenticity, is a prime example of how this technology is being leveraged for innovation. The collaboration resulted in a blockchain-based certificate of authenticity (COA) verification process for the cannabis and hemp industries, setting a new standard for transparency and security. Blockchain technology's impact extends far beyond this particular application, with the potential to transform certification systems across numerous industries. Verified COAs are Critical to Consumers The hemp, cannabis, mushroom, and Kratom industries face challenges such as supply chain transparency, quality control, and regulatory compliance. Fortunately, blockchain technology…