Tag Archives: cannabis

Chris Beals on Legalization and its Effects on the Market | The CSE Podcast Ep11-S2

CSE’s Barrington Miller is joined by Chris Beals, CEO of Weedmaps, to discuss their role as a technology company that provides a comprehensive platform allowing consumers to access and locate cannabis goods and services. The conversation also addresses the effects of legalization on Weedmaps as well as the larger cannabis business community.

Here’s an overview of what Barrington and Chris discuss in this edition of the “Exchange for Entrepreneurs” podcast:

0:00 – Introducing Chris Beals and Weedmaps
2:31 – Weedmaps’ connection to Toronto
4:41 – Interesting findings from data collected using the Weedmaps platform
7:21 – Ubiquity of Weedmaps’ software
8:45 – Legalization and how it affects Weedmaps
14:51 – How Europe deals with legalization relating to cannabis
17:51 – What to expect from Weedmaps in the future
20:16 – Will Weedmaps be joining the Metaverse?

About Weedmaps
The company was founded in 2008 with a strong belief in the power of cannabis and the importance of enabling safe, legal access to consumers worldwide. Since then, WM Technology has worked tirelessly, not only to be the most comprehensive platform for consumers, but to build the software solutions that power businesses compliantly in the space, to advocate for legalization, social equity, and licensing in many jurisdictions, and to facilitate further learning through partnering with dozens of subject matter experts on providing detailed, accurate information about the plant.

Learn more about Weedmaps at https://weedmaps.com/

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Adriana Kertzer on Representing the Power of the Plant | The CSE Podcast Ep9-S2

CSE’s Barrington Miller is joined by Adriana Kertzer, Co-Founder of Plant Medicine Law Group, to discuss the unique aspects of representing clients in the cannabis and psychedelics sectors, ongoing policy and regulation issues, and what makes their law firm different from others in this space. The conversation also highlights Adriana’s thoughts on how she sees the plant medicine landscape evolving.

Here’s an overview of what Barrington and Adriana discuss in this edition of the “Exchange for Entrepreneurs” podcast:

0:00 – Introducing Adriana Kertzer and Plant Medicine Law Group
4:13 – Client segments across the psychedelic and cannabis industries
7:43 – A diversity of opinions on plant medicine policy
15:40 – Legality and the psychedelic ecosystem
23:49 – Unique differentiators of Plant Medicine Law Group
28:28 – Going public and being part of a larger community

About Plant Medicine Law Group
Plant Medicine Law Group expands equitable and legal access to plant medicine by helping companies in the psychedelic and cannabis industries thrive in a complex, emerging market. Their strategic expertise empowers clients to successfully launch, fund and scale their business.

Learn more about Plant Medicine Law Group at https://www.plantmedicinelaw.com/

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Anthony Durkacz on Building a Turnaround at FSD Pharma | The CSE Podcast Ep6-S2

CSE’s Barrington Miller is joined by Anthony Durkacz, Interim CEO of FSD Pharma (CSE:HUGE) to discuss the company’s recent history and transition from the cannabis-era to new opportunities in the growing psychedelics space.

Here’s an overview of what Barrington and Anthony discuss in this edition of the “Exchange for Entrepreneurs” podcast:

0:00 – Introducing Anthony Durkacz, Interim CEO of FSD Pharma
5:45 – Working back towards a 1Bn market cap
8:10 – The latest investment in Lucid Psycheceuticals Inc. and treating MS
10:50 – The psychedelics movement
14:13 – Listing on NASDAQ

About FSD Pharma Inc.
FSD Pharma, Inc., is a publicly traded holding company since May 2018.

FSD BioSciences, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a specialty biotech pharmaceutical R&D company focused on developing over time multiple applications of its lead compound, FSD201, ultra-micronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Ultra-micro PEA is known to target the CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system of the human body and acts by down-regulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines to effectuate an anti-inflammatory response.

The company has successfully completed Phase 1 first-in-human safety and tolerability study for FSD201 and has found the compound to be safe with no serious adverse side effects. This study also validated considerable scientific literature already published in the European Union that claims safety and tolerability of micro-PEA. Ultra-micro PEA is currently beings dispensed in Italy and Spain as a prescription based medical food supplement since 2004.

The company received permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 1, 2020 to submit an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for the use of FSD201 to treat COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Severe COVID-19 is characterized by an over-exuberant inflammatory response that may lead to a cytokine storm and ultimately death. The Company is focused on developing FSD201 for its anti-inflammatory properties to avoid the cytokine storm associated with acute lung injury in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Learn more about FSD Pharma at FSD Pharma Inc. Subordinate Voting Shares | CSE – Canadian Securities Exchange (thecse.com)

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Sean Bovingdon on TGOD and Delivering Craft Cannabis at Scale | The CSE Podcast Ep4-S2

CSE’s Barrington Miller is joined by Sean Bovingdon, CEO of The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (CSE:TGOD) to discuss how his company’s expanded focus on the US and recent listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange is setting course for a bright future for the firm.

Here’s an overview of what Barrington and Sean cover in this edition of the “Exchange for Entrepreneurs” podcast:

0:00 – Introducing Sean Bovingdon and TGOD
1:45 – Sean’s past experience in global growth companies
4:30 – The features of organic cannabis
6:54 – Delivering “craft cannabis” at scale
9:20 – Shifting focus to local markets, the US and paying debt
13:53 – Growing revenue and being agile during COVID
16:50 – Prospects for Germany and Mexico
19:00 – What really matters in the cannabis industry

About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd.
The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. is a premium certified organically grown cannabis company focused on the health and wellness market. Its organic cannabis is cultivated in living soil, as nature intended. The Company is committed to cultivating a better tomorrow by producing its products responsibly, with less waste and impact on the environment. In Canada, TGOD sells dried flower and oil, and recently launched a series of next‐generation cannabis products such as hash, vapes, organic teas and dissolvable powders.

Learn more about The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. at The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. | CSE – Canadian Securities Exchange (thecse.com)

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Andrew Thut on Building Large Scale Cultivation for Long Term Growth | #HashtagFinance

CSE’s Barrington Miller chats with Andrew Thut, Chief Investment Officer of 4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE:FFNT) to discuss the company’s commitment to scalable cultivation and out performing black market prices by double digits. Andrew also reflects on how the industry has evolved since his entry into the sector in the mid 2010s.

Here’s an overview of what Barrington and Andrew cover in this edition of the #HashtagFinance podcast:

0:00 – Introducing Andrew THUT and 4Front Ventures
1:30 – The advantage of being an MSO in the US
4:00 – Lessons learned from the early days of cannabis
6:20 – How Andrew’s “safe” banking career transitioned to cannabis
11:20 – What 4Front figured out about low-cost production
14:30 – The impact of inter-state commerce in the cannabis industry
20:40 – Illinois v Massachusetts
23:50 – The catalysts for 4Front in 2021
25:50 – “Know what you own”
28:00 – The Golden Age of Cannabis?

About 4Front Ventures Corp.
4Front (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) is a national multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, with a market advantage in mass-produced, low-cost quality branded cannabis products. 4Front manufactures and distributes a portfolio of over 25 cannabis brands including Marmas, Crystal Clear, Funky Monkey, Pebbles, and the Pure Ratios wellness collection, distributed through retail outlets and their chain of strategically positioned Mission branded dispensaries.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, 4Front has operations in Illinois, Massachusetts, California, Michigan, and Washington state. From plant genetics to the cannabis retail experience, 4Front’s team applies expertise across the entire cannabis value chain. For more information, visit 4Front’s website www.4frontventures.com.

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Planet 13 Holdings: Doing things “Vegas style” fuels the growth at this one-of-a-kind cannabis company

Media coverage of the cannabis sector these days would lead you to think that nobody in the industry makes any money, yet nothing could be further from the truth. There are many profitable companies out there, and others a stone’s throw away.

One of those companies is Las Vegas–based Planet 13 Holdings (CSE:PLTH), whose retail footprint is truly beyond compare. But more on that in just a moment.

What makes Planet 13 successful in its Nevada home market is simple: vertical integration and high visibility. This means the company can grow its own cannabis and make its own products for the wholesale, medical and retail markets. It sells its popular brands at its wholly owned store in Las Vegas, as well as at dispensaries owned by others.

The company currently has three cultivation sites, plus three production facilities to make edibles and other products. But its biggest claim to fame is the SuperStore dispensary, the Planet 13 Cannabis Entertainment Complex located not far from the famous Las Vegas Strip.

At 112,000 square feet, the SuperStore is the biggest cannabis store in the world, attracting 1 million visitors and generating US$63 million in revenue in 2019. That represents about one in 10 cannabis sales in the state. Plans call for opening a second Las Vegas dispensary, as well as for launching Planet 13’s first retail location in California, in the first half of 2021.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic cut into SuperStore sales during springtime, the top line has since enjoyed a steady rebound. For the third quarter, which ended September 30, revenue is expected to be $22.8 million, representing a 110% increase over the previous quarter.

Public Entrepreneur discussed the state of operations, effects from COVID-19 and growth plans with Planet 13 Co-Chief Executive Officer Bob Groesbeck.

Operating the largest cannabis retail store in the world, Planet 13 is a barometer on how the cannabis market is doing. Talk to us about retail sales and cultivation.

Business has been fantastic despite COVID-19 reducing tourist traffic to Las Vegas. We pre-released our third-quarter revenue number, and it is the highest in our company’s history.

Growth this quarter reflects improvements at the SuperStore, which drove a higher ticket; improvement in our delivery services, which increased our share of local cannabis revenue; and growth on the wholesale side of the business.

How did the COVID-19 lockdown affect sales, and what have you seen since?

It had a dramatic effect on our business in Q2. Nevada shut all dispensaries and required delivery-only sales. This forced us to adapt and improve our business, which, again, has really driven growth for us and enabled the market share gain in Q3.

Las Vegas is still feeling the effects of COVID, and you can see it in the tourist traffic, which is less than 40% of what it usually is this time of year. It makes what we’ve done in Q3 all the more impressive. We sell primarily to tourists and were somehow able to grow revenue despite visitor numbers being way down

Why and how did you get into the cannabis business?

Larry (Larry Scheffler, Planet 13 Co-CEO) and I met when we were both members of the Henderson City Council in the mid-1990s. We continued that relationship in business after we left the City Council. We were intrigued when we heard in late 2013 that Nevada was going to allow medical marijuana facilities to open. We immediately recognized how much of a transformational event this was and decided quickly that we wanted to be involved. And, as longtime residents of southern Nevada, we wanted to do it “Vegas style” – an over-the-top cannabis experience.

What has been Planet 13’s biggest success and its biggest regret?

Our biggest success to date is the Las Vegas SuperStore. We set out to build something unique – a truly special customer experience. And we’ve created a piece of Las Vegas. What Steve Wynn did for the club experience, we’ve done for the cannabis experience. As for regrets, it is really just delays on some regulatory things. We would love to already have our cannabis consumption lounges open. 

What are the biggest obstacles to opening and running a dispensary, especially one on the scale of the SuperStore? 

For us, it was primarily obtaining a licence and finding a location where a dispensary like the Planet 13 SuperStore could thrive. We operate a different dispensary that is completely experience-based. As a result, we require a larger dispensary that has parking and easy access from tourist hot spots. To give you an example, we looked at over 100 locations before finding our new location in Santa Ana, California.

How important has vertical integration been to your success?

Planet 13 is a vertically integrated business, but it’s really important to understand that we create a one-of-a-kind customer experience. At the SuperStore we combine entertainment, customer service and best-in-class choice and product quality. While we are a retailer first, having in-house production and our own products contributes a great deal to our success. We routinely have different products in Nevada’s 10 top-selling SKUs.

How does the company plan to grow? Will it be M&A, organic growth or a mix of the two?

It will be both. We will continue expanding in Nevada organically, opening another store and expanding delivery and wholesale. We will also be opening the store in Santa Ana. Outside of that, we are actively looking at M&A to expand into other tier-one cities where SuperStores could do well. 

Those are some big plans. Briefly review the balance sheet for us – is the cash already there to support the expansion?

We are in a strong financial position. We’ve done three financings in the last couple of months and have approximately $60 million in cash on the balance sheet and essentially no debt. We’ve historically been cash-flow positive so are set for accretive growth. 

What are the objectives for the next 12 months and the strategy for achieving them?

We’ve laid out a clear roadmap for investors. We are opening our next SuperStore in Santa Ana and over the next couple of years would like to have SuperStores in major cities and tourist locations across the US. We’re talking places such as Chicago, Boston, Phoenix and also Orlando, if Florida shifts to recreational legalization. 

As a final question, what would be your best advice for companies seeking to enter the cannabis industry?

It is the same as any other business. Focus on figuring out what the customer wants and then give it to them.

This story was featured in the Public Entrepreneur magazine.

Learn more about Planet 13 Holdings Inc.
at https://www.planet13holdings.com/ 

Chris Driessen on Building “THE” House of Brands in Cannabis | #HashtagFinance

CSE’s Barrington Miller is joined by Chris Driessen, CEO of SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CSE:SLNG) to discuss how he is applying his skill set in his recently appointed role as CEO and what he thinks it means to build “THE” ‘House of Brands’ in the cannabis industry.

Here’s an overview of what Barrington and Chris cover in this edition of the #HashtagFinance podcast:

0:35 – Introducing Chris Driessen
3:55 – How to compete in the Colorado market
5:41 – Building ‘THE’ House of Brands
7:35 – Upcoming milestones for 2021
9:20 – The foundation of SLANG’s culture
12:30 – Popular products during COVID
15:35 – Discussing Colorado – an early hot spot for the industry
17:35 – Why North American footprint is critical
19:00 – What are the company’s KPIs?
22:50 – The importance of making good on promises

About SLANG Worldwide Inc.
SLANG Worldwide Inc. is a global leader in the cannabis CPG sector with a diversified portfolio of popular brands distributed across the United States. The Company specializes in acquiring and developing market-proven regional brands as well as launching innovative new brands to seize global market opportunities. SLANG is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol SLNG and on the OTCQB under the symbol SLGWF.

Learn more about SLANG Worldwide at https://thecse.com/en/listings/life-sciences/slang-worldwide-inc

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Sky Pinnick on Building an Authentic Cannabis Brand from Nevada | #HashtagFinance

CSE’s Anil Mall chats with Sky Pinnick, CMO of C21 Investments Inc. (CSE:CXXI), to discuss the company’s retail footprint off “the strip” in Nevada and how Sky is applying his 20-year experience in filmmaking to craft an authentic brand around C21 and its products.

Here’s an overview of what Anil and Sky cover in this edition of the #HashtagFinance podcast:

0:35 – Introducing Sky Pinnick
1:48 – C21: A profitable model in the cannabis sector
2:59 – Weathering the pandemic “storm”
5:55 – Introducing Bruce Macdonald as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
6:18 – What Sonny Newman brings to the table as CEO
8:44 – Silver State Relief – 40K walk-in customers per month
10:55 – Staying off “the strip”
11:18 – The expectations of the “green rush”
16:35 – Why it is ok to wait for Federal Legalization
19:14 – The customer experience in Nevada
22:09 – Sky’s role at C21 and his background in film
26:49 – Sky’s passion for the plant
29:35 – Battling the cannabis stigma
32:00 – Milestones ahead for C21

About C21 Investments Inc.
C21 Investments is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and distributes quality cannabis and hemp-derived consumer products in the United States. The Company is focused on value creation through the disciplined acquisition and integration of core retail, manufacturing, and distribution assets in strategic markets, leveraging industry-leading retail revenues with high-growth potential multi-market branded consumer packaged goods. The Company owns Silver State Relief and Silver State Cultivation in Nevada, and Phantom Farms, Swell Companies, Eco Firma Farms, and Pure Green in Oregon. These brands produce and distribute a broad range of THC and CBD products from cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, cannabis oil, vaporizer cartridges and edibles. Based in Vancouver, Canada, additional information on C21 Investments can be found at www.sedar.com and www.cxxi.ca.

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Bob Groesbeck on the Vegas Retail Rollercoaster of 2020 | #HashtagFinance

CSE’s Barrington Miller chats with Bob Groesbeck, Co-CEO of Planet 13 Holdings Inc. (CSE:PLTH) about his company’s challenges – and newfound opportunities – serving customers through their Vegas SuperStore during the pandemic:

0:35 – Introducing Planet 13 holdings – an entertainment company
1:35 – Life since MJBiz in Vegas
4:33 – Having the team to make the transition to delivery possible
7:03 – The Planet 13 product offerings – expansion of the house brand
10:24 – Current tourism trends
12:58 – What the company plans to do with its recently raised funds
14:49 – Post-COVID plans
16:44 – Origin of the Planet 13 name

Planet 13 is a vertically integrated cannabis company based in Nevada, with award-winning cultivation, production and dispensary operations in Las Vegas – the entertainment capital of the world. Planet 13’s mission is to build a recognizable global brand known for world-class dispensary operations and a creator of innovative cannabis products. Planet 13’s shares trade on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) under the symbol PLTH and OTCQX under the symbol PLNHF.

Related links
www.planet13holdings.com
https://thecse.com/en/listings/life-sciences/planet-13-holdings-inc

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Brad Moore on Leveraging Blockchain to Improve Outcomes for Medical Cannabis Patients | #HashtagFinance

CSE’s Barrington Miller chats with Brad Moore, CEO of Global Cannabis Applications Corp. (CSE:APP) about his company’s ambitions as a technology company that strives to improve medical cannabis patients’ outcomes through the gathering and analysis of deep data.

Here’s an overview of what Barrington and Brad cover in this edition of the #HashtagFinance podcast:

1.10 – Virtual work is nothing new for Brad and his international team.
3:35 – GCAC’s Israeli technology connection.
6:01 – How Brad has applied his military mindset into the cannabis/tech industries.
9:53 – The impact of the early 2018 cannabis “craze” on the company.
13:54 – Defining 2020 as the year of the (delayed) balance sheet.
15:46 – The application of blockchain on their business model.
18:20 – Building data points during COVID.
19:35 – The differentiator.
23:53 – The power of data to improve patient incomes.
28:47 – What a potential exit path looks like for the company.

Current approval processes for medical treatments generally start with a formulation of elements. The objective of any clinical study is to ensure efficacy, and safety, within a fixed sampling size. However as cannabis is a plant, and each plant is unique, the challenges have been in ensuring that each gram tested would provide a consistent result. In response to these challenges, GCAC has developed a patent-pending data model called, Seed to Seed.

GCAC’s approach is to measure an individual’s unique treatment experience on a per dosage basis. By digitally measuring both the biometric & anecdotal feedback and comparing that to others using the same or similar products on a large scale, GCAC can provide an averaged efficacy rating for the treatment used. This is accomplished through a proprietary system of mobile applications, heart monitoring biometrics, Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. When integrated with blockchain seed to sale solutions, GCAC technology will be able to recommend “how to treat ailment X with product Y at a given point in time under a set of circumstances”. By securing this information on an EU GDPR complaint blockchain, their data outputs are comparable to results generated by a regulatory approval process.

Related links:
https://thecse.com/en/listings/technology/global-cannabis-applications-corp

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