BudDigest

In this insightful Q&A, we sit down with George Jage, co-founder of Jage Media and one of the organizers behind the popular cannabis trade show event, MJ Unpacked, coming to Atlantic City, New Jersey, this April. Having been organizing cannabis industry events for nearly a decade, George is at the forefront of convening cannabis entrepreneurs and investors, and has been navigating the complex landscape long before the ink dried on today’s regulatory frameworks. George also has a seasoned background in fundraising and a knack for fostering environments ripe for growth and collaboration. In this interview, George joins us to discuss:

The evolution of the cannabis industry from its early, unregulated days to the current environment. How MJ Unpacked provides unique value as an event exclusively attended by license holders, applicants, investors, and other qualified guests. How license holders and applicants can maximize the value of their attendance if they’re seeking investor financing. What prospects and challenges for the cannabis industry lie ahead going into 2024.

Read the full interview below!

You have been coordinating gatherings for cannabis entrepreneurs and investors since before most of the current regulations were even written, and in those days, everyone had a

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When it comes to taking moisture measurements, not all sensors are created equal. Here’s the challenge…

Growing outdoors in soil versus growing in a greenhouse or indoor environment using Rockwool or other substrate materials, is not the same. The main reason is that the electrical conductivity (EC) in soil is typically less than 0.5 dS/m. On the other hand, substrate materials contain much more water than soil, and this water typically has higher conductivity due to the much higher nutrient concentration. As a result, EC values are typically 10-20 times higher in substrate materials than in soil.

And yet, all the instruments cultivators use to take moisture measurements were designed only with soil in mind. These instruments are not new; they’ve been around for 50 years and have served traditional agriculture well. But when we tried to use such instruments in greenhouse environments in recent years, the limitations of these technologies became apparent.

Consider a sample material between two electrodes. If the material is conductive, the system can be represented as a capacitance and a resistance in parallel. The capacitance accounts for the amount of water in this supposedly porous material; the resistance (reciprocal of conductance) accounts for the presence

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A new Bushwick marijuana dispensary is facing backlash after painting over a mural of Biggie Smalls. The tribute, painted by Huetek, which featured Biggie as a baby with the name “Brooklyn,” had adorned a wall at 85 Suydamn St for about three years before The Emerald Dispensary moved in. Co-founder Christina De Giovanni told the New York Post that advertising regulations from the New York Office of Cannabis Management had forced them cover it, and that they “didn’t want to take it down.”

“[The state compliance officer] said, ‘if the inspector sees it and says no, you’re going to have to delay your opening,’” De Giovanni told the Post, continuing that regulations only allow the name and nature of the business, store hours, address, and phone number to be displayed, with any signage offering “enticement” prohibited.

De Giovanni told the Post that she and fellow co-founder Ray Roman had used “removable anti-graffiti paint” to cover the mural and said, “it’s really unfortunate that we haven’t had the opportunity to get an honest start before getting backlash for something that wasn’t our decision.” She added, “our next move is to work with regulators to try to change this.”

Roman told the

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As Lake Zurich officials look to shore up the town’s Main Street area, the Village Board was presented with two proposals for redevelopment there that would bring retail space and a cannabis dispensary – all of which trustees seemed open to.

One proposal presented at the Feb. 5 meeting called for redeveloping the retail spaces at Old Rand Road and Main Street. The second was for a cannabis store in a vacant storefront at the Oakwood Commons Shopping Center, 680 Route 22.

Both presentations were informational only and the board did not take any action. Developers for the respective projects sought to gauge board support for the potential plans, and trustees and the mayor seemed amenable to both ideas. 

“Making our Main Street District more of a destination has been a top goal of our community for many years,” Kyle Kordell, the village’s management services director, told Pioneer Press in an email after the Village Board meeting. “We’ve taken a lot of big strides in this direction over the last few years and we think this proposal is another step in the right direction.”

The Old Rand Road project was presented by a representative from True North Properties, a Chicagoland real

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The California cannabis industry could experience significant changes under a draft bill introduced last week to the California Assembly, according to a Canna Law Blog analysis.

Sponsored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, the draft bill AB-2223 could have some major implications for the industry, including:

Cannabis manufacturers and other operators would be allowed to use hemp and its derivatives, and regulations to that end would be required by July 1, 2025. The products would still be required to comply with industry rules including track-and-trace measures. The proposal would also crack down on so-called “synthetic cannabinoids” — operators would not be allowed to use delta-9 THC “that has been converted from a hemp-derived cannabinoid,” and retailers would not be allowed to sell products containing “converted delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol,” the report said. The proposal would also bring new standards for hemp food and beverages including rules to regulate serving sizes and the number of servings (five) allowed per package, as well as definitions for hemp dietary supplements including pills, tablets, and capsules.

Notably, the draft proposal is still very new — some sections were even left blank by the drafters, including the maximum amount of THC that would be allowed under

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Editor’s note: this article was written by LJ Dawson for The Outlaw Report, and has been republished with permission.

Maryland is the most recent victim of a California lawyer and cannabis entrepreneur’s serial suing of state cannabis social equity programs.

Jeffrey Jensen filed a lawsuit on behalf of his wife Justyna Jensen, both of whom live in Pasadena, California. Jensen claims that the Maryland Cannabis Administration’s requirement of state residency to qualify for social equity is unconstitutional.

Jensen is using the dormant commerce clause of the constitution to allege that Maryland is discriminating against Justyna because she is an out-of-state resident. Though her university met the requirements for social equity applicants with 40% of the individuals qualifying to receive a Pell Grant, she was denied because the university was in California not Maryland.

MCA has until Feb. 20, 2024 to file a response in court to the lawsuit. Jensen has used the dormant commerce clause to file lawsuits elsewhere.

His Maryland case is one of at least six lawsuits he filed in the last two years in four states. He filed suits under similar allegations in California, Washington and New York.

His first lawsuit in New York was settled out

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The U.S. Navy is no longer immediately disqualifying recruits who test positive for THC while attending boot camp at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, Military.com reports.

According to Rear Adm. James Waters, the director of the Navy’s personnel plans and policy division, the goal of the policy change is to boost recruitment opportunities as cannabis is becoming more prevalent and legally accessible.

“If they fail that test and own up — ‘Yes, I smoke marijuana ‘– we do an evaluation of the young person to make sure there’s not something else going on. But we trust that through the process of boot camp that we have an opportunity to bring them along with our culture.” — Waters, via Military.com

Waters said the move makes the Navy more “reflective” of the reality of cannabis policy in the U.S.

“We recognize that many states have legalized marijuana,” the admiral noted; however, he also said that the policy change only applies to cannabis and he stressed that “we don’t do drugs in the military,” the report said.

The new policy also coincides with other changes the Navy has made to streamline the recruitment process, including adjustments to the pre-boot camp physical

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Denver, Colorado–(Newsfile Corp. – February 13, 2024) – Wicky Marketing, Denver’s leading dispensary SEO agency, is proud to announce the launch of its innovative SEO service package tailored specifically for the city’s burgeoning cannabis industry. This new offering is designed to help dispensaries enhance online visibility, attract more customers, and drive sales in an increasingly competitive market.

The launch comes at a crucial time when dispensaries are looking for effective ways to stand out online. Wicky Marketing’s comprehensive package includes advanced keyword research, competitive analysis, content strategy development, and backlinking services to boost dispensaries’ search engine rankings and online presence.

Christopher Wicklander, Founder of Wicky Marketing, stated, “Our goal has always been to support the growth of Denver’s cannabis community. With our new SEO service package, we’re equipped to offer dispensaries a competitive edge by leveraging the latest digital marketing strategies and SEO best practices.”

The service package is the result of extensive research and collaboration with industry experts, ensuring that it addresses the unique challenges faced by cannabis businesses in digital marketing. Wicky Marketing’s team of SEO specialists is committed to delivering personalized strategies that align with each dispensary’s goals and target audience.

Dispensaries in Denver can now take advantage of Wicky Marketing’s

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Blum Holdings

SANTA ANA, Calif., Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blüm Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: BLMH) (“Company,” “Blüm Holdings,” “we” or “us”), a cannabis company with operations throughout California, is pleased to announce the execution of a Binding Letter of Intent (“Binding LOI”) with Operators Only Corporation (“Operators Only”) to add three additional dispensaries to its retail portfolio (the “Proposed Acquisition”). If completed, the Proposed Acquisition could represent a significant milestone in Blüm Holdings’ expansion strategy and may help solidify the Company’s position as a key player in Northern California’s retail landscape.

Operators Only owns and operates three retail stores in Sacramento, including a flagship Cookies cannabis dispensary located in downtown Sacramento, a dispensary in North Sacramento, and another in South Sacramento.

“We are delighted to announce the successful execution of our Binding LOI with Operators Only,” said Sabas Carrillo, Chief Executive Officer of Blüm Holdings. “We expect the Proposed Acquisition to represent a significant step forward in our growth trajectory. Following a corporate reorganization, it is a privilege and point of pride for some of the best operators in the state to want to work with us.”

If the Proposed Acquisition is completed, the addition of Operators Only’s portfolio is expected to generate

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The Terrapin Care Station dispensary chain has opened Hoboken’s first medical and recreational cannabis dispensary simply called “The Station,” with a formal grand opening set for Friday evening.

By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View

“Hoboken is a city of many firsts. The Station will be a new first for Hoboken as we usher in destigmatization and cannabis legalization in the Garden State,” local partner Joe Castelo explained.

“I’m honored to be but a small part of bringing safe and exciting products to everyone in my hometown.”

Castelo is a local serial entrepreneur who spearheaded the Station’s opening. He designed the Station dispensary as a tribute to Hoboken’s train station, the Lackawanna Terminal, which is nearby their 86 River St. address.

The Station dispensary has a retro feel with fine wood, stained glass patterns, and unique light fixtures. There are also the sort of wooden benches you’d find in a train station.

Also similar to a train station, the dispensary floor is made of marble with brass between the tile.

The colored glass panels reference the work of the noted abstract artist Piet Mondrian who Castelo likes. They have also painted wallpaper from the 1950s as part of the retro

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