Extroverting

Category: Recreational

  • Blunt Talks – Feb 26, 2019

    Blunt Talks – Feb 26, 2019

    Host: Expert Dojo – Santa Monica
    (Co-Working space; They run investment funds and an accelerator)

    There were 100 people there — many ready to network. The floor was high-quality. It was well-run. Open bar, tacos. WebJoint was a sponsor. Grow Studios was shooting video and doing AV.

    The trend of the sharks smelling blood in the water continues. Many of these outfits are selling capes they don’t have. Danielle noted this explicitly re Grow Studios — noting lack of design, and end-to-end product dev capes, and Fit & FInish all around — they’re hustling and selling themselves on things they lack. 

    SPEAKERS

    Vendors: 

    • CC Testing Labs
    • Vet CBD
    • Lit.Club 
    • Blue Kachina  
    • Nugg 
    • Cannabis Catered Events 

    CC Testing Labs

    http://cctestinglabs.com/
    Michael Carrier, CEO, explicitly asked for help “getting the word out” about their lab. “We’ve done friends and family. We’ve got multiple clients and more from word-of-mouth. We need Next Steps.” We got into positioning scenarios, touting their collaboration with product clients, and moving their stories from beyond ‘we’re the stern parents who tell you your product can go out to market’ and into remediation and consulting services.

    Michael responded well to my suggestions that clients will respond to product differentiation via clean results from non-required testing.

    Lit Club

    http://lit.club
    Pre-rolls, CBD Vape pens 
    Avens O’Brien – Administrative Director 

    Lit Club does a lot of things right. They had a solid booth, good aesthetics. Lovely products, Great presentation –

    Started with a pre-roll – “Flavor-forward” — No strain. great packaging. glass tube. great screw top. Avens flicked the pre-roll out of the tube: the doob comes out enough to smell; “locks-in” to the opening of the glass tube.

    In December, released a bunch of CBD vape pens. Super nice & high-quality. matte plastic. Ceramic mouthpiece.  Their products are not yet widely available in dispensaries. They will respond well to QP’s approach to design, packaging, branding, experience.

    Essential Extracts

    Nick Tanem of Essential Extracts

    EssentialExtracts.ca

    Avid networker. Grew up in SoCal, moved to CO to start extraction business. Starting another in Richmond. Back in SoCal for his Next Moves

    Expert Dojo 

    Brian MacMahon – Founder 

    Dojo is a co-working space. Brian invests in & incubates a portion of his clients. Launching a new cannabis investment fund in March. 

    Cannabis Catered Events 

    Rudy Sta Ana – Founder 

    They were slinging gratis tacos throughout the event. Tasty, and the kitchen crew were friendly and good. 

    Dr. Michele Ross

    Dr. Michele Ross – Neuroscientist 
    https://drmicheleross.com/

    Michelle’s platform is live in Canada and Brazil. They’re working to get more paid subs in the US. Interesting offering: Subs get semi-monthly one:one consults with health coaches and ongoing access to a library of info created by medical professionals. Condition-specific reading materials and ‘certifications.’

    Blue Kachina Organics 

    https://getnugg.com/blue-kachina

    Venice dispensary 

  • CannaGather LA KickOff – Feb 5, 2019

    CannaGather LA KickOff – Feb 5, 2019

    https://cannagather.com/la/kickoff

    Feb 5, 2019

    There were 200 people there — many ready to network. The floor was higher quality than “Cannabis Means Business” at Jacob Javits in NY 8 months ago. It was well-run: Emcee, 3 guest speakers, 6 vendor booths, paid sponsors (ARCView), food, and a paid bar.

    Conversations

    Integrated Farms

    Pre-rolls and high-end flower. Branding and packaging

    https://integratedfarmsco.com/

    They used their products as their collateral / discussion points. They didn’t have a table. David Dannon and Bob from iF didn’t have a booth. They worked the show with two branded cigar boxes of their products. Pre-roll is in glass tube, wax-sealed (~Makers Mark). Flower is in a box a la Canndescent.

    Packaging design is all done in-house. They’re exceedingly proud of their work; appreciate that their need to scale requires help. They’re in 45 shops and growing. They get the House of Brands approach — pre-rolls with strain names for OGs / “cannaseurs”; flower with destination-based packaging (again, a la Canndescent). SD based

    Nuvata.co

    Single-use, disposable vape pens

    Most interesting point made was they’re targeting “Seniors” with their easy, discrete, effective products.

    They’ve spent money on product development, packaging, and marketing. They’re not yet in-market. Their public site is currently empty. Their brochure is decent but dense. Their reps in attendance were young and strongly felt they’d succeed in the marketplace entirely on product merits — they can use more

    The products are colorful, quality plastic. Outcome- and Flavor-based positioning — “Full Mind” to “Full Body” — vs strain names. They cover wellness, terpenes, and the science behind it.  

    WebJoint.com

    PoS / retail management software, B2B relationships with dispensaries and distributors, B2C relationships with delivery services. “We allow Brands to connect directly with consumers.”

    They had a complete booth, solid signage, 4 people there working the crowd, multiple collateral pieces and swag.

    https://www.webjoint.com/

    Grow Studios

    “Full-Service Agency”

    These guys are hustling. They had 5 people at their booth, a large video display, and plenty of materials. a crowd of dozens surrounded their booth. GrowStudios.co

    They’re scaling, hiring, and seeking investment. Looks like they aspire to compete w PRØHBTD — brand studio, custom content, native ads.

  • Switzerland Considers Making Cannabis Legal

    Cannabis could soon be legal in Switzerland.

    The Swiss Council of States, Switzerland’s smaller chamber of parliament, unanimously approved a bill allowing studies and pilot programs in the landlocked Alpine nation, according to Herb.

    The Council called for an experimental article in the Swiss Federation’s Narcotics Act that would allow for scientific research projects including trials of a “coffee shop” system of cannabis distribution similar to that of Amsterdam.

    Five Swiss cities have already called for such coffeeshop pilot programs.

    Read the full story.

  • Will This Be Last Hash Bash Before Marijuana Is Legal in Michigan?

    Organizers of the 47th annual marijuana rally in Ann Arbor, Mich., are hoping this year's Hash Bash on April 7 will be the last one before cannabis is legalized in Michigan.

    They're counting on state voters to approve a ballot proposal in November to legalize recreational marijuana use for people 21 and older, taxing and regulating it much like alcohol, according to MLive.

    "For the first 46 years, really the focus has been on state prohibition," said Hash Bash lead organizer Mark Passerini, co-founder of the Om of Medicine marijuana dispensary in downtown Ann Arbor.

    "This could very well be the last year we focus on state prohibition and next year we could re-focus toward the ills of federal policy. Federal policy still sees cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug in all forms."

    Read the full story.

  • Question for HR: If Pot Is Legal, Can Employees Still Get in Trouble?

    Johnny Taylor Jr., a human-resources expert, tackled a marijuana-related question as part of a series for USA Today. Taylor is the president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society.

    Question: How does an employer effectively balance corporate policies of a drug-free workplace with the legalization of marijuana becoming more common, both for recreational and prescription use? — Mila S.

    Answer: Marijuana use by employees (in or out of the workplace) is a complex issue given that many states have legalized medical and recreational weed. On one hand, the employee should be allowed to do what she wants to do on her private time. On the other hand, employers have an obligation to put safety first.

    Imagine if a commercial airline pilot who lives in a state where marijuana is legal decides to smoke a joint a couple of hours before reporting to work. While his state allows him the "right" to consume marijuana, the airline has an "obligation" to ensure that the person transporting 200-plus people 30,000 feet in the air is not under the influence.

    As if this weren't complicated enough, we often forget marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and drug testing can detect marijuana in an employee's system but it cannot yet determine whether the person is impaired.

    Read the full story.

  • 7 Ways Cannabis Can Improve Your Relationship

    Marijuana can help you and your partner keep the spark alive — literally.

    Adrian Sedlin, CEO of luxury cannabis company Canndescent, gave Brides magazine an overview: "Cannabis has a much broader range. The endocannabinoid system controls how your cells communicate with each other. Your head has CB1 receptors, and your body has CB2 receptors. Your body produces cannabinoids naturally. The only plants that produce cannabinoids are hemp and cannabis." Hence weed's reputation for being a natural remedy for your body's ailments.

    Sedlin's company has isolated the precise profiles that will create certain body and brain reactions. Canndescent asks its customers one question—How do you want to feel?—and offers five modes: Calm, Cruise, Create, Connect, and Charge.

    Read the full story.

  • United Nations Report Scolds Countries for Cannabis Legalization

    The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) recently issued its 2017 annual report, and the takeaway with regard to cannabis is clear: The INCB is deeply concerned with the spread of adult-use legalization.

    The report contains stern warnings, accusing countries like Uruguay of acting in “clear violation” of global drug control accords, according to Leafly.

    The Board, which monitors compliance with international drug control treaties, is made up of individuals, not U.N. member states. That’s meant to protect it from political pressure. The Board’s charter also stipulates, however, that it must include individuals with “medical, pharmacological or pharmaceutical experience.”

    That means Big Pharma is well represented, while advocates for cannabis legalization—whether medical or adult-use—have no seat at the table.

    Read the full story here.

  • New Mild Cannabis Products Are Catching on With Parents

    Many a meme has been made about “wine moms”—mothers who joke online about their love for a relaxing glass of cabernet, or three. But a new drug is gaining popularity with the playgroup circuit, according to the Atlantic.

    As it becomes more socially acceptable, more moms are using marijuana and its various incarnations to deal with everything from the daily aches and stresses of motherhood, to postpartum depression and anxiety, to menstrual cramps.

    And forget the simple bongs and pipes of the past; as the industry expands, it’s creating a whole new world of sprays, drinks, drops, and oils. The needs of this market of marijuana-friendly mothers have inspired a new crop of cannabis products.

    Read the full story.

  • Rhode Island Committee Postpones Recreational Marijuana Recommendation

    The push to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island hit a snag when a state commission delayed until next year issuing a recommendation that could have advanced the adult-use issue.

    The commission – a group of medical marijuana patients, clinicians and law enforcement officials that was formed in June – won’t release a recommendation on whether to legalize recreational cannabis in the state until 2019, according to Providence TV station WPRI.

    The commission, which has met four times since October, was expected to release its findings to lawmakers March 1.

  • 10 Cities With the Most and Least Expensive Marijuana in the World

    10 Cities With the Most and Least Expensive Marijuana in the World

    In case you haven't noticed, the cannabis industry is growing at an incredible pace.

    Within the U.S., according to a report from Marijuana Business Daily released in 2017, legal weed sales are expected to grow by 45% in 2018, mainly because California opened its doors to legalized recreational weed.

    Throughout North America, cannabis research firm ArcView estimates the industry can grow by an average of 26% annually through 2021. That type of growth is hard for investors to ignore, and it's a big reason many pot stocks have doubled or tripled in value over the trailing year.

    But as you're probably aware, even with marijuana being viewed in a more positive light in the U.S. and many other countries around the world, the industry is completely different from one country to the next. This is perhaps no more apparent than when examining the price per gram for cannabis across the world.

    Read the full story.