Women in Cannabis Tech: Mowing Down the Grass STEM Ceiling by Sponsored The national average of women with executive level business positions is just shy of 30%, but in the cannabis industry that statistic stands at only 22%, according to a 2021 MJBizDaily report. Unfortunately, that number only represents the executive level. When you look at the rank and file, it is pretty clear the industry’s reputation as a bro-fest is embarrassingly well deserved. Now consider being a woman in cannabis working outside the C-suite in a technology role. The odds of encountering another woman on the job are dramatically low. Women comprise only about 28% of the entire science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce across all industries. Consequently, women working in cannabis tech often face a double whammy: our chosen field and our chosen industry are both notorious for lacking gender diversity. As a result, we are likely to be the lone female voice no matter where we work. Does this mean the industry isn’t for women? Absolutely not! However, it does pose the challenge of learning how to adeptly sidestep some antiquated attitudes. Pioneering the FieldWorking as a team as a sales consultant and field service technician, our job is to help customers install their new Green Mill Supercritical extraction system, as well as train the team that will be overseeing and managing the extraction process. There’s almost always a look of surprise when two women show up to perform the installation and training. It sometimes feels like people are waiting for “the guys” to follow behind us, carrying the heavy equipment and machinery needed for the installation. Then there is often another look of surprise when they see us hauling the machinery ourselves. So what’s a woman to do in the cannabis tech space? It’s helpful to connect with other women in cannabis if you can. The two of us were lucky in that we found each other right away, and recognized immediately how unique it was to have women in these roles in cannabis. We have both worked a lot in male-dominated occupations, so we’re used to feeling a bit isolated. However, working with other women and gaining the trust of our customers has been an incredible experience. It does feel a bit like we are pioneers in a way, and it’s always a pleasant surprise when we find other pioneers out there. On a recent job working with Alaska’s Herban Extracts, we were delighted to discover an entire team of female cannabis entrepreneurs. Lisa Coates, who co-owns this CO2 extraction company in Kenai with her husband, Buddy Crowder, has created a cannabis team composed entirely of women. We knew their extraction technician was a woman, and that their operator was also a woman. So when we discovered everyone else was also female, we were very excited to make the trip. Coates said she did not create Herban Extracts’ all-female team by design. It just sort of evolved over time. But she admits she loves working with women in the cannabis industry, who she says “just have their act together.” With an impressive and growing list of awards and accolades for their products, the team is proof that women, technology, and cannabis do indeed make a winning combination. The usual one-day installation and training became three days of collaboration and community. We had never met the team, but there was a quick connection, and the camaraderie we felt made for a really great, comfortable experience. In time, we believe these encounters will become more and more commonplace, as women continue to enter the industry and more young women seek out a STEM education path. Changing the StatisticsIt won’t happen overnight, or without a great deal of persistence. As an example, take a look at how quickly things can change. In 2019, an MJBizDaily survey showed that a whopping 37% of executive-level cannabis positions were held by women. At the time, this was the highest percentage of any industry. But as noted earlier, that number dropped considerably to just 22% by 2021. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, young girls are systematically steered away from science and math education, which helps explain the absence of women in the workforce of STEM industries. This gender gap occurs at increasing rates in the fastest-growing industries of the future, including the cannabis sector. Until we bridge the gender gap, women in cannabis tech must find each other, support each other, learn from each other and encourage other young women to enter the space. In the meantime, when you’re doing your job like a boss, and someone asks to see the “dude in charge,” do your best to answer politely. As we work together to expand roles for women in cannabis tech, eventually those questions will stop. The opportunities are there for those ladies with the brains and boldness to take the reins. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/women-in-cannabis-tech-mowing-down-the-grass-stem-ceiling/
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Technology Systems in the Cannabis Industry by Culta Conversations about the evolution of the cannabis industry often focus on year-over-year industry growth, innovative new products, and the growth of the legal adult-use market, but technology is often a leading driver of change. This is especially true at cannabis farms and cultivation facilities, like CULTA’s. In an effort to continue the conversation around technology in the cannabis industry and shed some light on how it’s being leveraged by cultivators, we’ll discuss a few of the most important pieces of technology we use at our own farm in Cambridge, Maryland. But first, a little bit about CULTA and our farm. Established in 2015, we’re a Maryland-based vertically integrated cannabis company with partners that include Cookies and Grass. We have both an outdoor and an indoor cultivation facility and we were the first organically managed outdoor farm in Maryland to be certified by Clean Green Certified. In 2021, we launched the state’s first cannabis tissue culture lab and have aggressive goals to improve our sustainability efforts. Now, let’s talk tech! Fertigation & Building Management SystemAlthough indoor growing allows cultivators to produce cannabis year-round and in a fully controlled and clean environment, there are a lot of moving parts to manage. That’s why we use a fertigation and building management system that’s designed specifically for indoor operations. Not only does it help us deliver the exact nutrient recipes to our grow rooms multiple times a day with amazing precision, but it also monitors and controls environmental factors like temperature, humidity, CO2, and light intensity. We use Priva, which provides insight into our processes and crops and allows us to view in-depth graphs of our rooms, helping us make better data-driven decisions. LED LightingAt CULTA, we have aggressive goals to reduce our carbon footprint. One of the first improvements we made to reach that goal was to upgrade our lighting to LED. Not only does being able to control our lighting enable us to enrich our plants’ cannabinoid, terpene, and flavonoid profiles (which makes our medical patients happy!), but it also helps us achieve dramatic savings in our operating costs. Plus, they’re a much better option for the environment. When seeking an LED lighting supplier, it was important to us that they specialize in lighting for commercial cannabis cultivators, which is why we chose Fluence. Ozone GeneratorHealthy cannabis plants start with clean water, which is why we invested in a state-of-the-art ozone generation system for our crops. This system destroys any pathogens that may be in our water so our plants are only drinking the cleanest water possible. The dissolved oxygen helps keep root zones clean, healthy, and pathogen-free. As an added bonus, it also helps keep our irrigation lines clean and sanitized which, over time, also cuts down on our maintenance and repair costs. We use the DRAMM water ozone system, which is engineered for greater efficiency and safety. Environmental Monitoring SystemIn addition to the Priva system, we also use an EarthScout environmental monitoring system. We use this system to develop irrigation, lighting, and environmental strategies that are specific to each individual strain. Yes, you read that right — we use this system to create “recipes” for each and every strain we grow. The system uses multiple sensors to monitor soil moisture, temperature, salinity, air temperature, and humidity, among other environmental factors. We just started using this system so we don’t have any data to share but we do hope it will help us cut our irrigation and nutrient costs by at least 50%. Cannabis Tech is Constantly ChangingThe best thing about cannabis technology is that it’s constantly changing. New, innovative products are always being released month after month, and for each groundbreaking product, there are ten more that have come and gone without much fanfare, making it difficult to decipher what the future will hold. While it’s impossible to predict what the next big technological advancement will be, one thing is for certain: it’s coming and it will change how we all do business. “It is incredible to see how quickly the cannabis industry has embraced technological growth, and it is very exciting to think about the advancements that are just around the corner that could potentially change the industry forever,” Senior Director of Cultivation Jay Bouton said. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/technology-systems-in-the-cannabis-industry/ Building Pre-Rolls Into Your SKUs: What to Know Before Your Brand Starts Producing Pre-Rolls3/29/2022 Building Pre-Rolls Into Your SKUs: What to Know Before Your Brand Starts Producing Pre-Rolls by Ebby Stone Building a brand is about strategy. With a dazzling array of SKUs available, knowing where to direct one’s focus is crucial. Offering a pre-roll line is fairly inexpensive and a convenient form of consumption for users. Dope Automation Chief Operations Officer Jessica Jaeger offered a key consideration for moving into pre-rolls. “The question that should always be asked first is what the expected consumer experience will look like for your brand,” said Jaeger. “This single question is the driver to achieving a strong, efficient, and optimized pre-roll manufacturing program.” Once the operator has a vision in mind for the customer journey, it’s time to consider the other factors for pre-roll success. Cone SizePre-rolls are usually available in sizes ranging from a half gram to a full gram. “The paper size is the most critical as this will determine the pre-roll appearance,” Jaeger said. Will this be a luxury item; are you selling in a pack; what size cone will be used? The answers to these questions will dictate the cost of production and the cost to the consumer. Paper TypeThere are two different types of pre-rolls: cones or tubes. Cones are larger at the top and taper down to the filter. Tubes are cigarette-shaped with a consistent width from top to bottom. Cones tend to be easier to load with most manufacturing equipment. There are several types of paper available. Each will have a unique appearance impacting brand design. Paper options include: hemp, flax, rice, refined white, unrefined brown, cotton cellulose, or palm leaf. Each type of paper burns at a different speed and has its own flavor profile. EquipmentAn equipment provider can offer guidance and help choose the right machines for your brand. “The most important answer that any company should be looking for when vetting an equipment supplier is ‘What kind of after-sale support will this equipment supplier provide?’” said Jaeger. Successful supply partnerships start with a staff that understands market restrictions and compliance regulations. A knowledgeable staff, Jaeger said, “allows for educated purchasing and supports building a foundation designed for future expansion.” Grinding MachinesMaterial must be milled into a consistent particle size. An operator may choose a low-, mid-, or high-volume mill. Low volume milling could be as basic as using a food processor. High-volume milling may require industrial solutions. Industrial machines also tend to offer more consistent particle size. Cone-Filling MachinesCone-filling machines range in price, quality, level of automation, and scalability. Many use vibration to sift the ground material into openings that feed into pre-roll tubes or cones. These “benchtop” machines are sufficient to enter the pre-roll market. They also give most programs “the ability to establish and grow the segment before moving into the larger capital expenditures of operating with complete automation,” Jaeger said. PackagingPackaging is an important brand decision with options ranging from bags to tubes. Regulations typically require containers to be child-resistant. Tubes are customizable and available in many colors and transparencies. Cost and scalability should be considered. Final ConsiderationsThis article offers a brief summary — an equipment provider could offer more depth. “The right partner will not simply look to sell you a piece of machinery. The right partner will look to help build the success of your brand,” Jaeger said. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/building-pre-rolls-into-your-skus-what-to-know-before-your-brand-starts-producing-pre-rolls/ How to Market Your Brand as a Cannabis Authority by Miles Oliver It’s an exciting and fascinating time to build a business in the cannabis industry. Changes in legislation are opening up new avenues to reach consumers. The public is becoming more mature and discerning about their relationship with the product. According to some analysts, the global cannabis market is expected to exhibit growth of 32% between 2021 and 2028. As such, building your brand now can see you capturing a significant amount of consumer attention. Part of the issue with a booming industry is a lot of entrepreneurs are keen to engage. Competition certainly isn’t a bad thing. But it does mean you need to work harder to reach your audience and maintain your growth. One effective way of approaching this is to market your brand as a clear expert in this thriving but underexplored sector. This isn’t always easy to achieve, particularly with a product as dependent on tastes and trends as cannabis. So, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can approach marketing your company as an authority. Leverage Your ProfessionalismOne of the most important components of the cannabis industry today is the continued need to legitimize it. In many ways, you’re battling against historical biases built on inaccurate perceptions. As such, it’s important to present high levels of professionalism and customer care as primary elements of your brand identity. This doesn’t mean your company needs to be bland or even overly serious. But you do need to be able to demonstrate that your consumers can trust you to deliver the best quality cannabis products safely. Alongside creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere, you need to make sure images and videos of your premises show it is clean, well-maintained, and accessible. Ensure your website is easily navigable and that members of staff are on hand to provide clear and unbiased advice. Behind-the-scenes looks into your operation can be key in this regard. Produce content in which you discuss the botanical sciences behind your cultivation procedures. Show images and videos of the safety components involved with your growing operation. Highlight what steps your company takes to make improvements in your product and what considerations go into your quality control procedures. Promote Health and WellbeingThere’s nothing wrong with demonstrating the recreational uses of cannabis. Much like any other consumable or gourmet product, there are a variety of ways your customers can engage with cannabis simply for their enjoyment. However, your authority as a brand can be enhanced by showing you have a good understanding of the ways your product benefits consumers’ health and wellbeing. You can find your authority is emphasized when you take an educational approach. Health literacy is an important tool for patients to maintain and advocate for their wellbeing. Yet, the majority of Americans struggle with it. As a cannabis brand, you can produce literature on the various physical and mental health benefits of products in your industry. Highlight the different methods of consumption and how products like CBD oil can be incorporated into daily health practices. You may also find it effective to offer your expertise as part of community outreach events. Get involved with health education organizations in your local area either as a sponsor or education provider. The events you engage with don’t have to be specifically about cannabis. In fact, providing your insights as part of wider community health efforts demonstrates how it can be a tool in general wellness. The most important part is you’re positioning your brand as an advocate for public health initiatives. This can boost your authoritative reputation. Showcase Your ExpertiseContent marketing is often at its most powerful when it highlights you as an expert in your field. As such, your actions to position your brand as an authority can benefit from making smart content choices. You need to showcase your valuable insights into the various aspects of your product. Your website should include a blog that provides in-depth discussions related to your business. It can be wise to have members of your staff from different areas of your operation to write articles about their specialist subject. This could include your technicians discussing how light impacts the chemical profile of your plants. You can involve your sales staff in producing reviews and recommendations. Even your compliance manager may be able to offer fascinating insights into the development of industry legislation. Wherever possible, you should go multimedia with your content. This exposes your expertise to a wider audience. Podcasts remain a popular approach to long-form discussions. Team up with other experts in your field to capitalize on one another’s positions of authority. Ethnobotanists can help you discuss the role of plant medicines in society. Therapists can talk about how cannabis is increasingly featured in mental health care. Post all of these materials regularly on your social media channels. This ensures your audience is drawn to prove that your brand is an authority in your field. ConclusionThe cannabis industry is undergoing rapid growth. Marketing your brand as an authority in your field can help you maintain a competitive edge and cultivate a solid reputation. Make certain you lean into the image of your company as a highly professional contributor to the industry. While recreational use is great, highlighting the wellness benefits shows you have an understanding of how cannabis can improve lives. Importantly, make sure you use content marketing in a way that best showcases your company’s expertise on the subject. This is a fascinating and enriching sector to be an entrepreneur in; it’s worth taking the time to push your brand to the forefront. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/how-to-market-your-brand-as-a-cannabis-authority/ Mike Tyson Teams Up with WWE Champion on New Cannabis Line by Aron Vaughan Boxer, entrepreneur, and cannabis advocate Mike Tyson has announced his newly launched cannabis company, Tyson 2.0, will acquire a majority stake in Ric Flair Drip, Inc. Heavyweight MatchupRic Flair, popularly known as “Nature Boy,” is a 16 time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. The strategic alliance between the two heavyweights furthers Tyson’s house of brands strategy and establishes the company as a leading celebrity cannabis brand powerhouse. Tyson 2.0’s acquisition of the company allows the brand to assume control of Ric Flair’s trademarks and intellectual properties to launch cannabis flower and edible products under the Ric Flair brand name in the near future. “Thanks to Mike Tyson and Tyson 2.0, I’ve become a true cannabis advocate and enthusiast,” said Flair. “I am thrilled to partner with a long-time friend and fellow warrior whom I greatly admire and respect.” Burgeoning BrandSince its launch in October 2021, Tyson 2.0 continues to execute its nationwide growth strategy bringing cannabis products to consumers and fans nationwide. Through licensing, cultivation, and agreements, Tyson 2.0 products are available in dispensaries and retail locations across the states of Colorado, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Michigan with plans to expand nationally and internationally. Tyson 2.0 was co-founded by Mike Tyson, who serves as Chief Brand Officer, and Chad Bronstein. The venture is led by CEO Adam Wilks. “For the last fifty years, Ric has been synonymous with high impact, high energy experiences,” said Bronstein. “Similar to how we rolled out Tyson 2.0, Ric Flair cannabis products will reach nationwide distribution through our robust network of industry partners. With flower strains named after Ric’s iconic sayings like ‘limousine riding’ and ‘jet-flying’, we aim to honor Ric’s energy and share it with his fans.” Flair’s LegacyFlair will be featured in the seventh episode of Peacock’s first-ever WWE original series WWE Evil which begins streaming exclusively on Peacock starting Thursday, March 24. The eight-part docuseries, created and hosted by John Cena, is the first-ever original from WWE Studios. The show takes an unprecedented look inside the psyche of the most diabolical antagonists in WWE, unveiling rare behind-the-scenes details from some of the biggest names in the industry and their impact on mainstream culture. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/mike-tyson-teams-up-with-wwe-champion-on-new-cannabis-line/ Meanwhile in Canada, the Smoke is Heavy by Patricia Miller A recent editorial in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, by a University of Toronto sociologist reviewed the brief history of cannabis legalization in Canada and concluded in rather unequivocal terms that by and large, we as a nation have come through legalization and are now moving on. “Canada took a fairly restrained approach to the initial rollout of legalization, and it seems to have paid off. The sky has not fallen, use has not skyrocketed, and a steady increase in the proportion of legal sales mean public health and safety are being strengthened”, stated Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, the director of research for Cannabis Amnesty at U of T. According to the data, legal cannabis sales, in the form of retail and medical distribution channels, totalled $1.28B (CAD), about 1.8x illicit distribution; this is a remarkable turnaround from just three years earlier, where illicit sales were $1.2B and legal sales were just over $175 million. The author, a faculty member at U of T, also noted that societally we did not experience any ‘Reefer Madness’ hysteria moments that were initially anticipated, if not predicted by some. Perhaps this was due to the high rates of cannabis use among the Canadian population generally, which created the groundswell support that prompted cannabis reform at the federal level in the first place. That is not to say that certain societal and safety concerns don’t remain. Drug-impaired (as well as alcohol and text-impaired) drivers still present a real and tangible risk to those taking to Canadian roads, and after years of successfully reversing the trends of tobacco smoking, respirologists may be faced with increasing cases of lung-related illnesses from increased cannabis use. Two years ago, I wrote an article about how people across the country were opening their first government-approved, and duly excise tax-paid cannabis containers only to find disappointment waiting for them inside, in the form of dry, stale, and underweight product they were about to consume. In the early days, cannabis products, in the form of flower, pre-rolls, and other basic consumption products were generally horrible, as much had been sitting on shelves for as long as two years prior to them being legally available. Moreover, other derivative products such as extracts, vapes, waxes, as well as various edibles would not be sold for at least another year from when the piece was published. To paraphrase an old cigarette ad from the 70s, we’ve come a long way baby… As the article goes on to allude, evidence of the change in both attitude and consumption patterns has appeared in the commercial real estate market, where generally weak demand for rental space caused by business failures and closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been softened in some areas by the opening of something like 2,500 new retail cannabis outlets across the country. This growth has been uneven, for sure, with certain urban markets being well served and other farther flung locations still waiting for a retail outlet. To compound the confusion, many jurisdictions and municipalities made the decision in advance to ban commercial sales of cannabis on their streets. Based on the commercial tax intake of the areas that have accepted these new merchants, this is a decision some municipalities may regret. There’s no doubt that “cannabis 2.0 products” (as they were referred to at the time), more so than the pandemic, has changed both the consumption patterns and acceptability of cannabis generally in Canadian life; this was predicted by many industry experts who spoke at our last O’Cannabiz Conference in 2019. In the Canadian Cannabis Survey 2020, compiled by Statistics Canada, both the smoking and the eating of cannabis derivative products have increased slightly from 2019, with two-thirds of respondents reporting occasional use and more people associating the product with lower health risks over alcohol or tobacco. The elephant in the room might be whether the Covid-19 pandemic has had any influence on cannabis consumption, in Canada or elsewhere. Based on the study, 56% reported using the same amount of cannabis, 22% reported using more and 22% reported using less, so that sounds like pretty much a wash. In light of the progress we’ve made as a country as it relates to cannabis, there are big opportunities for those in the industry or are interested in the space. The first relates to retail distribution of cannabis. This field of enterprise has migrated quickly to mainstream distribution in commercial areas of city streets. Where the provincial government has taken absolute control of distribution, such as Quebec and Nova Scotia, retail success is largely guaranteed or rendered moot. In other markets, where the government controls distribution at the wholesale level, as a retailer there are few opportunities to promote one’s business, as it contains adult-use products and general media advertising is prohibited. Strategies for retail consumer success will separate the good performers from the business failures and this will be a key focus for our 2022 Conference & Expo. Post alcohol prohibition in Canada, the Liquor Control Act of 1927 allowed for the sale of alcoholic beverages for individual purchase, but public drinking in public settings, like pubs, taverns, restaurants, etc., was still a no-no. It took another seven years, before you could get a beer in a beverage room and probably another three before you could get a glass of wine with dinner, things we take for granted in permitted venues today. In the U.S., prohibition ended in 1933 and even to this day there are 83 dry counties in nine different states. It seems there are and will continue to be holdouts regardless of what the vice is. What direction will Canada head? We’re still waiting for the smoke to clear. Cannabis tourism, travel, and hospitality is an area that is yet to gain traction here, but surely can’t be far behind. Humans are social animals, and it won’t be long before those who have historically consumed cannabis in the company of others in private locations will want to do so in public venues. Reason overtook regulation with respect to alcohol. I look forward to the next three years post-legalization here in Canada to see what changes are in store. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/meanwhile-in-canada-the-smoke-is-heavy/ Basketball Hall of Famer Launches New Line of Cannabis Products by Aron Vaughan Former NBA player and 2021 Hall of Fame inductee Ben Wallace is launching a new brand of cannabis products. The Detroit Pistons legend is naming the brand Undrafted, a reference to his unique distinction as the first undrafted player in the NBA to reach the Basketball Hall of Fame. UndraftedUndrafted’s line will offer cannabis flower, pre-rolls, and vape cartridges, with future products to be announced. Wallace is partnering with Michigan-based cannabis company Rair to facilitate the rollout. Detroit-based advertising agency, Atomic Honey, represents both Rair and Ben Wallace and developed the logo and packaging design for Undrafted. Speaking from ExperienceWallace seems the ideal candidate to form his own cannabis line, as he benefited from the plant’s anti-inflammatory effects following years of aches and pains related to injuries sustained in his 16-year professional basketball career. “There’s no denying that marijuana has a healing upside for athletes or anyone struggling with pain—so alongside launching the Undrafted brand, the Rair team and I will continue to push to end this stigma associated with cannabis use,” Wallace said. Good Friendships are RairRair currently has four dispensary locations around the state—with a fifth location opening in Kalamazoo on 4/20—and is the only Michigan cannabis company to grow aeroponically. Aeroponic growing is a method of cultivating plants in an air or mist environment as opposed to in soil or an aggregate medium. The method uses fewer resources but yields faster growth, healthier plants and bigger harvests. It also drastically reduces the chance of contamination while allowing for real-time grow recipe adjustments. “Our partnership with Rair formed so organically,” said Wallace. “I believe the marriage between our two brands automatically sets us apart from any other cannabis line out there. Rair products are of the highest quality, and I’m excited to partner with them on Undrafted, as I’m confident the brand will be nothing short of exceptional.” The venture will be the first time Rair has worked with an outside vendor, but CEO Kevin McFadden believes in Wallace’s approach. “We could not have asked for a more dedicated partner to align with on our first go around,” said McFadden. “Ben’s work ethic and commitment to excellence align with our promise to deliver the best cannabis products and experience possible to the patients and recreational customers in Michigan.” A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/nba-hall-of-famer-launches-new-line-of-cannabis-products/ 5 Important Considerations for Keeping a Medical Cannabis Card by Tess DiNapoli Renewing your medical cannabis certificate can be more stressful than it should be. There are many problems you can face when renewing your medical cannabis card, whether the process goes quickly or takes months to finish. Hopefully, this article can help you avoid these common problems and make the renewal process run smoothly so you can continue to enjoy the use of your medical cannabis card. 1. State RequirementsThere are many state requirements in order to get a medical cannabis card. Some of these include residency, medical necessity, and an appointment with a physician, among others. Make sure you understand all of your state’s requirements before visiting a doctor. One example of this is Arkansas’ medical marijuana act qualifying conditions. Once you have your medical cannabis card, you’ll have access to a number of different dispensaries where you can purchase various strains of cannabis for treatment purposes. Before making any purchases at these dispensaries, make sure that they’re selling products that will be useful for your specific condition(s). If they aren’t carrying any products to treat what ails you, consider looking elsewhere to save yourself some time or money later on down the road. 2. Updates to Personal InformationIf you haven’t already registered with your state’s medical cannabis program, it may be time to do so. However, it’s important to remember that you need to update your application as soon as possible if any of your personal information changes. For example, if you move or change your phone number, there could be delays in receiving a renewal notification. If that happens, you need to contact your state directly before your card expires. 3. Verifying Your EligibilityOnce you’ve decided to renew your medical cannabis card, it’s important to verify that you are still eligible. Fortunately, it is quick and easy to check whether or not you can keep your certification. All you need to do is visit your doctor to obtain a certificate of verification. Make sure it’s dated and signed with an original signature stamp, as any other signature will make it invalid. Also, make sure the doctor you go to is one you trust to be informed on cannabis, as this will make everything go more smoothly. 4. Payment ProcessingFees are almost guaranteed to be part of the renewal process, whether it’s for the doctor’s appointment or application. Once you have paid these fees, you will have to wait for them to be processed and approved before moving on to the next step. Depending on the system used, some payments can take several business days to go through. However, there are some options available to medical cannabis cardholders who are concerned about whether their provider will have reliable payment processing. New technology now allows for places to take payments via mobile devices or online to speed up the process. 5. Waiting for ApprovalOnce all the other steps are complete, the only thing left to do is wait. The problem of waiting for approval is one that plagues countless medical cannabis patients. While a speedy renewal service is always the hope, most people don’t know what to do about their long wait when renewal time rolls around. Making sure you complete things early and giving yourself enough time will make waiting a bit less stressful. The only other thing you can do is be patient. Remember: once you get approval, you will still have to wait for your new card to arrive before being able to purchase any products. ConclusionThere are many ways you can recover from renewal problems, especially when you find yourself with limited time remaining on your medical cannabis card. Using this advice is sure to make renewing your medical cannabis card process easier. There’s always hope for a solution, so be proactive—don’t just sit back and let things pass without trying to resolve them. Doing these things early can help save you time and stress in the long run. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/5-important-considerations-for-keeping-a-medical-cannabis-card/ The Fine Line Between Cannabis Product Appeal and Requirements by Gina Kranwinkel By Gina Kranwinkel and Mark Gorman We’re living in “high” creative times. The creativity in today’s cannabis marketing is soaring; it’s not just enough to have great marketing and a nice package for your product — your brand and product must stand out, shouting above the noise to be seen and heard. Cannabis marketers are doing that amazingly well. Packaging & Labeling: Compliance ComponentsHowever, creativity and branding aside, there are myriad compliance components that must be adhered to in packaging and labeling your product — with some of the most critical being that the product is light-resistant to what’s visibly inside, and child-resistant; the latter includes the requirement that it not be easy for a child five or under to open, while also not being appealing to children (a subjective concept that must be handled with the utmost care — especially with edibles). Your local and state government requirements may or may not go even deeper into what is important and required, so it’s crucial that cannabis product marketers know and follow what’s required. The first National Association of Cannabis Businesses’ national standard was Cannabis Safety: Packaging and Labeling. The standard’s goal is to be as all-encompassing as possible, which may feel onerous to marketers who want to sell, but is critical to ensuring not only compliance but best practices. As a self-regulating organization, we created this standard with a committee of experts and made it publicly available to anyone regardless of membership status. We also provide a checklist for use when creating or updating existing packaging or when reviewing any packaging inventory. This checklist is a great tool to help marketers with their compliance. Consumers Accustomed to Warnings & ProtectionsHere’s the good news — most Americans are familiar with consumer protections and regulatory requirements on most packages we buy. While, as a marketer, it may feel like your entire package looks like a warning label, the reality is that’s normal. From alcohol and tobacco (a given) to the foods we eat daily with their “Allergen information: may contain milk, soybean, wheat or nuts,” most Americans are very familiar with these kinds of protections that help us make decisions on what we purchase and consume. We expect manufacturers and retailers to ensure not only the quality of their product but also the safety. Cannabis is no different. If anything, our industry must hold itself to the highest standards, going above and beyond what is required and expected. What’s Your Packaging Challenge or Victory?As the industry continues to evolve, more and more cannabis brands now are competing for retailers’ shelf space. It’s not enough to have a great package — there’s a small amount of space to make a big impact. Getting products in stores, appealing visually, and then also ensuring marketing, packaging, and labeling compliance are at the forefront of the right sales mix. What’s your latest packaging challenge or victory? We’d love to know — drop us a line at [email protected]. This article was originally featured in the fall 2021 issue of Cannabis & Tech Today. Join the newsletter and read the full issue for free. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/the-fine-line-between-cannabis-product-appeal-and-requirements/ In the latest legislative update released to us by the US Hemp Roundtable, South Dakota and Utah pass bills governing the legal age requirement for delta-8 THC consumption (SD) and the ability of veterinarians to discuss CBD with pet owners (UT), and Illinois pushes a resolution to repeal the drug felon ban from the 2018 Farm Bill. South DakotaEnacted the week before last (Mar 10), HB 1292 in South Dakota prohibits the sale, purchase and/or distribution of “a product intended for human consumption containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, THC-O acetate, or hexahydrocannabinol to a person under the age of twenty-one.” The cannabinoid delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol is a very close relative to delta-9 THC, both in molecular structure and in many of the compound’s intoxicating effects, such as dizziness, fatigue, irritability, and euphoria, which is why many states have been moving to close the delta-8 loopholes left wide open when it was first popularized. UtahOn a more definitively pro-hemp note, SB 209 in Utah is summarized in the official language as a bill that “clarifies that a licensed veterinarian is not prohibited from discussing the effect of cannabis on an animal with the animal’s owner.” Utah enters a growing list of states now legalizing this specific line of discussion, but it’s important to note a distinction between states that legalize recreational marijuana use in humans versus those like SB 209, as the two don’t always coincide. SB 209 has officially passed both chambers of the Utah legislature and only needs the governor’s signature before enactment. IllinoisFinally, Illinois is looking to bolster HR 6645, the Hemp Advancement Act, with HR 0707, a bill that “asks members of the U.S. Congress to allow persons with felonies related to controlled substances to obtain an industrial hemp license,” a provision initially introduced by the 2018 Farm Bill. The Hemp Advancement Act seeks to address several other obfuscating or restrictive components of the 2018 legislation, including raising the legal THC threshold for industrial hemp and freeing hemp testing laboratories from mandatory DEA registration among other key items, for which HR 0707 and other shows of support from the states will provide a springboard. via The CBD Insider https://thecbdinsider.com/news/state-legislatures-move-opposite-directions-on-hemp-delta-8/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=state-legislatures-move-opposite-directions-on-hemp-delta-8 |
ABOUT MEHallo, ik ben Renz Verspaget, ik ben een betrouwbare administratief medewerker in de gezondheidszorg met 4,5 jaar ervaring met patiëntendossiers, medische facturering, werkschema's van ziekenhuizen en gezondheidszorgbeleid. Ziekenhuiskosten met 13% verlaagd door nieuwe factureringsmethoden te implementeren. Archives
April 2023
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