This week’s update on the state of hemp legislation from the U.S. Hemp Roundtable brings a smaller smattering of mostly positive developments, including victories in Tennessee and Virginia and an urgent effort to stamp out deceptive sales practices in Colorado. TennesseeTennessee Governor Bill Lee recently signed SB0694, a hemp bill strongly advocated by the Roundtable, which allows for the use and transportation of hemp containing up to 5% THC within the state, so long as the end product made with said hemp contains 0.3% or less THC. This increased flexibility will allow hemp producers and processors throughout the state to operate without falling victim to this now closed loophole that hemp producers in several other states still contend with, while not sacrificing consumer safety or labeling accuracy. VirginiaIn Virginia, Governor Youngkin’s request to add an age restriction clause (21 years or older) prohibiting the consumption of hemp extracts containing any THC at all to SB 591—an otherwise pro-hemp bill that would have excluded industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana—did not come to fruition because the bill was referred to committee too late in the session. As the Roundtable put it, they will be “on the lookout for such harmful language next session in Virginia and across the states.” ColoradoFinally, a more complex situation is brewing in Colorado as legislators scramble to solve an increasingly prevalent problem: the disguising of intoxicating products being labeled and sold as “hemp” products. The bill drafted in the initial response from lawmakers, SB22-205, was opposed by the Roundtable and most Colorado stakeholders for its more restrictive provisions, but the Roundtable has offered some amendments as potential compromises. These would include barring the sale of delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and other “isomers produced through chemical synthesis and conversion,” making an exception for in-process materials and byproducts. The second major provision suggested by the Roundtable would authorize and encourage the Colorado legislature to dive deeper into the research to create a well-founded and more permanent set of guidelines on these compounds after stanching the bleeding with SB22-205. As always, we will continue to update you with the latest developments in hemp industry legislation as we receive them. via The CBD Insider https://thecbdinsider.com/news/tennessee-virginia-colorado-pro-hemp-strides/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tennessee-virginia-colorado-pro-hemp-strides
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TESTSTSARDSARResearchers Make Surprising Discovery Involving Cannabis Stems by Frank Schuler The cannabis plant is arguably the most useful plant on earth. Cannabis enthusiasts throughout human history have used it for countless purposes, including medicine and sacrament. It’s also no secret that the cannabis plant has been used by humans for personal enjoyment as well. When cannabis buds are smoked, vaporized, and/or infused into consumables it can yield euphoric effects. Cannabis plants are comprised of dozens of cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabinoids are the subject of numerous studies, including studies focused on cannabis’ ability to battle inflammation. But what about the stems of the cannabis plant? Are they useful for battling inflammation in any meaningful way? Researchers in Korea set out to answer that question via a recent study, the results of which were made public earlier this month. A team of researchers from the Gyeongbuk Institute for Bio-industry, the Biomaterials Research Institute, and Andong National University in Korea examined shelled seeds, roots, and stems from cannabis plants. The researchers looked at non-cannabinoid phytochemicals in those parts of the cannabis plant to see if they possessed any anti-inflammation properties. “Among water and ethanol extracts from three plant parts, Cannabis stem ethanol extract (CSE) had the most potent free radical scavenging activities and suppressive effects on the production of nitric oxide from macrophages. In further studies using macrophages, CSE effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylations, and cellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species,” the researchers concluded. “Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses of CSE showed several active compounds that might be associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Collectively, these findings indicate that CSE counteracts LPS-induced acute inflammation and apoptosis, suggesting pharmaceutical applications for the stem part of C. sativa,” the researchers said. These findings are significant given the fact that so much medical cannabis product creation is focused on the buds of the cannabis plant. For many producers, the stems are just a useless byproduct nuisance that often gets discarded. In the future, it’s possible that the stems could prove to be just as valuable from a profit and wellness standpoint as the cannabis buds themselves. This article was originally published on InternationalCannabisChronicle.com. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/surprising-discovery-cannabis-stems/ TESTSTSARDSARBizcann Expo Prepares for Upcoming Event in Medellín This May 21-22 by Sponsored Medellín, Colombia – Bizcann Expo is just weeks away from its next event this May 21 to 22, 2022, in Medellín, Colombia! In collaboration with Alternative Products Expo, this event will be hosted at Plaza Mayor and will offer a safe and educational space to learn all about a rapidly growing industry, all while networking with hundreds of other cannabis professionals. Whether you’re looking to start your way into the cannabis industry or to catapult your already existing business, at Bizcann Expo, you’ll find not only the necessary resources but also, a great variety of options. Innovators will get the chance to connect with investors, and business owners will find all services necessary to promote their brands; from marketing agencies to legal consultants, all under one roof. “Our goal is to bring the industry together and create a dynamic event where each conversation results in a potential business opportunity. We want everyone attending our show to leave with something valuable in their hands,” says Jason Monti, co-founder of ZJ Events, the mother company of Bizcann Expo. Want to learn more about managing your cannabis-industry accounts? How about updating your knowledge on cannabis legislation around the world? Our selection of industry experts will give out all of their secrets and get into the nitty-gritty details, so you come out an expert yourself! Among our speakers, you’ll find experts like Javier Amaya, Asa Waldstein, Sandra Carrillo MD, and more! This edition of Bizcann Expo will be sponsored by Juicy Fields, which will also be exhibiting its latest products throughout the show! Other brands you’ll be able to shake hands with and get up close with include Falcon Rappaport & Berkman, Benzinga, IBN / CNW, Charlie’s Chalk Dust, Colombian Gold Extracts, Hemp Zone, Dimo, Invergreen, and the list keeps growing! Additionally, readers of Cannabis & Tech Today will get 50% off their tickets when using the code CANNATECH at the time of checking out! For more information on Bizcann Expo, or to purchase your tickets, visit bizcannexpo.com or contact us at [email protected], or call us at +1 (631) 777-3455. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/bizcann-expo-prepares-for-upcoming-event-in-medellin-this-may-21-22/ TESTSTSARDSARSardinia Cleaning Polluted Land With Hemp Crops by Marguerite Arnold Italy’s second-largest island has passed a measure to create a regulated hemp market to help clean up the environment. A new law designed to increase phytoremediation of polluted land may well put hemp production on steroids on Italy’s second-largest island – Sardinia. The measure, which passed by unanimous vote on the island, regulates the entire supply chain – from farm to processing. About 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of hemp were planted in 2019 – the last year such data is available. However, there has been a concerted push to cultivate more hemp – either from first-time farmers or those who want to convert existing agricultural operations to farm the same which has driven the measure politically. The island’s governing council said that the old unclear laws and regulations were stifling this sector of the economy on the island. Controlling Production Seed to SaleWhat is interesting about this development is that the new law differs from Italy’s national law on hemp production because it imposes an obligation to report cultivation. This is intended to create a way of controlling and tracking what is produced here. The island will maintain a database to monitor cultivation and the intended use of such crops which will also be shared with the police. The Great Italian Cannabis QuestionItaly has subsided from the cannabis reform limelight somewhat over the past several years. Undoubtedly this is partially thanks to Covid. However, it is not the only reason. Indeed, at the beginning of just this year, the highest court in the country squashed a petition effort to hold a referendum on the legalization of recreational use. However, Italy is far from out of the game. Medical cannabis is produced in the country and there is limited medical reform. Beyond that, hemp and CBD products continue to be popular here. Italy is also head of most European countries in that, like Malta, albeit via court case rather than legislation, patients can grow their own if they cannot access it elsewhere. How the country will proceed post-pandemic is an open question. It is clear that reform here has not gone underground. It will just take a concerted political push to get the country’s national politicians to move forward on a recreational discussion. In the meantime, regions like Sardinia are proceeding as best they can. Hemp production for environmental remediation is an increasingly popular, non-controversial way to proceed, although this project seems to be the first in Europe to specifically focus on the environmental benefits of growing hemp. It won’t be the last. This article was originally published on InternationalCannabisChronicle.com. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/sardinia-cleaning-polluted-land-with-hemp-crops%ef%bf%bc/ TESTSTSARDSARSpotlight on Washington State’s Thriving Cannabis Tech Zone by Ebby Stone Sweet cherries, crisp apples, and juicy pears aren’t the only agricultural crops sprouting out of Washington. The Evergreen State is also a primary exporter of hops, cannabis, and spearmint. Cannabis contributed $1.85 billion to gross state product in 2020 according to research from Washington State University. Since legalizing adult-use sales in 2012, the sector has seen rapid growth. Washingtonians spent more on cannabis than alcohol last year, and almost $85 million more than they spent on tobacco products. The state is also a global hub for information and communication technology. It’s the birthplace of Microsoft, Amazon, Zillow, and Expedia, just to name a few. Tech goliaths like Facebook, Google, Apple, and Twitter also call Washington home. The state’s Department of Commerce reported their tech sector employment has grown by 34% since 2010. The technology and cannabis industries are colliding in Washington to produce some incredible innovations. From cutting-edge engineering to automated IT management, it’s a region brimming with ideas and opportunity. In this Tech Zone, Cannabis & Tech Today takes a look at the West Coast cannabis hub to find the tech and people pushing the industry to new heights. If you’re considering relocating, Washington’s low taxes and affordable cost of living might lure you in. It’s also America’s top exporter of technology products. Whether you’re drawn to Let’s take a look at the businesses and innovators shaping the state’s cannabis industry. What You Should Know About TerpenesTerpene Warehouse’s Cesare Bonventre explains why natural terpenes are always the best option. Terpenes. It’s a word thrown around the cannabis industry so often, and it’s unlikely many people even know what it means. To learn precisely what terpenes are and why you should care, we spoke to Terpene Warehouse Partner and ICannaGroup Co-Owner Cesare Bonventre. This is especially important in Washington state, where in 2019, the government enacted a temporary ban on non-cannabis terpenes in vaping products. However, there was no evidence at the time that showed that only allowing cannabis-derived terpenes would make vaping products safer. “The first thing I like to educate people on is that although all of us on the terpene side of the industry refer to our blends as simply ‘terpenes,’ they are actually a blend of several classes of organic chemical compounds,” Bonventre explained. He continued to say that terpenes can broadly describe monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, but many of the compounds they work with are terpenes, esters, alcohols, ketones, lactones, thiols, and more. After that clarification, Bonventre went on to explain to us the three different types of terpenes. Cannabis-derived “terpenes” (CDT) are chemical compounds extracted directly from cannabis trim or flower. Bonventre likes to refer to the compounds as a “soup” that contains compounds such as phytols that may have some residual plant material and chlorophyll, and possibly some flavonoids along with the terpenes, thiols, esters, alcohols, ketones, etc., depending on the extraction method used. Botanically derived “terpenes” (BDT) are blends of aromatic compounds. According to Bonventre, it’s the impurities in BDT that bring about more fruity and citrus aromas. “The impurities in the different compounds, depending on what they are derived from, often contain complex essential oils that taste or smell like the plant they come from,” he explained. As an illustration, he said that Terpene Warehouse buys the sesquiterpene Valencene at 55-percent purity instead of 90-percent. “Valencene is derived from valencia oranges and grapefruits, so when we get 55-percent pure valencene, we get a product that is packed with flavor and aroma, as opposed to 90-percent pure, which has much less aroma and flavor.” Synthetic “terpenes” provide a product that has almost no impurities at all, except for the trace amounts left behind in the process of synthesizing the compound. Given what we know about purity and flavor, it makes sense that synthetic blends would not be very flavorful without flavoring additives. However, Bonventre cautions against the use of synthetic terpenes. “Most of the information out there from the FDA are in regards to synthetic versions of terpenes such as synthetic Myrcene (banned by the FDA), EthylAcrylate, Methyl Eugenol, Pulegone, Pyridine, and Benzophenone. All have been found to cause cancer in high concentrations,” according to FDA studies using lab rats. For this reason, Bonventre and Terpene Warehouse have dedicated themselves to naturally derived ingredients. “We strongly believe that if we as an industry are set on fighting for our rights and freedom to consume a plant that grows naturally, we should also demand that our terpenes are derived from natural sources, regardless of whether that be botanically derived or cannabis derived.” Even though we talk about terpenes so often in this industry, Bonventre acknowledges we still have a lot to learn. “These impurities are what we need to learn more about. As technology improves and GCMS and HPLC equipment become more advanced, we’ll be better equipped to dig A Tech Solution for Every Step of the Pre-Roll ProcessWashington Governor Jay Inslee is proud of the state’s thriving technology sector. He shared on his website that 82 out of every 1,000 private sector employees in the state work in the tech industry, bringing in billions of revenue each year. One company adding to that atmosphere of innovation is technology solutions provider STM Canna. For the last five years, STM has been designing, engineering, and distributing eco-friendly cannabis processing equipment for commercial enterprises. Their pre-rolled joint filling machines and extraction production equipment are manufactured in the U.S using food-grade materials. The company’s best-known innovation is the STM RocketBox, which produces 453 joints in 60 seconds. The machine can reportedly facilitate up to 500 times faster production. The Mini-RocketBox offers commercial grade pre-roll filling for smaller operations. It can create up to 143 pre-rolls in 45 seconds or less. The STM Revolution 2.0 Industrial Grinder offers a consistent, homogenous grind with zero whipping or mashing. It can grind 15-30 pounds of dry flower per hour. The system also uses dual blades that act like scissors, creating clean, precision cuts. The Revolution also offers touch screen control for controlling the speed of the blade and auger. A closed loop feed system prevents clogs. The industrial grinder also has a 5-point safety system for added user confidence. STM also offers a Mini-Revolution for small to medium sized operators. The company’s Sub-Zero Revolution Grinder offers the same efficiency as the Revolution, but is designed for cryogenically frozen flower. STM is debuting some new, desperately needed pre-roll tech during 2021’s MJBizCon. While there are other brands offering pre-roll machines, there are few options for automated closing machines. STM’s new closing machine is filling that market gap with an industrial-grade solution. It can close up to 12 pre-rolls every second. The crown-style closure ensures each joint has a hand-packed smoke and feel. Each STM machine comes with a 12-month parts and labor warranty. In just a few years, STM has gone from a small start up to serving some of the largest cannabis companies in the world. Their solutions are powering business in 38 states, Canada, the U.K., Israel, Australia, and South Africa. Their headquarters in Spokane, Washington is an ideal hub for maintaining those international connections and facilitating tech collaboration with many of the largest tech companies in the nation. It’s an ideal ecosystem for encouraging the type of innovation STM is known for producing. Chief Marketing Officer Charles Warner is especially proud of their client services team, offering customer support by phone, email, and even video conferencing five days a week. “STM Canna has been on the leading edge of innovation in the cannabis equipment manufacturing space for over five years. It’s now recognized as a global leader in commercial cannabis processing,” said Warner. Adapted Medical Technology is Creating a Safer Industry“Among gardeners, enthusiasm and experience rarely exist in equal measure. The beginner dreams of home-grown bouquets and baskets of ripe fruit, the veteran of many seasons has learned to expect slugs, mildew, and frost.” — Roger Swain In the past decade, the U.S. has started to change its view on cannabis. There are now 48 states with some form of legalized cannabis. Of those, 33 require mold, mildew, and bacterial testing. Washington State was an early adopter of adult-use consumption and has enacted several important consumer safety regulations over the last nine years. While the state’s testing system is imperfect, catering more to medical users than adult-use when it comes to safety standards, it does regulate the presence of mycotoxins in all products. Some molds can produce toxic byproducts, known as mycotoxins. Rather than requiring total yeast and mold counts (TYMC), Washington tests for the toxins produced by mold and mildew. These mycotoxins include Salmonella and E. Coli, which the state has mandated cannot be present in any quantity in unprocessed plant material. The same is true of extracted or processed botanical products. Tim Brady, marketing manager for Rad Source, emphasized the importance of mycotoxin tests. Rad Source is a microbial remediation technology company with a background in medical and life-sciences applications. Its technology has been used for cancer and cell research, infectious disease prevention, and now cannabis remediation. “Adult-use and even patients suffering from Alzheimer’s, ALS, HIV and AIDS, cancer … and many more medical conditions are dependent on the safety, quality, and reliable potency of their products,” said Brady. Both indoor and outdoor plants are susceptible to mold and mildew. Contamination can also occur during harvest, trimming, drying, or curing. “Currently, 15-20% profit loss has been calculated as average in the industry for those not passing state-mandated testing,” said Brady. While prevention is the best approach to avoiding mold, there are several forms of remediation available. Some methods degrade the flower, resulting in an undesirable final product and potential loss of profit. Medical technology adapted for the cannabis space, however, is proving to be highly-effective at destroying microbes in plant material. Brady said the compact nature of cannabis flower can limit the effectiveness of some forms of remediation, but doesn’t pose an issue for other treatments. “Photonic Decontamination produces short wavelength electromagnetic energy — better known as light — that is able to remediate microbial contamination with a 99.9% confidence level,” said Brady. “Even in the most tightly-packed flowers, the light is able to penetrate the entire flower and destroy microbes at the DNA-level, meaning that it inactivates the reproduction of existing microbials.” This cellular-level purity helps build consumer confidence. It also serves as an assurance to policymakers who are concerned with the safety and transparency of the industry. As Washington continues to refine its testing protocols and create a more consumer-friendly atmosphere for cannabis, effective remediation technologies will play an increasingly important role for producers. How Cold Can You Go? A Look Inside Washington’s Leading Chiller SolutionWhat do the craft beer industry, the dairy industry, and now the extraction industry have in common? They all rely on low temperature refrigeration systems to successfully produce their products. For years, Pro Refrigeration has been a leading chiller solution for both the North American craft beer and dairy industries. Over half of the medals awarded at the Great American Beer Fest 2018 were given to PROChiller customers. In 2016, Pro’s CEO Jim VanderGiessen received a call from an extraction customer, Zach, who informed him that they were using the PROChiller (designed for breweries) to extract oil from cannabis. “Zach had modified our system to operate 15-degrees Fahrenheit colder than we had ever tested before,” VanderGiessen said. “We quickly put our heads together and started designing systems for this market.” “The only question any extractor ever asks a chiller guy is, ‘How cold can you go?’” VanderGiessen mused. “We then began to focus specifically on finding ways to make our equipment work better for the extraction market.” Together with Zach, they set a couple of new targets. First, to design a lower temperature glycol-based coolant system to reach operating temperatures of minus 5-degrees F. Their second target aimed even lower, to hit coolant temperatures of negative 45-degrees F. Soon, they released the M5 Series, which operated at minus 5-degrees F. This model allowed extractors to eliminate high operating costs of using dry ice. After continuous pushing and tinkering, they introduced the M45 Series, which brought their cooling number down to minus 45-degrees F. “Dairy farmers and brewers understand the vital role of their chiller system,” VanderGiessen explained. “That has prepared us well for the extraction market. We started looking for more opportunities to help extractors improve their processes by delivering colder fluids at higher flow rates.” One early extraction opportunity came from Double Delicious, one of the largest extraction processors in Washington state. Using an ultra-low temp freezer, Double D was spending five days cooling their ethanol after each extraction. Even after those five days, they still couldn’t get the ethanol below negative 30-degrees F. As a solution, the team designed a two-stage stainless steel heat exchanger coupled with a pair of PROChillers: an M5 and an M45. The improved system dropped the ethanol from 70-degrees F to 5-degrees F in stage one, then below minus 40-degrees F in the second stage. The solution was so effective that it created other bottlenecks in the facility that needed to be remedied. Problem solvers at heart, ProRefrigeration jumped at the opportunity to further upgrade the recovery system so that the whole facility could run efficiently. Now, VanderGiessen sees an open opportunity within the industry. “Currently, for extraction chillers, you can find cheap Chinese imports or really expensive European imports,” he said. “The cheap imports are so affordable that customers simply throw them away instead of repairing them. The really expensive systems are specialized machines, and it’s very difficult to find people to service them.” VanderGiessen’s hope is to fill in this gap and provide competitively priced chiller systems to this burgeoning industry. But, he’ll never lose sight of that key question: How cold can you go? What Are Nanobubbles And Why Should You Care?At 2,500 times smaller than a single grain of salt, it may be hard to believe that nanobubbles would have any significant effect on your cannabis plants. So you might be surprised to learn that nanobubbles could be the key to healthier cannabis. With a record amount of cannabis being grown each year, nanobubbles could hold the key to more efficient and productive cultivation. Enter Enrichment Systems, whose CEO Rex O’Neal explained to Cannabis & Tech Today the importance of their work and nanobubbles. What is a Dissolved Oxygen System? In August 2021, Enrichment Systems LLC, launched its P-150 Dissolved Oxygen System. “The P-150 Dissolved Oxygen System is the lowest priced and most effective dissolved oxygen solution available in the cannabis market,” says O’Neal. “It is capable of Understanding Dissolved Oxygen Most water sources typically have 0-7 ppm of dissolved oxygen, while cannabis thrives at Why Should I Care about Nanobubbles? “Nanobubbles,” more frequently referred to as “ultra-fine bubbles,” in scientific literature, are gas bubbles no larger than .1 micron. Nanobubbles display very unusual properties in that they are not physically buoyant and therefore remain in suspension for long periods, up to weeks in some instances. Airstones and bubblers do very little to increase dissolved oxygen levels. Dramatic Improvement in Plant Growth and Health Steven Lipton, Director of Operations of The Flower Shop in Boulder, Colorado, has experimented with the Enrichment Systems P-150 Dissolved Oxygen System and has the following to say: “My preliminary experience with this system has been unqualified positive. I see increased leaf count, stem circumference, and root development very early in veg. EC levels are significantly lower, leading me to believe plants are uptaking nutrients more efficiently. Plants are bigger, stronger and healthier, and remain stronger at every stage of growth.” So there you have it. The key to your next grow operation may be your tiniest asset yet. What’s in Your Fertilizer? Emerald Harvest’s Guide to NutrientsIn early 2021, Washington legislators attempted to pass a bill that would make it legal for consumers to grow cannabis at home. While many states allow this, Washington state does not. With the increased interest in homegrown cannabis, Cannabis & Tech Today sat down with Dan Mair, Product Specialist of Emerald Harvest, to discuss plant nutrients and supplements. With so many different nutrient and supplement options, and labels with mountains of information, how is one supposed to decipher what their plants need? “If even one essential plant nutrient is deficient, yields will suffer.” This bold statement from Mair describes the phenomenon “Law of the minimum,” which means that plants need at least a minimum amount of every essential nutrient in order to flourish. “It doesn’t matter if a plant gets more than enough of every essential nutrient but one,” Mair explained, “if even one essential nutrient falls beneath its minimum, it will suffer a deficiency, with yield and crop quality leaking away.” In addition to hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon—essential non-mineral nutrients that plants take from the air and water — there are 14 essential mineral nutrients: • The primary macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium • The secondary macronutrients: calcium, magnesium, and sulfur • The eight micronutrients: iron, boron, zinc, manganese, copper, nickel, molybdenum Different species will have different appetites for different nutrients during different times of their life cycles. Therefore, nutrients need to be applied in the right concentrations and formulated in the right ratios at the right times. According to Emerald Harvest’s own analysis, here is the breakdown of essential plant nutrients in the cannabis plant: • Nitrogen: 37.7% • Potassium: 28.5% • Calcium: 26.1% • Phosphorous: 3.4% • Magnesium: 3.4% • Sulfur: 0.45% • Iron: 0.25% • Boron: 0.08% • Zinc: 0.04% • Manganese: 0.03% • Copper: 0.01% • Nickel: 0.004% • Molybdenum: 0.003% As you can see, the macronutrients outweigh micronutrients by a huge margin. However, don’t doubt the importance of any single micronutrient. Deficiency in just one micronutrient can still cause lower crop quality. When it comes to fertilizers, there are a few other ingredients outside of essential nutrients that can be a benefit to the plant. What Mair refers to as “non-plant-food ingredients” is jargon to indicate nutrients that are beneficial, but not necessarily essential, to plants, as well as plant-beneficial compounds not found on the periodic table. While base nutrients must include all of the essential nutrients, supplements often focus on these extras. Humic acid is a natural soil conditioner that forms chelate complexes with essential nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and iron. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) activates a “whole plant” immune response, bringing out qualities that humans prize, and may encourage root growth in young plants. Cane sugar (or carbohydrates) is another beneficial non-plant-food ingredient that acts as a microbe food. According to Mair, it’s the knowledge of these important nutrients and ingredients that will make your grow successful. “There is no genie in the bottle: no magic, just science,” he concluded. “Nutrient companies that imply that there is something supernaturally superior about their products need to dial the marketing hype down a notch … Nutrients are nutrients. But to be successful, you need to choose the right nutrients with the right formulations. They’re not magic potions for your plants.” A Quick Cure for Preserving CropsNew tech delivers perfectly dried buds in less than 14 hours. The western side of Washington is one of the most humid places in the country. While it may not feel humid due to the temperate climate, persistent rainfall keeps the air damp. That moisture can make it difficult to properly dry and cure flower. Powdery mildew and mold are pervasive problems for farmers in the Evergreen State. An innovative approach gaining a foothold across the U.S. and Canada is Cryo Curing. Michigan-based Cryo Cure has reimagined traditional freeze drying and is using their patent-pending tech and U.S.-made machinery to advance the industry. CEO and co-founder Tracee McAfee explains, “Commercial Freeze dryers are designed to remove all moisture from whatever it is that is being dried. For a smokable flower that’s not good because when you’re drying it out like that, you’ve removed a lot of the valuable terpenes and it’s going to be dry as dust and not smoke very well. What we’ve done has taken that out of the equation of freeze drying and modified it with our ‘recipe’ for smokable flower that is full of terpenes, at the desired moisture content and water activity level. This creates the ultimate consumption experience while improving the bottom line for cultivators and processors.” Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is one of the rainiest places in the world. While that’s great for cutting costs on irrigation, it puts outdoor growers at higher risk of botrytis, or bud rot. Bud rot can occur during the growing process or during drying. These outbreaks can result in thousands or even millions of dollars in crop loss. Cryo Cure’s freeze drying process mitigates the problem and is an affordable long-term solution that takes buds from stalk to smoke in just hours. Their smaller CC360 machine can process up to 100 wet pounds at a time and dry a batch in 12- 14 hours. Their largest machine, CC720, holds up to 1,200 wet pounds at a time. McAfee said this method also preserves terpenes more effectively than traditional drying. “We’re able to capture and preserve a terpene called carene; it’s a fragile mono terpene that normally dissipates during traditional drying methods. We’ve suspended that degradation with our Cryo Cure process.” McAfee understands people need to see, smell, and experience the results themselves. They’re offering live demonstrations as well as case studies and independent lab results on their website. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of snake oil in our industry right now, so people really want to feel confident in what they are integrating into their operations. We back up everything we do with consistency, science, data, education, and proven results,” said McAfee. Demand Grows for STEM Talent in the Evergreen StateLush rainforests, towering mountains, and legal adult-use cannabis are just a few reasons to love Washington. But this state has more to offer than scenic beauty. It’s also carving out a niche as a national leader in STEM. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found Washington has the second highest concentration of STEM jobs in the country. It’s also fourth in the nation’s “New Economy” index for innovation and entrepreneurship as ranked by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. So what does this mean for cannabis? Ample opportunities for tech job seekers. Many of the nation’s cannabis companies are built around STEM skills. Cascade Sciences, a pharmaceutical-grade processing equipment manufacturer, joined the cannabis space to meet the demand for science-based manufacturing solutions. The woman-owned business has been providing laboratory testing and processing solutions for 30 years. “Cascade cut its teeth in STEM fields such as aerospace, pharmaceutical, technology, and academia. Those industries require sophisticated technology that can perform day-in-day-out and offer repeatability, which is why our vacuum ovens caught the attention of cannabis producers,” said Rebecca Allen-Tapp, director of business development for Cascade Sciences. As an Oregon-based company, Cascade Sciences was geographically primed to meet the needs of the Washington adult-use market. When the recreational industry opened up, the company was able to help clients set up new labs and start optimizing their processes for the developing industry. It was a smart move. The state earned $172 million more from cannabis sales than liquor sales in 2019. Further, the Liquor and Cannabis Control Board reported a total of $395.5 million in legal cannabis revenue that year. The industry’s growth will coincide with a boom in STEM jobs. Washington state is already home to huge tech employers like Amazon and Microsoft. This can largely be attributed to The University of Washington computer science program, ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News. It’s a region that understands the value of technical skills in creating a robust economy. To continue its legacy as a “tech zone,” Washington’s universities are adding new areas of study. Western Washington University, for example, added four new certificate programs in 2021 focused on career preparation and skills development for the cannabis industry. Allen-Tapp said this is one area where she’s most excited to see continued growth. “I would like to see the cannabis sector evolve to focus more on education, procedures, collaboration, and an emphasis on testing.” Those elements are vital to create a more transparent industry, and one that’s ultimately able to transition to federal legalization. When cannabis is legal on a national scale, states training their students to excel in STEM will have the advantage. “There are many areas within the cannabis industry that having a background in STEM would be beneficial — and for processing or analytical environments it is nearly crucial,” said Allen-Tapp. Managing an IT EcosystemEntrepreneurs are masters of multitasking. While wearing every hat isn’t ideal, it’s part of the gig. Technology integration is stepping up to help, but managing the technology can be a full-time job in itself. For Washingtonians, being tech-savvy is nearly a requirement for residency. The state’s tech sector employed 246,000 workers in 2019, as reported by the Washington State Wire. With so many tech professionals in the area, there are ample resources for business owners looking to bring in more automation. Building an IT Strategy Stephen Arndt, president of Cannabis Technology Partners, said working with an IT management company early on is crucial. “The sooner we get involved with a client, the easier it is to prevent bad technology decisions that are costly to undo or redo.” His company offers free consultations so business owners can better understand their needs and the costs associated with implementing solutions. From those discussions, Arndt builds an IT strategy to determine how much technology (servers, computers, etc.) a business needs. “Our goal is to form a partnership with our clients, to maximize the efficiency and productivity of their business, and to enable them to achieve a competitive edge by leveraging current technology,” said Arndt. There are so many areas to automate now that operators may have to let their budget decide where to focus. Compliance is a good place to start. You’ve installed surveillance systems and have control over who can access what, but is that the end of your compliance strategy? “We’ve talked to so many companies that don’t have any mechanism to ensure the system is functioning on a day-to-day basis,” said Arndt. Finding a partner who offers 24/7 compliance monitoring ensures the tech is working and everything is in line with evolving regulations. Daily Operations Operators should have data management covering everything from inventory to customer retention. As ever, it sounds easier than it is. “We realize ultimately what companies need is hassle-free IT that allows them to accomplish their daily tasks, meet deadlines, input data, and engage efficiently and intentionally with their client base,” said Arndt. Comprehensive IT could also include ensuring internet connectivity (even in remote areas), networking between multiple sites, or integrating disparate applications for better efficiency. Security Solutions Data integrity, computer viruses, hackers, and tech failures are major concerns. Moving to a cloud-based storage solution can help. “If you haven’t started a move to the cloud, you are behind,” said Arndt. “This business model, especially with regards to security and compliance, is the only one that can move fast enough to keep with the threats in today’s world.” Planning for Success IT management is a foundational element for building a successful operation. As Arndt pointed out, “It takes a team to stay on top of all the risks and even then, things happen.” Working with qualified professionals from the ground up helps ensure those issues arise less often, and when they do, there’s a plan in place to resolve them. Time for a Change: Solutions for Cost-Effective Edible ManufacturingEdibles manufacturers face a host of challenges ensuring product quality and stability through the supply chain. In heated conditions, like in a truck cargo bay during transport, cannabinoids can leach out of packaged products before they get to their destination. Additionally, over time, in traditional edible manufacturing the distillate in the final product can crystalize, which can be accelerated by cold temperatures. Supply chain stability is a persistent problem in the edibles space. How do you create a shelf stable product that travels well despite changes in temperature? The Washington marketplace can be especially vulnerable to supply chain and distribution problems because of its diverse geography. While transporting goods across the state, a truck might travel through rain forests into dry canyons and high into the Cascade Mountains before hitting a shelf. Advances in technology and processing now solve these challenges. Chef Ron Silver, Founder and Chief Creative Officer for Azuca, applied his knowledge of the culinary arts to create more shelf-stable formulas for cannabis edibles. “I started to see new and innovative ways to use culinary techniques to bring out the best in the cannabis plant. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, developing what eventually became our Azuca TiME INFUSION technology, and in the years since, have watched it transform the cannabis edibles industry,” said Silver. The acronym TiME stands for Thermodynamic individual Molecular Encapsulation. The process not only helps stabilize the cannabis molecules within the product, it also helps the body to process them more efficiently. “It’s a process that makes ingestible cannabinoid particles smaller and water friendly, enabling faster uptake. This process begins immediately in the mouth, avoiding the liver where cannabinoids are degraded and absorption is slowed. That’s how we are able to cut that traditional 90 minutes [for edible activation] down to less than 15 minutes,” said Silver. One unique aspect of Azuca’s process is that it’s easily available to manufacturers. Washington State cannabis companies can take advantage of TiME INFUSION in their own production facilities. “A key benefit to integrating this technology into an existing edibles production process is that it doesn’t require burdensome training or large capital investment, making the adoption seamless and cost-effective,” said Kim Rael, President and CEO of Azuca. Edible makers also face “transfer loss.” The stickiness of distillate makes it cling to mixing equipment and anything it touches, causing transfer loss. Transfer waste costs manufacturers an average cannabinoid loss of 15-20%. Azuca’s processes reduce transfer and potency loss in edibles by up to 65% according to their white paper study Stability and Waste Solutions for Edible Manufacturers. These tech advancements are exciting for edibles brands and end customers. “Our consumers no longer have to play the guessing game when it comes to onset time and dosing. Our infusions taste great, and we’re tackling manufacturing challenges to minimize waste and ensure the longest shelf life possible. It all comes down to science,” said Silver. Sustainable Packaging in 4 StepsPackaging is so common these days that it’s nearly invisible. Everything comes in some sort of package — so much so that we often mindlessly throw them away without really thinking about where the packaging came from or where it is going. With packaging as prolific as it is, it’s crucial consumers and companies alike start to question the source of their packaging and how it can be made more sustainable. According to Ponder Seattle, there are nearly twice as many producers/processors as there are dispensaries in Washington state, resulting in competition for limited shelf space. Sustainable packaging might be a key to standing out. Alpha Packaging is a manufacturer of bottles and jars for the cannabis industry and others. All of their packaging is manufactured with sustainability in mind, and their solutions can be broken into four categories. 100% Recycled Content First, recycling is one of the most common sustainability strategies. While it’s important for individual consumers to participate in recycling, it can have a much bigger impact when utilized by large manufacturers. For instance, Alpha Packaging makes their bottles and jars with up to 100% post-consumer resin (PCR). By utilizing recycled HDPE and PET resins, Alpha Packaging provides brand owners a sustainable packaging solution that performs just as well as “virgin” plastic. Recyclable Resins Recycling as a consumer can be tricky. Figuring out what products are recyclable in your personal community recycling program is a difficult task. To clear up confusion, many brands use the phrase “recycle-ready,” which means their packaging is accepted by most community recycling programs. It also means there is a viable recycling stream that can capture the resin, giving it a useful second life. In Alpha’s case, 98% of the bottles they manufacture are mono-layer PET or HDPE plastic, which are SPI codes 1 and 2 respectively, and are the most widely recycled plastics in the world. Plant-based Resins Of course, recycled content isn’t the only option when manufacturing packaging. Plastics made from plants, also known as “bioresins,” reduce or eliminate the amount of petrochemicals required to make resin. As an example, in the case of plant-based HDPE, Alpha has a source for an HDPE bioresin that is made entirely from sugar cane byproduct. The bio-HDPE is chemically identical to traditional HDPE, but the feedstock is sugar cane instead of petroleum. In the case of PET, the most common plant-based formulations use renewable plant resources to replace the monoethylene glycol (MEG) component of polyethylene terephthalate. Lightweighting For both sustainable and financial reasons, the goal for any brand owner should be to minimize packaging as much as possible while still ensuring their products are protected. Light-weighting primary packaging is a smart way to reduce the amount of raw materials being used for each package. In practice, Alpha’s Design & Engineering teams work with their customers to find the optimal gram weight that balances performance and sustainability, working to find the lightest weight possible. In some cases, they’ve been able to reduce the total gram weight of a bottle by up to 29% without negative effects on performance. Originally published in the fall 2021 issue available here. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/spotlight-on-washington-states-thriving-cannabis-tech-zone/ TESTSTSARDSARLaremy Tunsil Turning Draft Day Gas Mask Video Into NFT by Patricia Miller Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil is selling an infamous piece of NFL Draft history. Wednesday morning, Tunsil minted a non-fungible token (NFT) of the viral video that nearly cost him career in 2016. Just moments before the 2016 NFL Draft, a video of Tunsil was posted to his social media without his permission. The clip showed Tunsil smoking an unknown substance out of a gas mask bong. Before the video went live, Tunsil was presumed to be a top pick for the Draft. After the video, his appeal seemed to plummet and he was ultimately pick number 13 for the Miami Dolphins. Despite the controversy, Tunsil went on to have a successful career in the NFL, making two Pro Bowls in six seasons. However, he maintains the moment that video went viral was one of the lowest points in his life. “Probably one of the worst feelings I ever experienced in my life,” Tunsil told Complex during a 2021 interview. The NFL star is hoping to turn what was one of his worst experiences into a positive for the cannabis community. He’s now selling the viral video as an NFT with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the cannabis criminal reform organization Last Prisoner Project (LPP). The LPP was created to help change cannabis drug policy. It is actively working to free prisoners incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis crimes. The listing for the NFT beckons sellers to “relive the most famous football Draft moment” by owning their very own piece of draft memorabilia. Tunsil said he hopes to put the moment behind him. “I’m looking forward and excited for the future,” TMZ reported. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/laremy-tunsil-turning-draft-day-gas-mask-video-into-nft%ef%bf%bc/ TESTSTSARDSARHow To Market Your Cannabis Brand Through Events and Pop-Ups by Miles Oliver People who work in the cannabis industry or just love the products aren’t against digital experiences that inspire great relationships with cannabis brands. That said, real joy happens with in-person experiences. Marketing your cannabis brand in person is essential to your success. Starting your in-person marketing effort with pop-up shops and special events is a wise business decision. The first step in marketing your cannabis brand through events and pop-ups is ensuring your brand is solid. You should know who you are, what you stand for, and what you want to do for your customers. You should also know what separates you from the many cannabis brands out there. Then, with your brand intact, market it through events by doing the following: Get To Know the People You’re Marketing ToPop-up shops are one of the most creative ways to build awareness and recognition for your cannabis brand. Attending and putting on other cannabis-related events also helps you stand out from the competition. But neither of these will work out if you don’t know your customers. Continuous research on your target audience for your cannabis brand is critical to your event’s success. Their demographic information, buying behaviors, and decision-making are great to know. However, be sure to also research:
Collecting data on your target audience through analytics tools is terrific. But you should supplement what you gather with your tools with information you learn about your customers from their own mouths. Be sure that you’re getting to know your customers in person, especially at your events. Have genuine conversations about their relationship with cannabis and your brand. Listen to their challenges with cannabis, event-related frustrations, and suggestions for making things better. Also, a solid connection with your target audience will ease the planning process. Plan Your Events With Best Practices in MindPlan every event carefully. Without organization, teamwork, and communication, your planning will suffer. And so will your event. You want each event to be an experience for your attendees, something they’ll remember forever. Something that keeps them coming back to your brand for their cannabis needs years later. Proper event planning can make this a reality. Plan each event or pop up shop for your cannabis brand with these best practices in mind:
It’s also crucial you’re mindful of any cannabis laws that may affect your event. For instance, local or federal regulations may stop you from legally selling cannabis products at a pop-up shop or event, depending on your location. As a result, you may have to limit your inventory to accessories and branded merchandise. Or, you may have to comply with specific packaging and labeling regulations on your products. Make it a point to address your compliance with cannabis laws in the planning process for every event. With your event planned, it’s now time to promote and put it on. Promote Your Events RelentlesslyIt would be a shame to do all this prepping and planning for an event, and no one comes. However, you can guarantee a good turnout if you market your events properly. Digital marketing is a great starting point for promoting your events. Almost everyone is online these days. Your target audience will likely learn more about your brand and any events you have coming up through your website, social media, or email list. They’ll also use search engines to find what they’re looking for. So, it’s essential to learn how to leverage a professional website, search engine optimization, social media, and email to reach your target audience and keep them informed on your upcoming events. If you aren’t familiar with digital marketing best practices, take courses that teach them. Or, hire a digital marketing specialist to help you promote your events on your digital marketing channels. Also, pair your digital marketing with traditional marketing. For example, see if you can get ad spots on local radio stations to promote your events. And create signage to put in your cannabis store promoting your next event. Great marketing and promotion will lead to a great turnout. On the day of an event, be sure all things are in order. Your team should have their assignments. Ensure everyone knows who to turn to if something goes wrong. Keep an eye on how the event progresses. Most importantly, have fun. Once an event is over, follow-up and reflection are essential. Follow Up and Reflect on Your EventsThe work isn’t over once an event is. The next step is to follow up with attendees about their experience at your event. Hopefully, you’ll gain valuable feedback from them about what worked and what didn’t and can implement their suggestions for your next pop-up shop or event. There are various ways to follow up with attendees who were kind enough to leave their information with you. For example, if you had a signup list going for your email newsletter, get in contact with those who signed up. Follow up on their experience at your event and ensure they’re receiving your email newsletter. Another example would be collecting phone numbers for your text message marketing list. Send out a text blast the day after your event concludes, thanking them for attending. Include a link to a survey in the text asking them to share their experience. Attach an incentive to completing the survey, like a discount on their next purchase. You also want to reflect on any event with your team. Sit down with everyone involved in putting the event on and get their insights on how everything went. If you can get everyone together for a team meeting, even better. Be sure also to include any vendors, brand ambassadors, and other partners you worked with outside your internal team. Without follow-up and reflection, you’ll make the same mistakes you did in this event in the next one. So, take this part of the process as seriously as you did the actual event. ConclusionMarketing your cannabis brand through events and pop-ups is one of the best ways to stand out. Success for your events is on the other side of a strong brand, meaningful interactions with customers, solid event planning and promotion, and reflection. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/market-cannabis-brand-events-pop-ups/ TESTSTSARDSARNew Jersey Cops On Front Line Of Legal Cannabis Battle by Aron Vaughan Can cops smoke cannabis in states where it is legal? It’s a question with no clear answer, mostly due to conflicting state and federal cannabis laws. And when the use of firearms comes into the equation, laws concerning the recreational use of cannabis by off-duty cops can become a quagmire. New Jersey is seeing this question play out in real-time, as Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said he plans to fire any cop in his city who tests positive for cannabis at any time. On November 3, 2020, New Jersey voters approved the Marijuana Legalization Amendment to become the fourteenth state to approve the possession and use of cannabis for adults 21 and older. But that does not necessarily mean off-duty officers can indulge. “Every other state in the country that legalized cannabis had a carve-out that did not allow off-duty police officers to smoke,” Fulop said. New Jersey, however, does not have a law that specifically prohibits police officers from using cannabis. The state’s attorney general informed law enforcement executives that state law forbids any employer – including a police department – from discriminating against or punishing employees for recreational cannabis use as long as they are sober while on the job, according to Fox 5 New York. Fulop responded by suggesting the use of cannabis – or any federally illegal drug – by officers would violate the agreement made when they receive their police-issued firearm. Fulop also argued lack of clarity concerning an officer’s sobriety or mental state after firing his or her gun would further compromise public trust in an institution that is already experiencing historically low approval ratings. The legality of cops’ right to relax with an edible after a long shift may have to be settled via litigation, but New Jersey governor Phil Murphy said he is open to new legislation that would allow departments to set their own cannabis policies. Should Police Officers Be Allowed to Use Cannabis?While Fulop believes cannabis use will discredit officers and police departments, and compromise officers’ ability to perform their duties responsibly, what do the data suggest? Police departments are under scrutiny all over the U.S. and in 2020, confidence in police reached a record low of 48%, according to the New York Times. In addition, substance use disorders are estimated to be between 20 and 30% among police, compared to under 10% among the general population. With one in four police officers struggling with an alcohol or drug abuse issue, it raises major concern for residents in every district and county. Cannabis and CBD have proved to be effective treatments for depression, chronic pain, and PTSD, which can trigger substance abuse issues. Medical and recreational cannabis use could improve the mental and physical health of cops, leading to better job performance. Small changes in lifestyle can have an immensely positive impact on every aspect of life, and for people in careers that involve life and death scenarios, every opportunity to raise their quality of life should be afforded to them. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/can-cops-smoke-cannabis-new-jersey-on-front-line-of-legal-battle/ TESTSTSARDSARHow to Create an Elevated Customer Experience on Any Budget by Patricia Miller What comes to mind when you imagine a beautiful dispensary? Perhaps it’s laden with bright colors and dazzling technological displays highlighting the latest and greatest in cannabis. Maybe you imagine a warm, inviting space where you feel like you’re coming to visit an old friend. Everyone has their own vision for their ideal business. Very few are able to bring that vision to life on time and within budget. To understand more about what goes into designing a successful retail establishment, Cannabis & Tech Today spoke with the team at SevenPoint Interiors. While SevenPoint is focused on the newly-emerging cannabis scene, its parent company Visual Elements has been building high-end retail spaces for more than a decade. Its client list includes Coach, Louis Vuitton, and several other designer brands known for unique, ultra-chic interiors. In this interview, Creative Director Desmond Chan and Head of Design Randy Simmen break down what it takes to create eye-catching, compliant designs that will set your brand apart from the competition. Cannabis & Tech Today: What are some of the biggest challenges retailers face in the design phase of a dispensary?Desmond Chan: A lot of it is on time and on budget. Because we’re a vertically-integrated facility, we’re great at working within a budget. Randy Simmen: We have customers who sought designs from other design firms who don’t have manufacturing integrated, it’s hard for them to really understand the cost associated with executing some of these designs. So a customer will come to us with a budget and a design and when you look at it, the budget doesn’t really match up with the design. We can give them reasons why — be it material choices or even just structural challenges. We make sure they’re not over designing to the point that it’s out of the realm of possibility when it comes to budget and timing. C&T Today: What’s your strategy for blending beautiful design with compliance?DC: In Canada, you’re not allowed to look into a store and see the transaction, point of sale, or anything associated with cannabis products from the street. So we find creative ways to draw customers into the store. For example, we have a client’s store inspired by the Grateful Dead. From the outside you can’t really see any cannabis products, but it still draws attention and creates an experience that draws people into the store. That’s one example of a creative component. RS: From the street, you can see all the way into the back of the store, you can see people shopping the store, but you can’t see any cannabis. So that’s one example of a creative loophole where we have to work inside this C&T Today: What should retailers consider when creating an interior design?RS: You need to find a way to set yourself apart and stand out from the rest. Because at the end of the day, I think those who are going to survive and still be open years from now are those that took the time to really focus on the experience and the customer journey. C&T Today: You offer custom designs as well as prefabricated designs. When is prefab the best option for a retailer?RS: We call it pre-engineered. If someone comes to us with a really quick timeline, rather than investing all of our time designing the tables and the fixtures, we’re spending that time on layout and customer journey. And then based on the brand they have, or the aesthetic they are trying to achieve, we apply the finishes and materials to the pre-engineered system. That’s created here and we can put it straight into production. DC: What normally takes a custom job three or four months or even longer to build, what we’re doing with the module collection is closer to six to eight weeks turnaround. C&T Today: What do you think is an often overlooked aspect of successful interior design?RS: I think the interior design piece, we are pretty good at covering. I honestly think the most overlooked thing in our experience is the branding. We have a lot of customers that come to us with ambitions of a beautiful retail space, but then we create the shelves and now you have to fill those shelves, and the way that you display the product information should all be consistent and branded. We might supply a space for digital signage, but is that digital menu board on brand and looking correct? We offer that service as well, of brand identity. I think that’s the one piece where, when we can convince customers to go with us to develop their branding, that’s where they’ve been the most successful. And we’re also able to then integrate their branding into our design. DC: There are also little tricks that we put in from a tech perspective that really make the experience so much more interesting and also improve things from a sales perspective for the owners. RS: Even things like integrating iPads for self-checkouts in creative ways. So in one case, we created a nice upholstered bench then integrated an arm that holds an iPad so you can shop while you sit. So, we don’t create the technology, but we find ways to integrate it. C&T Today: Are you finding there’s a lot of demand for tech integration?RS: It depends on the customer. With the boom of online shopping and all of us having screens in our faces all the time, I do actually think the more tactile designs are effective. We designed a store and they chose not to have any visual screens whatsoever, no iPads, no screens on the walls. They went completely analog and there was something appealing about that tactile approach. I think if you’re going to use technology, do it so that it supports your brand and supports your sales strategy on the floor. So if it’s all this fine print and someone’s going to have to stand there and read all of it, you might as well not have it there. But if it’s impactful, I think it compliments the shopping experience. This article first featured in Cannabis & Tech Today’s fall issue. Read the full digital issue here. A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/create-an-elevated-customer-experience-on-any-budget/ TESTSTSARDSARThe Future of the Cannabis Retail Summit and Expo by Sponsored When Canadian recreational cannabis was legalized, there were only 158 stores servicing the entire country in November 2018. By November, 2021, there were 2,700. Trends suggest the number could reach 3,700 by the end of this year. The O’Canna Retail Summit & Expo was created in response to this unprecedented sales development. An event within the larger event of O’Cannabiz, the Retail Expo is our first trade show exclusively devoted to the point-of-sale side of the cannabis industry. It’s a national all-business event, focused on the needs and goals of retailers, operators of dispensaries, and their suppliers without the distraction of consumers and the public! In a period of phenomenal expansion, the Retail Expo is the place to strengthen a supply chain and solidify new contacts. All the products, services and know-how needed to open and maintain a successful cannabis retail operation will be on hand. More directly, our Retail Zone Summit Stage will offer a two-day business-dedicated training program. It’s a “retail school” of sorts that will feature peers and experts ready to advise established and aspiring retailers on both the big picture and the smallest of details they’ll face as they gain a foothold in this burgeoning business. Everything from best-practice customer service, merchandising, promotion and tech tips will be covered in our 360-degree approach to retail. Elevating Cannabis Retail As we collectively envision our future marketplace we will examine social responsibilities and concerns, such as advocacy, eliminating the persistent illicit market, effective practices for keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors, social justice and equity, access to medical cannabis, and industry viability. The Retail Experience Reimagined In this rapidly changing industry, we are combining invaluable advice from experts on modern commerce technology to deliver seamless customer experiences, merchandising, add-on sales, customer service, and buying/vendor practices with solutions focus on cannabis retail data mastery, digital marketing, PPC strategies, retail store environments, and customer retention programs that will dramatically increase cannabis retail profits! Join us for this two-day event and have access to:
Who Should Attend The O’Canna Retail Summit & Expo will connect business professionals with common interests. Buyers, vendors, investors, accessory suppliers, display and interior designers, regulators, budtenders, recreational retail owners, and medical dispensary operators will network and compare experiences and expectations. So, join us at the O’Canna Retail Summit & Expo June 1-3, 2022 and discover what’s “in-store” for the future! A link to your site, with your site's name and description as anchor text. Via https://cannatechtoday.com/the-future-of-the-cannabis-retail-summit-and-expo/ |
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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