Thursday, December 18, 2025
Home Blog Page 912

Meet The First Female CEO Of A Public Cannabis Company, Ever

Amy Hansen
-
0
Meet The First Female CEO Of A Public Cannabis Company, Ever

Smoke Cartel Inc, a publicly traded cannabis company in Savannah, Georgia, has named Darby Cox as their new CEO. The online marijuana accessories retailer is the first public cannabis company to appoint a woman.

According to Green Rush Daily, women executives in the cannabis industry have been declining:

Between 2015 and 2017, the percentage of women who hold executive positions fell from 36 percent to a mere 26.9 percent. Though this is still higher than the national average of 23 percent, gender equality is still a long ways off.

As cannabis grows into a major industry, now is a pivotal time not to lose the industry’s characteristic diversity.

Cox is no stranger to Smoke Cartel. She co-founded the company.

“When we went public, we made the decision to switch roles as we thought it would be a little bit better suited to our personalities and our skill sets,” Cox explained to GRD shortly after the announcement of her new, historic role.

Cox herself is a medical marijuana user. “You want to buy it from somewhere that’s fitting it to your lifestyle, that understands that what you’re doing isn’t a crime, that it’s apart of your routine, that it’s apart of your life, an enhancing feature, and not really a detriment,” she said.

Cox’s appointment comes on the heels of Savannah, Georgia’s decision to decriminalized cannabis.

Canadian Cannabis Market Will Top $7 Billion In Year One Of Legalization

Terry Hacienda
-
0
Canadian Cannabis Market Will Top $7 Billion In Year One Of Legalization

Whoa, Canada! A just-released report forecasts that Canadians will spend roughly $7 billion on cannabis products in 2019 and increase their overall consumption by up to 35 percent once recreational cannabis is legalized later this year.

The study, conducted by Deloitte, reveals that legal recreational cannabis sales could generate up to $4.34 billion in sales, accounting for more than half of total cannabis sales. National legalization is expected to pass later this summer.

Deloitte’s report also suggests that the illicit “black” market could still be worth more than $1 billion a year in Canada. The report, titled, A Society In Transition, An Industry Ready to Bloom, shows that two-thirds of today’s cannabis consumers will participate in the regulated market, leaving about 30 percent or the market continuing to shop underground.

“Most current and likely cannabis consumers want a variety of products offered at reasonable prices from suppliers who can vouch for the safety and origin of those products,” said Jennifer Lee, Partner, Cannabis National Leader, and Consumer Advisory and Analytics Practice National Leader. “Cannabis companies will need to have secure supply chains to protect the quality and integrity of their products, and retailers will need to meet consumer expectations, including providing a positive, engaging retailing experience and protecting the privacy of their customers, especially online.”

According to Deloitte:

Governments at all levels will need to establish a strategy to encourage the cannabis industry to develop in a safe, healthy, secure, well-regulated and professional manner, according to Deloitte, in part to reduce the stigma surrounding cannabis consumption so that people move their purchases away from the illegal market. It’s also to protect the consumer and public at large.

Deloitte says retail fundamentals will still apply: customer insight and data is critical. Cannabis retailers will have to execute modern retail fundamentals just as effectively as more traditional retailers to be successful. For retail stores, that means having staff with strong product knowledge, clearly and prominently displaying prices for all products, and offering convenient hours and locations. Online retailers should endeavor to provide free shipping, quick delivery and organized product groupings, and to ensure their customers’ privacy is protected and data is secure.

“Canada is in a unique position as the first G7 country on the cusp of legalizing recreational cannabis,” said Deloitte’s Mark Whitmore. “The move to legalize recreational cannabis has sparked a wave of innovation and entrepreneurship, similar to Canada’s technology sector, which will create jobs for Canadians, new opportunities for businesses and revenues for governments.”

Other notable findings in the Deloitte report include:

  • The legal recreational cannabis market is expected to generate sales of up to $4.34 billion in 2019, the medical cannabis market will account for between $770 million and $1.79 billion, and the illegal market will generate a further $510 million to $1.04 billion.
  • There is considerable interest in cannabis-based edible products, even though these will not be available for at least a year after legalization. Six out of 10 likely consumers are expected to choose edible products.
  • Current and likely cannabis consumers are expected to purchase the majority of their products through physical retail locations, while about one-third will also buy products online through approved retailers’ websites.
  • Legalization of recreational cannabis will create a new type of cannabis consumer who is older than today’s typical consumer (aged 35-54 versus 18-34), better educated (university or graduate school education versus high school or college education), less of a risk taker and likely to consume cannabis less frequently (less than once a month versus several times a week).

John Morgan And Activists Slowly Winning Florida’s Medical Marijuana Battle

Brendan Bures
-
0
John Morgan And Activists Slowly Winning Florida’s Medical Marijuana Battle

In the ongoing battle between Gov. Rick Scott and the state of Florida vs. attorney John Morgan and medical marijuana activists, the former has received its second striking blow in a row. Judge Karen Gievers lifted the automatic stay placed on her ruling that Florida medical marijuana patients should have access to smokable cannabis. Her ruling called the current restrictions imposed by Florida legislation as “unconstitutional,” a ruling the state immediately appealed, imposing the aforementioned stay.

Morgan and two patients with terminal illnesses filed an appeal to that stay. Gievers ruled that the state’s tactic to further delay her May 25 ruling would cause irreparable harm to patients. She gave the state until June 11 to put into action a process for patients to be prescribed smokable marijuana.

When the state legislature created Florida’s medical marijuana program, they included a provision that would ban smokable cannabis, citing health risks. Morgan filed a lawsuit, along with Cathy Jordan and Diana Dodson, who claimed that smoking cannabis has prolonged their lives.

In Gievers’ four-page ruling she specifically acknowledged the potential harm the patients would experience should the stay be extended. Jordan has lived with ALS since 1986 while Dodson was diagnosed with HIV in 1991.

“First, they cannot legally access the treatment recommended for them,” Gievers wrote in the four-page ruling. “Second, they face potential criminal prosecution for possession and use of the medicinal substance.”

Morgan has been his usually apoplectic self when discussing the state’s medical marijuana laws, calling out Gov. Scott directly with the hashtag #SlickRick. “Where is your compassion man?” Morgan asked. The powerful Florida attorney also challenged Scott to debate discussing the merits of their claims.

Though that doesn’t answer the more pertinent question lingering—how will the Florida Department of Health, tasked with regulating medical marijuana in the state, respond to Gievers’ ruling? The DOH wouldn’t answer any questions about possible changes it will make in the next week, though it did announce it was reviewing the ruling. In a statement to the Miami Herald, the DOH defended the framework of the current law.

“The use of medical marijuana is outlined in state law, which was passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan majority of the Florida legislature,” DOH spoksperson Devin Galetta told the Miami Herald. “Our focus remains with ensuring that patients have access to medical marijuana, and the Florida Department of Health has made significant progress in making this treatment available. In fact, there are more than 117,000 patients who have access to medical marijuana and over 1,300 doctors are licensed to order this treatment.”

Study: Marijuana Can Eradicate Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Trey Reckling
-
0
Study: Marijuana Can Eradicate Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have been asking questions about citizens’ cannabis use. They wondered if legalization of medical marijuana in Massachusetts in 2012 has had an effect on the use patterns of patients. They were specifically interested in people with inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, and the results may surprise you. 

Most people go through their daily routine without any concern about how their intestines are doing. They don’t worry about severe cramping or losing bowel control when going about their lives. The same cannot be said of people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. It can be a life-altering condition with additional serious symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stool, weight loss and a lack of appetite. 

IBD includes two main subsets of the disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both are qualifying conditions accepted to be a medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts. Logic would follow that as cannabis became a legal option for those suffering from the condition more people would consume to alleviate their symptoms. Afterall, the herb has been well documented in its efficacy when it comes to providing relief for IBD symptoms. It has shown to relieve inflammation. cannabis has also shown to be an antioxidant and provide neuroprotection. That is why the US Government is seeking a patent for this purpose. 

In this study, over 300 patients with IBD were surveyed. Although there was an almost doubling of marijuana use within the sample from 12 percent in 2012 to almost 23 percent in 2017, there was no significant increase due to what was considered “medical marijuana” use. Over half said that legalization made no impact on their decision to use “medical marijuana.” 

Some people argue that while all marijuana use is not intended to be medical, the plant offers rewards regardless of how you categorize its use. “Recreational” or “medical” use doesn’t matter to the plant; it does not discriminate. We know that many people self-medicate. They read an article or some bit of research about a remedy and do a solo case study. People do this to cure hiccups, headaches and to relieve hangovers without any professional guidance. They just want to fix it quickly.   

By no means do all people who use cannabis to relieve a wide variety of symptoms consider themselves medical marijuana users. Some just do not see the need to go through the trouble to become a patient. Others fear being placed on any sort of registry or creating a health record that could come back to haunt them in some way. These researchers suggested that a process like this could be one barrier that prevents more involvement in the official medical marijuana system. A reluctance to speak with their physician is another reason that they listed. In the end, they could not be certain of the reasons. 

Studies like this provide an interesting and important snapshot into this moment of increasing legalization. It helps us better understand usage patterns and barriers to entry for patients. They also spotlight the need for additional education for both patients and their healthcare providers to know more about the possible benefits of cannabis for health conditions. 

The world of cannabis is a wild growing tapestry of experience and understanding. We thank the folks at Harvard and all similar efforts to contribute to its depth and composition.

Marijuana Is The New ‘Big Long,’ Says ‘The Big Short’ Trader

Brendan Bures
-
0
Marijuana Is The New ‘Big Long,’ Says ‘The Big Short’ Trader

When one of our preeminent journalists writes a book about you then Hollywood produces a movie about said book, all based on a financial decision you made, best believe people listen when you talk economics. Danny Moses, a hedge funder involved in The Big Short trade, fits the description. And Moses is just now focused his attention towards the cannabis industry.

Moses believes marijuana is the new “big long,” he said at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo last week, according to Business Insider.

“The lack of banking and lack of access to capital is creating a huge opportunity,” Moses said. “It’s a gold mine, but it’s also a minefield.”

To recap, Moses was the head trader under Steve Eisman at FrontPoint Partner when the housing market crashed in 2008. Michael Lewis later wrote the bestseller The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine about Moses and Eisman’s bet against that housing market. That book was the basis for the Oscar Best Picture winner.

Via Business Insider:

Because marijuana is considered a federally illegal substance (though it’s legal in several states), many of the biggest Wall Street banks won’t lend money or underwrite deals to companies in the sector. It’s an opportunity that some cannabis-specific firms and middle-market investment banks, like Canaccord Genuity, are keen to take advantage of.

But that Wall Street reluctance is starting to change. Tiger Global, a firm with $22 billion under management, invested in Green Bits, a cannabis technology company, in April.

“It’s not like Goldman Sachs is going to pull their business from Tiger just because they invested in that company,” Moses said.

In fact, Moses has followed his own advice. He’s invested in and sits on the board of Merida Capital, which is a New York-based private-equity firm dedicated to cannabis. He also advised those interested in investing in the cannabis industry to start small. Because in Moses’ estimation, the cannabis industry is only in its “third” inning, so need to rush things.

“Get to know the companies, both public and private and be patient,” suggested Moses.

Is Apple Trying To Kill Third-Party Apps?

Brendan Bures
-
0
Is Apple Trying To Kill Third-Party Apps?

Nowhere seemed a bigger hotbed for revolutionary ideas and concepts than Silicon Valley in the 21st century. The technology birthed in that era has fundamentally changed the way we live, in ways both exciting and scary. And while it’s safe to assume some random start-up is generating the next new platform or product every day, the tech titans on the top have become ruthless at effectively stealing ideas initiated by third-party developers.

We need to look no further than the new iOS features Apple announced at their annual Worldwide Developers Conference this week. Here’s a short list:

Group Facetime

When using the iPhone’s Facetime feature, it was only good for 1-on-1 video calls. But now, Apple has unveiled Group Facetime, which will allow up to 32 participants at once. Compare that to other video chat services, like Skype or Google Hangouts or Houseparty, that are popular among teens.

Skype and Hangouts allows for 25 people at once, while Houseparty limits calls to eight people at a time, though you can be on multiple Houseparty calls at once.

Time Trackers

Sure, it’s kind of strange we’re all so addicted to our screens that our only solution is apps on those screens to limit more time on those screens. There are loads of apps available to block yourself, but now Apple will employ something they call Screen Time. Their service will track how much time you spend on various apps and send you a weekly report to tell you how you’re doing. Try not to get bummed out.

Ruler

A new Apple app named Measure allows you to measure the sizes of things in real life via augmented reality. But you could also just use Ruler or AirMeasure — apps that perform an identical task and already available in the App store. Or you could, you know, just use an extra measure if you wanted.

Bitmojis

They’re playful and fun once you understand how to use them, and especially useful when you can’t be bothered to conjure a real response to someone. Apple will now have Memojis, which are completely customizable avatars that function similarly to their Animojis.

Remember Miis on the Nintendo Wii? They’re basically those but slightly better looking.

IFTTT

Apple wants you to have more automation via its new Shortcut app. That means you can connect multiple actions across various apps to occur one after the other. In addition, you can activate this feature through Siri voice command to make things even easier. It’s basically an identical service as IFTTT (If This Then That), though IFTTT isn’t available through Siri voice command — just Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa. Like many other third-party developers, IFTT will have a hard time competing with all the advantages Apple has.

FaceTime is a standard app that comes with the iPhone. If it was accidentally deleted, you can download it by opening the App Store on your iPhone 6 and download it there. additionally, you can check Facetime for pc incase you want to download facetime in big screen.

North Carolina Considers Legalizing Small Amounts Of Marijuana

Brendan Bures
-
0
North Carolina Considers Legalizing Small Amounts Of Marijuana

A set of bills in North Carolina might soon allow residents to possess up to 4 ounces of marijuana for personal use. The proposed legislation represents an effort “to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana,” Sen. Paul Lowe, the bill’s primary sponsor in the Senate, told the Winston-Salem Journal.

“This is heading in the right direction,” he said.

The bills would dramatically raise the current legal limits and consequences in North Carolina. Current laws dictate that possession of half an ounce or less of marijuana, or any controlled substances, is a Class 3 misdemeanor. The offense has a possible punishment of up to 20 days or community service.

In addition, possession of 1.5 ounces of marijuana is a Class 1 felony, a charge “punishable by up to five months’ active sentence period,” according to the Winston-Salem Journal. The proposed legislation would raise that limit of a Class 1 felony to 1 pound.

Jim O’Neill, the Forsyth County District Attorney, told the Journal the proposed legislation must be “thoroughly vetted, and must include and consider the scientific community’s evidence of the damage caused to the developing adolescent brain caused by marijuana smoking.”

O’Neill added that he considers Lowe “a friend and someone I truly respect, but to characterize 4 ounces of marijuana as a user amount would be absurd.”

The big question, though, is if either bill will reach past committee.

Via the Winston-Salem Journal:

However, it’s unlikely either bill advances out of committee, in part given GOP legislative leaders’ focus on passing a non-amended state budget for 2018-19 and on school safety legislation. Those leaders also have said their goal is to end the current session by the Fourth of July weekend.

If approved, the laws would go into effect by July 1. By all estimations, North Carolinians will have to wait longer than that for any new marijuana legislation.

There Are Only 13 Vitamins And You Need All Of Them To Live

Maria Loreto
-
0
There Are Only 13 Vitamins And You Need All Of Them To Live

Vitamins are very confusing. There are seemingly dozens of them and they’re present in food, the sun, pills, etc. Are we supposed to take supplements or are we just supposed to eat healthy, sun bathe, and they’ll just pop up magically in our systems?

It’s a topic shrouded in misinformation, but for starters, it’s important to know that there are only 13 vitamins out there and that your life literally depends on them. Popular Science claims that, for most patients, supplements are not necessary. One study even argues that pills don’t even help people prevent diseases unless they’re deficient in certain areas.

Too little vitamins can lead to sickness and death, and the same goes when you consume too many of them. Catherine Price, author of Vitamania, says that vitamins are miraculous and have completely revolutionized the way in which we think about food, but that taking more of them isn’t necessarily a good thing. “They are miraculous because we need them to prevent diseases, but that was really taken advantage of by food marketers and the dietary supplement industry,” she says.

A nutritionist would know if you needed more vitamins in your diet, and you probably do, but healthy eating and thoughtful groceries are a better option than taking multi-vitamin supplements, at least for the general population.  It’s also important that users get informed about vitamins, how many there are, and their purpose. If you want to learn more, you should check out this link.

RED’s Hydrogen Phone Will Be The First To Feature A Holographic Display

Maria Loreto
-
0
RED’s Hydrogen Phone Will Be The First To Feature A Holographic Display

RED Digital Cinema Camera Company is partnering up with Android to deliver one of the most interesting devices ever made; a phone that claims to be the first to have a fully holographic display.

RED is one of the most important digital camera companies around, so it’s no surprise that they’ve decided to push the boundaries of holographic technology by partnering up with Leia Inc., a company that specializes in creating holographic displays for mobile devices. RED is responsible for creating professional grade cameras that are beloved by independent filmmakers and Hollywood studios alike, used in blockbusters such as The Martian and Guardians of the Galaxy, and in movies with lower budgets such as Straight Outta Compton and The Disaster Artist.

Although there’s no information available on the specs and price of the device, AT&T and Verizon announced their plans to release it by this summer. Mashable reports that this will be the first handset to feature holographic display technology, being able to switch between 2D and 3D without the need of glasses. It’s also expected to have high quality audio, the ability to connect with RED cinema cameras, and a very powerful camera of it’s own.

RED’s phone, called the Hydrogen, will be very different from current smartphones who are designed to look sleek and appealing. The Hydrogen is industrial looking and big, allowing for add on accessories that open up a wide range of possibilities for the future of smartphone technology.

Official prices are not yet available, but expect the phone to be more expensive than any iPhone or high end Android on the market. RED took pre-orders from customers earlier this year that ranged from $1,295 to $1,595.

Colorado Governor Nixes ‘Cannabis Tasting Rooms’

Terry Hacienda
-
0
Colorado Governor Nixes ‘Cannabis Tasting Rooms’

Cannabis cafes won’t be coming to Colorado any time soon, thanks to a veto from Gov. John Hickenlooper. But the fight is far from over.

Hickenlooper on Monday nixed a law that would have allowed licensed cannabis “tasting rooms” in Colorado, saying that he remained concerned about health and child safety and concerns. House Bill 1258 would have allowed adults to consume small amounts of cannabis through edibles or by vaping at regulated retail facilities. Colorado cannabis consumers and businesses hoped the state would be the first in the nation to create a system providing consumers with a public place to use marijuana.

Despite the setback, the state’s cannabis industry vows to keep trying. “In its wisdom, the Colorado Legislature sought to close a significant gap in regulation,” Chris Woods, the owner of Terrapin Care Station, told the Associated Press. “It’s unfortunate that the governor chose not to offer another regulatory tool to state and local regulators. This fight is not over.”

This is not the first time Hickenlooper has rejected plans to allow for public consumption. His biggest fear is that the federal government would crack down on the state’s legal marijuana laws if the law is enacted. He also cited intoxicated driving as a reason.

“We are concerned that marijuana use at consumption establishments could result in additional impaired or intoxicated drivers on our roadways,” Hickenlooper wrote in a letter announcing the veto. “This bill also poses public health risks. Allowing vaporization of marijuana in confined spaces poses a significant health risk for employees and patrons of consumption establishments.”

Another concern for Hickenlooper is child safety. “We may agree with the proponents’ goals to protect the public and children; however, we strongly disagree that this bill is the correct path to achieve those goals,” he wrote in the letter.

So far, no state that has legalized adult use of recreational cannabis have sanctioned policies regarding public consumption. Even in Denver, Colorado’s largest city, is struggling with the issue — and voters in the Mile High City passed a voter-backed initiative last year forcing the city to allow “social consumption facilities.” But only one permit has been issued.

San Francisco also has issued only one permit for a marijuana lounge. Las Vegas has tabled the discussion, hoping to see how the experiment works in other jurisdictions.

1...911912913...1,460Page 912 of 1,460

Don't Miss Your Weekly Dose of The Fresh Toast.

Stay informed with exclusive news briefs delivered directly to your inbox every Friday.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

The Fresh Toast is an award-winning lifestyle & health platform with a side of cannabis. We work hard each day to bring uplifting and informative information about culture, weed, celebrity, tech and medical marijuana.

© Copyright @2020