Julie Mercer-Ingram’s Post

As far as California doing something to crack down on the illegal cannabis market (which is by the way "orders of magnitude" larger than the regulated market), there’s no good reason why the state is doing so little about the problem. "The issue here is not that the state does not have tools to adequately combat the illegal market – it does. It’s that it does not use them." When I got a CA cultivation license in 2017, we were coming out of the legacy world so that we didn't have to fear any longer of getting our power shut off by the city, get raided by the authorities, or have our landlord get fined $10K a day for letting unlicensed operations take place in his bldg. All our "legacy" friends thought it was worth the risk to stay in the legacy market, since the licensed path cost close to $100K between legal, city and state licensing fees, and all the proper business infrastructure, payroll, etc. Trust me when I say that we believed that everyone we knew in the legacy market, was going to lose everything once enforcement started cracking down. The opposite happened: most of our licensed friends 5 years later were walking away from their licenses our the back doors, and all the legacy guys are doing just fine. WTF California? #cannabisindustry #cannabis #cannabisbusiness https://lnkd.in/gvw9FXgd

🌿 The California cannabis industry is experiencing significant changes! 📉 As per recent reports, the legal marijuana market in California has seen a noticeable decline, with a nearly 29% drop in business licenses since July 2022. This downturn has had the most significant impact on cultivators, who have witnessed a substantial decrease in active marijuana grow permits. 🌱💔 While challenges persist, some sectors, such as retail, delivery, and microbusiness permits, continue to grow steadily. This reflects the resilience and adaptability of the industry. 💪💼 As the cannabis landscape evolves, it's essential for businesses to stay informed and adapt to the changing market conditions. Let's continue to support and drive innovation in the California cannabis community! 🚀🌿 https://lnkd.in/gFPDWf92 #CannabisIndustry #CaliforniaCannabis #BusinessTrends #News

When the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce began in Colorado unofficially 2011, incorporated 2016, the focus was on “How to Get into the Cannabis Industry”. Over ten years later the focus is on “How to Succeed in the Cannabis Industry”. The people entering the cannabis industry were already successful business owners, CEOs and executives. Their experience and business knowledge was a solid foundation to start a company. The learning curve in the cannabis industry is costly with a high probability of losing the company, the investment and a few friends. The cannabis industry is Federally illegal, competitive and cutthroat. The cannabis industry is also a multi-billion dollar industry of people who are succeeding.  The Northeastern Cannabis Industry Networking Dinner brings to the stage cannabis entrepreneurs with years of success in the industry. They are not on stage to share their story - they are on stage to share the steps, lessons learned, actions and what they feel it takes to succeed. Each panel member represents a key piece to success: accounting, real estate, legal aspects, and marketing. The dinner kicks off with keynote, Wanda James, speaking on what makes a successful dispensary. Ms. James is the co-founder and CEO of Simply Pure and is a leading advocate in the cannabis industry. In 2009, she and her husband, Scott Durrah, became the first African Americans, legally licensed, to own a dispensary, a cultivation and edible company. Her expertise on cannabis reform, regulation and policy has assisted numerous municipalities including Colorado, Jamaica, Maryland, and Illinois, in their legalization efforts. Read Wanda James’ full bio at https://lnkd.in/g2yRP2EE #womenscannabischamberofcommerce #womencultivatingsuccess #cannabisentrepreneurs #cannabiscareers #cannabiscompanies #cannabisnetworkingevents #cannabisnetworking #cannabisindustry #northeasterncannabisindustrynetworkingdinner #cannabisnetworkingevents #zonedpropertiesbrokerageflorida #ericasloandopecfo #lunaverdeconsulting #jameslawfirmllc #wandajames #simplypuredispensary #simplypuredenver #simplypuretrenton #simplypurenewjersey #simplypurecannabisbrand

California deserves the BAD RAP it gets. This State cares more about its short term bottom line than the future of its constituents. Perfect example is the recent Senate Bill proposing to redefine Hemp in the State. - Cannabis operators can join in (sounds positive) - Will now be regulated with track and trace (complete nightmare that is designed to INCREASE taxation and provide no benefit to consumers) - Stop manufactures from synthetic THC manufacturing or using D9 (great so the manufactures won’t be able to compete with the national market and are essentially revenue capped on making groovy CBD products) -Have to get a California say on serving size and what’s OK. (Gavin for King) Queue the drums of stupidity folks. I can see why other companies as well as citizens have fled the Golden State. Not only is the tax burden unworldly we then have an authoritarian regime that can’t see the forest from the trees. Bring back the Free Market. And quit over regulating and overtaxing a plant just because you want to extract more cash for your slush funds. Sad day when we have to look long and hard as a organization about what our future is in making products and supplying jobs in our hometown. Hopefully smart minds prevail… tee up the lobbysists Bret! I’ve seen what CA did to the cannabis industry- it’s called KILLING the whole industry. I won’t be a victim of their continued destruction.

These types of headlines are harmful and misleading: Here’s why. It’s shows a deep misunderstanding of what New Jersey cannabis entrepreneurs are facing. It looks to mask social equity as large companies calling to dismantle processes meant to uphold an equitable industry and introduce an oligopoly-like industry that benefits a few. Let’s break it down. NJ cannabis industry this year alone has seen upwards of $300 Million in sales. There are less than 45 total operating dispensaries. There’s also been over 1300+ approved applications. What’s the disconnect? The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is not the reason for the impediments operators are facing to launch. There is no capital to support entrepreneurs who are literally crying for help to move forward. Not to mention, businesses are being gutted on the municipal level as we all witnessed in my case with Roll Up Life and the City of East Orange. To call for the removal of an independent agency dedicated to run the cannabis industry will subject us to the deep-rooted back door politics and lobbying schemes that do not benefit small and minority-owned cannabis businesses. In an effort to be solution oriented, if it’s a push for more businesses to open, I would ask if New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association (NJCTA) would consider building a fund (grant/loan) program that support the 1300+ applicants that are in need to grow this industry. Meanwhile, money isn’t being missed in NJ. As the article mentions, NJ is on the cusp of a BILLION dollar market.

"If there's one thing I've learned in the cannabis industry, it's that radical self-reliance has been crucial to success—but so are collaboration and a strong sense of community...Indeed, cannabis entrepreneurs would be wise to take a page from the book of marginalized communities that have successfully found ways to push back against systemic disenfranchisement that pushed these groups to the brink of disaster." Vince C. Ning, co-founder and co-CEO, NABIS Wise words from a true industry leader. Collective action and collaborative competition are the only way we'll save the #cannabisindustry from being taken over by #bigpharma, #AG, or the kind of unchecked regulation that continues to destabilize what would have otherwise become successfully established and thriving markets (i.e., California / New York).

As Gov. Hochul's review on the New York State Office of Cannabis Management kicks off this week, I wrote in today's Cultivated Media daily newsletter a point I've long been trying to hammer home: The audacious social equity goals of New York's legalization program won't be accomplished without basic consumer access. As I wrote: "It’s impossible to accomplish these goals without a basic, functioning regulated market. It’s time to get the market up and running and help legal sellers meet demand — otherwise, there won’t be any social equity wins to speak of." Read the rest, and let me know what you think. How can New York fix the cannabis industry roll out, with an eye toward accomplishing the goals it set out? They clearly don't want the industry to become a handout to large, publicly traded cannabis firms, but there's an immediate supply/demand imbalance that won't be fixed without them. https://lnkd.in/enV86zAK

Cannabis reform remains contagious, and legalization is still building—just in different regions throughout the U.S. Here’s where the nation’s eight largest cannabis MSOs are expanding in 2023 (and why).

Check out the below article written by Benesch attorneys Lianne Foley and Nick Adamson from our Cannabis Industry group. This article explores the current state of cannabis consumption lounges in Illinois and other jurisdictions, shedding light on the challenges and potential opportunities for entrepreneurs and consumers alike. #cannabisnews

California No Longer the Top Cannabis Market? 🌿 Recent data shows #MichiganCannabis has surpassed #CaliforniaCannabis in legal cannabis product sales. 🔍 Key Points: Michigan sold 22 million cannabis products in March, while California sold 21.3 million. Despite this, California still leads in revenue with $1 billion in sales compared to Michigan’s $786 million. Michigan’s success is attributed to lower cannabis prices, strong enforcement against illegal sales, and low cannabis tax rates. Discussion Point: What does this mean for the future of California’s cannabis market? How can California address the challenges posed by high taxes and the illicit market? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this significant market shift. #CannabisIndustry #MarketTrends https://lnkd.in/eeFzMdic