Subscriptions - Maximum Yield Cannabis USA November/December 2020 | Page 85

Curaleaf becomes
Largest Cannabis
Company in World
With the closing of
its acquisition of
Grassroots, Curaleaf is
now the biggest weed
company in the world
using revenue as the
metric. It’s also the most
diversified vertically
integrated cannabis firm
in the U.S., which is the
world largest marijuana
market. Curaleaf now has a presence in 23 states (up from 18), with
the combined company boasting affiliated operations spanning
more than 135 dispensary licenses, 88 operating dispensaries,
more than 30 processing facilities, and 22 cultivation sites. “The
successful acquisition of Grassroots marks Curaleaf’s expansion
into new vertically integrated markets in the Midwest, firmly
establishing our U.S. market leadership position,” says Curaleaf
CEO Joseph Lusardi. Completion of the transaction strategically
accelerates Curaleaf’s expansion into Illinois and Pennsylvania,
which are among the largest and fastest-growing cannabis
markets in America. Curaleaf’s expanded geographic dispensary
presence now offers access to medical or adult-use cannabis to
more than 192 million people.
HBO Markets
Edibles for TV
Show Promotion
HBO is partnering up
with major marijuana
businesses to market
edible gummies meant
to draw attention to an
animated series, the
entertainment giant
recently announced. The
gummies, made by Kanha,
contain cannabis blends
developed to produce
effects the network says reflect the personalities of the four main
characters from Close Enough which premiered on July 9. “When
crafting any campaign, our aim is always to create an experience
for the audience that feels genuine and exciting, and this
partnership with Kanha hits the nail on the head. We’re so excited
about this one and we can’t wait to see how fans react,” says Peter
Sherman, senior VP of Program Marketing at HBO. Interestingly,
Close Enough is an adult-themed comedic animated show that
touches on themes like raising children and navigating careers. The
trailer doesn’t even mention cannabis. So instead, it seems HBO
is embracing the culture of consuming marijuana while enjoying TV.
Democrats Poised
for U.S. Cannabis
Reform
A top House Democrat
noted during a recent
interview with Canopy
Growth that small
farmers could benefit
from growing cannabis
to offset losses in the
tobacco industry, and he
argued Democrats view
decriminalization as a
priority in policing reform
discussions. Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) joined Canopy
Growth’s David Culver for a new series the company launched
called Under The Canopy, and the pair discussed a wide range of
marijuana issues. Notably, the former chair and current member
of the Congressional Black Caucus says the group considers
decriminalizing cannabis “a big, big issue” in the context of policing
reform. “Most of this is generational like anything else, but it carries
the day. Decriminalization carries the day in the caucus,” Clyburn
says. Advocates had hoped House leaders would have heeded the
calls of various lawmakers calling for marijuana reform as part of
their last policing bill, but that did not ultimately materialize.
Pesticide Use Leads
to Fine for Moon Mix
Medical marijuana
company Moon Mix is in
trouble with Oklahoma
regulators, who levied
a $541,000 fine on the
business and ordered it
to cease operations after
allegedly exceeding
pesticide limits and
committing other
violations. Moon Mix,
an Edmond-based
processor of concentrates and extracts, was the subject of the
state’s first product recall in May. According to Oklahoma City
TV station KWTV, state regulators found three batches of Moon
Mix that tested above legal limits and were sold to customers.
A recent KWTV investigation “showed four different pesticides
testing above the legal limit,” including bifenazate, and found
customers who reported getting sick from using the products.
The pesticides can create harmful gases when heated and
vaporized, according to the report. State regulators also alleged
that the company illegally bought out-of-state marijuana products
and sold them to family and friends.
Maximum Yield 85