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Feds Target Falsely Advertised CBD Products

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a major crackdown, Operation CBDeceit, against falsely advertised CBD products.

The FTC targeted CBD companies who produce and market oils, balms, gummies, coffee, and other items. The companies claimed their products could treat cancer, Alzheimer’s, hypertension, and heart disease.

Many CBD companies don’t realize that all content associated with their product, including labeling, websites, emails, social media, etc. make them liable for false claims. To avoid being penalized and called out by the FTC, brands must never make claims about CBD’s ability to treat specific conditions. This will only hurt the brand’s reputation and consumer trust.

“The six settlements announced today send a clear message to the burgeoning CBD industry: Don’t make spurious health claims that are unsupported by medical science,” Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection said in a statement. “Otherwise, don’t be surprised if you hear from the FTC.

The FTC is requiring each company to remove all false labels. Also, a portion of the companies will have to a pay a fine to the FTC. The companies included Epichouse LLC (First Class Herbalist CBD), Bionatrol Health, LLC, CBD Meds, Inc., and others.

In one case, Steves Distributing, LLC will be required to pay the FTC $75,000 for misleading health claims.

Operation CBDeceit is the first ever crackdown in the CBD space by the FTC with plans for more operations in the future. It appears as if the burgeoning and unregulated CBD industry is turning over a new page and finally landing within the auspices of the federal government.

As CBD users are become more informed, they will know what to look out for. It’s in the best interest of both consumers, brand integrity, and the overall health of the industry to not overpromise any CBD effects but rather focus on making clean quality products.

Image Credit: Clker-Free-Vector-Images

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/vectors/federal-trade-commission-seal-36081/

Low-Dosage CBD Products No Longer Require Prescriptions in Australia

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When cannabidiol (CBD) was first legalized in Australia in 2015, all products containing the cannabinoid were only available to those with prescriptions. However, as of 2021, this requirement has changed.

Legislators initially acted with extreme caution regarding CBD and mandated that only prescription holders could obtain the cannabinoid. However, to provide broader access, regulators have now made it legal for the public to obtain low-dose CBD products without the approval of a doctor.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rescheduled CBD from Schedule 4 to Schedule 3 of Australia’s Poisons Standard. Schedule 4 substances are only available with a physician’s prescription, while pharmacists can sell Schedule 3 substances over the counter.

The news was welcomed in the industry. However, since CBD is still scheduled in Australia, producers must provide data to demonstrate the safety, efficacy, and quality of their products. And some in the industry see this as problematic.

CEO Oliver Horn of Elixinol, a CBD producer in the country, told Hemp Industry Daily “…the TGA’s approach is not reflective of the overall global trend…or the regulatory frameworks recently confirmed in Europe, [where] product suppliers have to demonstrate stringent safety standards but not efficacy.”

The mandate to provide efficacy could prevent many players from entering the market.

“The consequence is likely to be that the vast illegal supply of CBD products from online suppliers into Australia will continue to exist simply because its more convenient, easily accessible and likely to be cheaper,” he said.

For the time being, the TGA’s ruling stands. But, with industry pressure, the governmental organization may tweak its CBD rules to make them more in line with the rest of the globe in the coming year.

Image Credit: OpenClipart-Vectors

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/vectors/australia-flag-country-continent-153732/

Hemp & The “Canna-bees” – CBD Health and Wellness

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There is a new “buzz” surrounding bees and cannabis (yes, pun intended). “Cannabees” has emerged as a term used to describe bees that are drawn to hemp and cannabis plants. Research has now shown that some bee species could benefit from their love of hemp.

The global bee population is on the verge of extinction due a rapid decline in pollen resources (floral pollen dearth). However, bees could soon be teaming up with humans to fight for federal legalization of cannabis.

A recent study published in Environmental Entomology revealed that hemp pollen could help support some bee species.[1]

The researchers collected information about bees that visited hemp farms in New York State. These data were analyzed to reveal each species of the bees. They found that 16 different species were attracted to hemp and benefited from hemp pollen; taller varieties of hemp attracted a more robust bee population.

The authors of the study concluded that hemp and cannabis cultivation could help support bee populations at times when there is a dearth in floral pollen because hemp flowers in periods that coincide with a scarcity of pollen from traditional sources (July to September). Given that bees help pollinate many plants, this could go a long way in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem.

In case you are wondering if the cannabees get intoxicated from this kind of pollen, worry not, as this is highly unlikely. Bees lack an endocannabinoid system, which forms the basis for the interaction between cannabinoids and the human body.

As for symbiosis, it doesn’t appear to be the case. Hemp and cannabis plants are wind-pollinated. To date, there are no species that have shown any signs of potential for insect pollination. Clearly a one-sided relationship but the bees certainly don’t seem to mind.

Image Credit: Myriams-Fotos

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/bee-flower-macro-pollinate-pollen-1726659/

Reference

  1. Flicker NR, et al. The bee community of Cannabis sativa and corresponding effects of landscape composition. Environmental Entomology. 2020;49(1):197-202.

CBD as a Fruit Preservative

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If you’ve talked to a fitness or wellness expert in the past few years, you’ve probably heard about cannabidiol, or CBD, the cannabis compound associated with many potential health benefits. But did you know that CBD’s benefits may extend to our food as well?

Researchers at the University of South Florida recently discovered that CBD may help fruit stay fresh for longer.[1] In their study, freshly harvested strawberries were slathered in CBD oil and examined after16 days of refrigerated storage. Compared to untreated strawberries, those treated with CBD oil were less affected by microbes like mold and yeast and retained a brighter color.

According to the team, “This research shows that CBD oil has the potential to be used by consumers at home as an effective antimicrobial treatment and to extend strawberry shelf life.”[1]

Therefore, CBD could represent a natural way to preserve fruit, and potentially other produce.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food additives in the US. Currently, CBD is not an approved additive or supplment but the department has promised to reconsider its stance.

“The FDA’s approach to cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds has been consistent. We treat substances derived from cannabis just like we do any other substances…That said, some other relevant laws have changed, and so has the market,” the agency said in 2019.

“We recognize that there is substantial public interest in marketing and accessing CBD in food, including dietary supplements.”

The Florida researchers believe that with more research consumers may be able to use CBD in their kitchens without waiting for the FDA. You might be able to purchase to CBD oil made specifically for preserving fruit in the future.

Image Credit: Martin LaBar

Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/5715596798

References

  1. Inselberg H & Cecilia do Nascimento Nunes M. Using cannabidiol as a potential postharvest treatment to maintain quality and extend the shelf life of strawberries. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 2021;173:111416.

Can CBD Fight Viruses? – CBD Health and Wellness

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Recently, researchers from the UK and Italy conducted a systematic review to establish if there is sufficient evidence on the antiviral properties of CBD.[1]

Three studies were included in this review of three different viruses:

Hepatitis Virus

  • One study investigated the potential benefits of CBD in treating Hepatitis C (HCV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) viruses.
  • CBD had no effect on HBV; however, it showed significant inhibitory effects (86.4%) on the HCV replication
    • Compared to a common treatment for HCV, CBD was as effective and at the same time less toxic to healthy cells; but, when compared to a more recent antiviral, CBD was less effective and more cytotoxic (damaging to cells).

Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus

  • Kaposi sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that mostly affects people living with AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy is commonly used to treat this condition and clear up the lesions.
  • The researchers observed the progression of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) and noted that CBD slowed down the viral infection and inhibited the development of cancers linked to KSHV.

Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus

  • The third study investigated the potential of CBD in treating Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV); they used a pre-clinical model to study paralysis and multiple sclerosis symptoms.
  • CBD relieved neuroinflammation and consequently improved motor function, with greater effects over the long term; however, no antiviral effects were found.

Anti-viral Claims

  • The researchers looked at content on 24 web sites that mentioned claims for viruses like oral and genital herpes, among others
    • These claims were unsubstantiated and did not include scientific evidence to back them up
  • Anecdotal self-reported antiviral effects appeared to be explained by CBD’s anti-inflammatory, not anti-viral, properties

So, can CBD fight viruses?

It appears that there is potential in the case of HCV and Kaposi’s sarcoma but these data are very limited considering only three studies that evaluated different viruses were reviewed. Greater research, preferably in humans, will be key to better understanding its effects on these viruses and others. It would also be of interest to study CBD in relation to other cannabinoids as well as terpenes and their potential combined effects on viruses.

Image Credit: Arek Socha

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/virus-microscope-infection-illness-1812092/

Reference

  1. Mabou Tagne A, et al. Cannabidiol for viral diseases: hype or hope? Cannabis and cannabinoid research. 2020;5(2):121-131.



Cannabis Legalization Discussions Continue to Heat Up in Wisconsin Following Gov. Tony Evers’ Budget Proposal

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Today is International Women’s Day—an opportunity to celebrate women have chosen to challenge the status quo, helping break down barriers for themselves and others. It’s also a moment where we look toward the future with hope for all the more we can achieve for women around the world by working together.

Each year on March 8, we honor this tradition by highlighting the women of Cannabis Conference, an impressive roster of women shattering glass ceilings, making space for themselves and other notable women in the burgeoning cannabis industry.  

This listing is just a start. As we continue to announce speakers for Cannabis Conference (Aug. 24-26, 2021, at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino), there will be plenty more women innovators, leaders, entrepreneurs and trailblazers to highlight—so keep an eye on CannabisConference.com for continued updates to our speaker roster.

 

Bennett

 

Theresa Bennett

Editor, Hemp Grower

Theresa Bennett is editor of Hemp Grower. She joined HG and Cannabis Business Times as associate editor in November 2019 after working for GIE Media’s Recycling Group of magazines. Prior to her time with GIE, Bennett was the K-12 education reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal. Bennett is also a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Modern Farmer and newspapers across the country.

 

 

Boyajian

Salpy Boyajian

Executive Vice President / Board Chairman, Flower One

Salpy Boyajian joined Flower One in October of 2018 following the acquisition of NLV Organics (NLVO), a renowned consumer brand and luxury cultivator she co-founded in 2014. Boyajian now serves as the company’s Executive Vice President and Board Chairman, having previously held the title of Chief Operating Officer. Before entering the cannabis space, she served as the Mental Health Director for several leading non-profits in Los Angeles, ultimately founding her own non-profit organization before relocating to Nevada.

 

Goldsberry

 

Debby Goldsberry
Executive Director, Magnolia Wellness, FLOR
Co-Founder, Berkeley Patients Group collective 

Debby Goldsberry is executive director at Magnolia Wellness, an award-winning dispensary in Oakland, Calif., and the managing director of the Berkeley Community Care Center dispensary at Amoeba Music. She co-founded the Berkeley Patients Group (BPG) medical cannabis collective in 1999, directing its growth for more than 11 years. In 2017, Goldsberry published her first book, “Idiot’s Guide: Starting and Running a Marijuana Business.”

 

Kowalski

 

Emily Kowalski
Vice President of Cultivation, LeafLine Labs

Emily Kowalski is the Vice President of Cultivation at LeafLine Labs, LLC, one of two medical cannabis companies serving the patients of Minnesota. She utilizes her 10-plus years of experience in propagation, greenhouse production, and outdoor nursery production to cultivate consistent, healthy cannabis in LeafLine’s state-of-the-art indoor facility. Kowalski never settles for status quo and digs deep into data to drive quality and efficiency within her operation.

 

 

Neiden Tomaselli

Cassie Neiden Tomaselli

Conference Programming Director, Cannabis Conference

Contributing Editor, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower

Cassie Neiden Tomaselli is a media professional with 10+ years’ experience generating print, web, video and podcast content for both trade and consumer markets. She now serves as Conference Programming Director for Cannabis Conference, where she works with the event’s Advisory Board and editorial teams from Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower to craft high-quality education for industry events. Previously, Neiden Tomaselli served as Director of Marketing & Communications for Firelands Scientific, an Ohio-based medical cannabis company.

 

 

Ratliff

 

Alisia Ratliff, PMP
Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Victus Capital Ventures, LLC

Alisia Ratliff, the CEO of Victus Capital Ventures and licensed project management professional, is a technical conference speaker, esteemed author, and ambitious entrepreneur. Possessing over 14 years of leadership experience expanding over several industries—Ratliff effectively manages technical and executive teams cross-departmentally while simultaneously overseeing all business operations, including supply chain, manufacturing, laboratory operations and product formulation. Ratliff helps her clients avoid repeating failed business models and implement sustainable business strategies no matter the ever-changing regulatory environment.

 

Ruscitto

 

Andriana Ruscitto

Assistant Editor, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary, Hemp Grower

Andriana Ruscitto was hired as an associate editor for Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower in January 2021. Before joining GIE, Ruscitto attended Kent State University, where she worked in the university communications and marketing department, writing stories for the Kent State Today.

 

 

Schiller

 

Melissa Schiller

Senior Digital Editor, Cannabis Business Times & Cannabis Dispensary

Melissa Schiller joined the Cannabis Business Times team as an Assistant Digital Editor in June 2017 and now serves as Senior Digital Editor. Previously, she worked as an Audience Development Associate for GIE Media’s Ornamental Group of publications, where she managed the circulation for Cannabis Business Times, Garden Center, Nursery Management, and Greenhouse Management. She has also worked as a contributing writer and editorial assistant for a community newspaper and as a freelance writer for Northeast Ohio Media Group and Modern Tire Dealer.

 

Shreeve

 

Anna Shreeve
President, Urban Paragon, Inc., Targeted Intent, Inc., and The Bakeréé

Anna Shreeve is President of Urban Paragon, Inc., Targeted Intent, Inc., and The Bakeréé. Shreeve entered the medical cannabis industry seven years ago with her son, and she and her team opened The Baker, a division of Cookie Fam Genetics, a collaboration with legendary breeder “Jigga.” Shreeve’s group holds two recreational producer/processor licenses in Washington, and a recreational retail/processor license in Oregon.

 

 

 

Simakis

 

Michelle Simakis

Editor, Cannabis Business Times

Michelle Simakis is editor of Cannabis Business Times. She joined GIE Media in 2012 and most recently served as editor of Garden Center magazine, the leading trade publication covering the independent garden retail market. Under her direction, Garden Center expanded its Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List by devoting an entire issue to telling the stories of the leaders and companies ranked on the list. She also helped to launch the Garden Center Executive Summit, the educational conference for key-decision makers in the industry, and recently developed a the only daily e-newsletter in the market.

 

Skodzinski

 

Noelle Skodzinski

Editorial Director, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary, Hemp Grower, Cannabis Conference

Noelle Skodzinski has 25+ years of publishing experience. She co-founded Cannabis Business Times with previous owner Tim Hermes in 2014. She has been named among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Cannabis. Previously, she held numerous editorial leadership roles, including serving as editorial director of the Publishing Group at North American Publishing Co., where she oversaw two national business magazines, all digital content products, as well as the annual Publishing Business Conference and related events. In 2018 and 2020, Skodzinski was named one of the “Top Women in Media” by Folio.  

 

 

Wiseman

 

Hope Wiseman
Owner, Mary & Main Dispensary

Born and raised in Prince George’s County, Md., Hope Wiseman has always been passionate about serving her community. After spending a year at SunTrust as an Equity Institutional Sales Analyst, Wiseman decided to continue striving for excellence by pursuing her dreams of entrepreneurship. In Fall 2017, Wiseman became the youngest Black woman dispensary owner in the United States with the opening of Mary & Main dispensary in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She has been featured in Black Enterprise, Huffington Post, Blavity, and Cannabis Dispensary. Wiseman is also a speaker and consultant to those looking to enter the industry.

Meet the Women of Cannabis Conference 2021

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Today is International Women’s Day—an opportunity to celebrate women have chosen to challenge the status quo, helping break down barriers for themselves and others. It’s also a moment where we look toward the future with hope for all the more we can achieve for women around the world by working together.

Each year on March 8, we honor this tradition by highlighting the women of Cannabis Conference, an impressive roster of women shattering glass ceilings, making space for themselves and other notable women in the burgeoning cannabis industry.  

This listing is just a start. As we continue to announce speakers for Cannabis Conference (Aug. 24-26, 2021, at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino), there will be plenty more women innovators, leaders, entrepreneurs and trailblazers to highlight—so keep an eye on CannabisConference.com for continued updates to our speaker roster.

 

Bennett

 

Theresa Bennett

Editor, Hemp Grower

Theresa Bennett is editor of Hemp Grower. She joined HG and Cannabis Business Times as associate editor in November 2019 after working for GIE Media’s Recycling Group of magazines. Prior to her time with GIE, Bennett was the K-12 education reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal. Bennett is also a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Modern Farmer and newspapers across the country.

 

 

Boyajian

Salpy Boyajian

Executive Vice President / Board Chairman, Flower One

Salpy Boyajian joined Flower One in October of 2018 following the acquisition of NLV Organics (NLVO), a renowned consumer brand and luxury cultivator she co-founded in 2014. Boyajian now serves as the company’s Executive Vice President and Board Chairman, having previously held the title of Chief Operating Officer. Before entering the cannabis space, she served as the Mental Health Director for several leading non-profits in Los Angeles, ultimately founding her own non-profit organization before relocating to Nevada.

 

Goldsberry

 

Debby Goldsberry
Executive Director, Magnolia Wellness, FLOR
Co-Founder, Berkeley Patients Group collective 

Debby Goldsberry is executive director at Magnolia Wellness, an award-winning dispensary in Oakland, Calif., and the managing director of the Berkeley Community Care Center dispensary at Amoeba Music. She co-founded the Berkeley Patients Group (BPG) medical cannabis collective in 1999, directing its growth for more than 11 years. In 2017, Goldsberry published her first book, “Idiot’s Guide: Starting and Running a Marijuana Business.”

 

Kowalski

 

Emily Kowalski
Vice President of Cultivation, LeafLine Labs

Emily Kowalski is the Vice President of Cultivation at LeafLine Labs, LLC, one of two medical cannabis companies serving the patients of Minnesota. She utilizes her 10-plus years of experience in propagation, greenhouse production, and outdoor nursery production to cultivate consistent, healthy cannabis in LeafLine’s state-of-the-art indoor facility. Kowalski never settles for status quo and digs deep into data to drive quality and efficiency within her operation.

 

 

Neiden Tomaselli

Cassie Neiden Tomaselli

Conference Programming Director, Cannabis Conference

Contributing Editor, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower

Cassie Neiden Tomaselli is a media professional with 10+ years’ experience generating print, web, video and podcast content for both trade and consumer markets. She now serves as Conference Programming Director for Cannabis Conference, where she works with the event’s Advisory Board and editorial teams from Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower to craft high-quality education for industry events. Previously, Neiden Tomaselli served as Director of Marketing & Communications for Firelands Scientific, an Ohio-based medical cannabis company.

 

 

Ratliff

 

Alisia Ratliff, PMP
Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Victus Capital Ventures, LLC

Alisia Ratliff, the CEO of Victus Capital Ventures and licensed project management professional, is a technical conference speaker, esteemed author, and ambitious entrepreneur. Possessing over 14 years of leadership experience expanding over several industries—Ratliff effectively manages technical and executive teams cross-departmentally while simultaneously overseeing all business operations, including supply chain, manufacturing, laboratory operations and product formulation. Ratliff helps her clients avoid repeating failed business models and implement sustainable business strategies no matter the ever-changing regulatory environment.

 

Ruscitto

 

Andriana Ruscitto

Assistant Editor, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary, Hemp Grower

Andriana Ruscitto was hired as an associate editor for Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower in January 2021. Before joining GIE, Ruscitto attended Kent State University, where she worked in the university communications and marketing department, writing stories for the Kent State Today.

 

 

Schiller

 

Melissa Schiller

Senior Digital Editor, Cannabis Business Times & Cannabis Dispensary

Melissa Schiller joined the Cannabis Business Times team as an Assistant Digital Editor in June 2017 and now serves as Senior Digital Editor. Previously, she worked as an Audience Development Associate for GIE Media’s Ornamental Group of publications, where she managed the circulation for Cannabis Business Times, Garden Center, Nursery Management, and Greenhouse Management. She has also worked as a contributing writer and editorial assistant for a community newspaper and as a freelance writer for Northeast Ohio Media Group and Modern Tire Dealer.

 

Shreeve

 

Anna Shreeve
President, Urban Paragon, Inc., Targeted Intent, Inc., and The Bakeréé

Anna Shreeve is President of Urban Paragon, Inc., Targeted Intent, Inc., and The Bakeréé. Shreeve entered the medical cannabis industry seven years ago with her son, and she and her team opened The Baker, a division of Cookie Fam Genetics, a collaboration with legendary breeder “Jigga.” Shreeve’s group holds two recreational producer/processor licenses in Washington, and a recreational retail/processor license in Oregon.

 

 

 

Simakis

 

Michelle Simakis

Editor, Cannabis Business Times

Michelle Simakis is editor of Cannabis Business Times. She joined GIE Media in 2012 and most recently served as editor of Garden Center magazine, the leading trade publication covering the independent garden retail market. Under her direction, Garden Center expanded its Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List by devoting an entire issue to telling the stories of the leaders and companies ranked on the list. She also helped to launch the Garden Center Executive Summit, the educational conference for key-decision makers in the industry, and recently developed a the only daily e-newsletter in the market.

 

Skodzinski

 

Noelle Skodzinski

Editorial Director, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary, Hemp Grower, Cannabis Conference

Noelle Skodzinski has 25+ years of publishing experience. She co-founded Cannabis Business Times with previous owner Tim Hermes in 2014. She has been named among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Cannabis. Previously, she held numerous editorial leadership roles, including serving as editorial director of the Publishing Group at North American Publishing Co., where she oversaw two national business magazines, all digital content products, as well as the annual Publishing Business Conference and related events. In 2018 and 2020, Skodzinski was named one of the “Top Women in Media” by Folio.  

 

 

Wiseman

 

Hope Wiseman
Owner, Mary & Main Dispensary

Born and raised in Prince George’s County, Md., Hope Wiseman has always been passionate about serving her community. After spending a year at SunTrust as an Equity Institutional Sales Analyst, Wiseman decided to continue striving for excellence by pursuing her dreams of entrepreneurship. In Fall 2017, Wiseman became the youngest Black woman dispensary owner in the United States with the opening of Mary & Main dispensary in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She has been featured in Black Enterprise, Huffington Post, Blavity, and Cannabis Dispensary. Wiseman is also a speaker and consultant to those looking to enter the industry.

Denver Makes Plans to Reshape Local Cannabis Regulations: Week in Review

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Name: Marlon Mallas

Location: Evart, Mich.

Title: General Manager, Cultivation, Lume Cannabis Co.

One word to describe your cultivation style: Innovative

Indoor, outdoor, greenhouse or a combination: Indoor

Can you share a bit of your background and how you and your company got to the present day?

The base of my knowledge and experience in cannabis came from working with a biopharmaceutical company out of Nevada that developed and patented compounds derived from cannabis for use as treatments and therapeutics for certain ailments and diseases. We also grew cannabis on a commercial scale through tissue culture and micropropagation, a process designed to preserve genetics and remove unwanted diseases and infections in plants. It was an amazing experience to work with a science-based company involved in cannabis, and it provided a great foundation for future endeavors.

As Michigan was gearing up to legalize cannabis recreationally, I was brought on board by a very ambitious start-up cannabis company. At the time, the company had only one retail store and was in the process of building their first cultivation. We finished construction of the cultivation and opened the doors with less than a dozen people. Fast forward 18 months, we now have 14 stores and will be opening many more before the end of the year. We are also opening the doors at our second cultivation, which is one of the most advanced cannabis cultivations ever built. As a whole, we now employ almost 500 people.

What tool or software in your cultivation space can you not live without?

Oof, that’s a loaded question. We’ve custom-built a prototype grow room from the mechanics to the fertigation system to the structure and everything in between. We custom designed the software that runs and tracks everything in the room. We can measure the moisture in the root zone, the volume of moisture pulled out of the air from transpiration, and even the amount of power the room consumes. However, the devils in the details. The data alone means nothing. The technology behind the infrastructure and the use of the data is what makes all the difference.

Also, we are fortunate enough to have [a] project manager that happens to be a coder (shout out to Thilo Savage). He builds us custom tools that fit our business practice, capable of scrubbing the massive amount of data collected at the cultivation and digesting the information in a way that helps us guide our decision making.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your business in the last six months?

This is an interesting question. Nothing is cheap in cannabis at this scale. You don’t just buy one pair of trim scissors, you buy 50. Grow supplies are brought in by the truck load.

What cultivation technique are you most interested in right now, and what are you actively studying (the most)?

I wouldn’t consider most of what we are studying cultivation techniques. Our techniques are tried and true. What we are studying are things like the creation of synthetic seeds through tissue culture; identifying specific strains of viruses in cannabis; the actual effect of vapor pressure deficit on yield; the correlation between root zone dry back and vigor—the list goes on and on. Not to get too much in the weeds of plant biology, but the hottest topic lately has been determining the cause of enlarged styles in specific genetics.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

Complacency is a killer. It’s important not to take your foot of the gas when things are going well. Don’t shrug off the little things that keep the wheels turning. It’s rough when the small things get overlooked because they are seemingly insignificant but actually have a real tangible impact. It seems obvious, but how clean you keep your grow will directly affect your microbial test results. It’s all in the details.

marlon mallas

Photo courtesy of Lume Cannabis Co.

Mallas

What advice would you give to a smart, driven grower about to enter the legal, regulated industry? What advice should they ignore?

I love this question. [My advice is,] have some humility! Every grower you meet is the best grower ever (according to their ego). Don’t be that person. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Take pride in your work and work area. Be open to new ideas. Respect recordable results instead of anecdotal evidence. Have the discipline to learn your craft. Be reliable and be consistent. I’ve seen many growers that struggle going from being the sole person taking care of their crop to working with a large team of growers. If you go in with the mindset that your way is better than everyone else’s, you will not last. If you want to level up, it’s not enough to link up with people that grow pot well. Link up with innovators and people that are driven by the science. However, it is important to gain experience where you can when you can. Never underestimate the power of perception.

Ignore people that tell you a certain way is better unless they show proof.

How do you deal with burnout?

I remind myself of the surrealness of living the dream of working in cannabis. I remember when we were getting through our first several harvests and we were at a point that we were growing weed much faster than we could package it. We began having a hard time storing and organizing the large stockpile of product. I remember frustration building as a friend/coworker and I shuffled around many 30-gallon drums, completely filled with pot. There was moment when I stopped for a second and watched my friend sigh at the task of sorting and organizing a literal ton of cannabis. I laughed, he laughed, the weed laughed—it was great. Sometimes you have to take a second, look around, and smell the flowers.

How do you motivate your employees/team?

I express my passion and enthusiasm for what we are doing. We are far from your typical cannabis company. We have the incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of a new industry, and sometimes people just need a little reminder of that. It also helps that our pay and benefits are very competitive.

What keeps you awake at night?

The thought of losing a crop. We have a very hearty infrastructure and a stellar team, but the thought still makes me nervous.

What helps you sleep at night?

As far as the facility goes, we are capable of operating without grid power or city water supply for long periods of time in emergency situations. It’s pretty incredible. I have to remind myself that we are dialed and battle tested. We’ve dealt with late-night power losses from storms and blown transformer fuses and have never skipped a beat. We have a great team to thank for making adverse situations, which would otherwise be catastrophic, become minor hiccups (shout out to Gary Stalter).

Another thing that helps me sleep is my confidence in our team, everything from our cultivation, to our retails, to our corporate. I am humbled by the support and teamwork.

The biggest thing that helps me sleep is knowing we are growing incredibly clean cannabis. We have a team of very passionate growers that take great pride in making sure we are providing the best medicine. Nothing leaves the facility without both third-party testing and consensus from the growers.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for style, length and clarity.

 

How Lume Cannabis Co.’s Marlon Mallas Works: Cannabis Workspace

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Name: Marlon Mallas

Location: Evart, Mich.

Title: General Manager, Cultivation, Lume Cannabis Co.

One word to describe your cultivation style: Innovative

Indoor, outdoor, greenhouse or a combination: Indoor

Can you share a bit of your background and how you and your company got to the present day?

The base of my knowledge and experience in cannabis came from working with a biopharmaceutical company out of Nevada that developed and patented compounds derived from cannabis for use as treatments and therapeutics for certain ailments and diseases. We also grew cannabis on a commercial scale through tissue culture and micropropagation, a process designed to preserve genetics and remove unwanted diseases and infections in plants. It was an amazing experience to work with a science-based company involved in cannabis, and it provided a great foundation for future endeavors.

As Michigan was gearing up to legalize cannabis recreationally, I was brought on board by a very ambitious start-up cannabis company. At the time, the company had only one retail store and was in the process of building their first cultivation. We finished construction of the cultivation and opened the doors with less than a dozen people. Fast forward 18 months, we now have 14 stores and will be opening many more before the end of the year. We are also opening the doors at our second cultivation, which is one of the most advanced cannabis cultivations ever built. As a whole, we now employ almost 500 people.

What tool or software in your cultivation space can you not live without?

Oof, that’s a loaded question. We’ve custom-built a prototype grow room from the mechanics to the fertigation system to the structure and everything in between. We custom designed the software that runs and tracks everything in the room. We can measure the moisture in the root zone, the volume of moisture pulled out of the air from transpiration, and even the amount of power the room consumes. However, the devils in the details. The data alone means nothing. The technology behind the infrastructure and the use of the data is what makes all the difference.

Also, we are fortunate enough to have [a] project manager that happens to be a coder (shout out to Thilo Savage). He builds us custom tools that fit our business practice, capable of scrubbing the massive amount of data collected at the cultivation and digesting the information in a way that helps us guide our decision making.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your business in the last six months?

This is an interesting question. Nothing is cheap in cannabis at this scale. You don’t just buy one pair of trim scissors, you buy 50. Grow supplies are brought in by the truck load.

What cultivation technique are you most interested in right now, and what are you actively studying (the most)?

I wouldn’t consider most of what we are studying cultivation techniques. Our techniques are tried and true. What we are studying are things like the creation of synthetic seeds through tissue culture; identifying specific strains of viruses in cannabis; the actual effect of vapor pressure deficit on yield; the correlation between root zone dry back and vigor—the list goes on and on. Not to get too much in the weeds of plant biology, but the hottest topic lately has been determining the cause of enlarged styles in specific genetics.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

Complacency is a killer. It’s important not to take your foot of the gas when things are going well. Don’t shrug off the little things that keep the wheels turning. It’s rough when the small things get overlooked because they are seemingly insignificant but actually have a real tangible impact. It seems obvious, but how clean you keep your grow will directly affect your microbial test results. It’s all in the details.

marlon mallas

Photo courtesy of Lume Cannabis Co.

Mallas

What advice would you give to a smart, driven grower about to enter the legal, regulated industry? What advice should they ignore?

I love this question. [My advice is,] have some humility! Every grower you meet is the best grower ever (according to their ego). Don’t be that person. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Take pride in your work and work area. Be open to new ideas. Respect recordable results instead of anecdotal evidence. Have the discipline to learn your craft. Be reliable and be consistent. I’ve seen many growers that struggle going from being the sole person taking care of their crop to working with a large team of growers. If you go in with the mindset that your way is better than everyone else’s, you will not last. If you want to level up, it’s not enough to link up with people that grow pot well. Link up with innovators and people that are driven by the science. However, it is important to gain experience where you can when you can. Never underestimate the power of perception.

Ignore people that tell you a certain way is better unless they show proof.

How do you deal with burnout?

I remind myself of the surrealness of living the dream of working in cannabis. I remember when we were getting through our first several harvests and we were at a point that we were growing weed much faster than we could package it. We began having a hard time storing and organizing the large stockpile of product. I remember frustration building as a friend/coworker and I shuffled around many 30-gallon drums, completely filled with pot. There was moment when I stopped for a second and watched my friend sigh at the task of sorting and organizing a literal ton of cannabis. I laughed, he laughed, the weed laughed—it was great. Sometimes you have to take a second, look around, and smell the flowers.

How do you motivate your employees/team?

I express my passion and enthusiasm for what we are doing. We are far from your typical cannabis company. We have the incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of a new industry, and sometimes people just need a little reminder of that. It also helps that our pay and benefits are very competitive.

What keeps you awake at night?

The thought of losing a crop. We have a very hearty infrastructure and a stellar team, but the thought still makes me nervous.

What helps you sleep at night?

As far as the facility goes, we are capable of operating without grid power or city water supply for long periods of time in emergency situations. It’s pretty incredible. I have to remind myself that we are dialed and battle tested. We’ve dealt with late-night power losses from storms and blown transformer fuses and have never skipped a beat. We have a great team to thank for making adverse situations, which would otherwise be catastrophic, become minor hiccups (shout out to Gary Stalter).

Another thing that helps me sleep is my confidence in our team, everything from our cultivation, to our retails, to our corporate. I am humbled by the support and teamwork.

The biggest thing that helps me sleep is knowing we are growing incredibly clean cannabis. We have a team of very passionate growers that take great pride in making sure we are providing the best medicine. Nothing leaves the facility without both third-party testing and consensus from the growers.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for style, length and clarity.

 

California Proposes New Greenhouse Energy Codes

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The Codes and Standards Enhancement (CASE) Initiative suggested new energy code requirements and changes to existing requirements for projects regarding greenhouses and controlled environment horticulture in California, updating the original California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) submitted in October 2020.

According to the proposal, the updated requirements will apply to projects regarding greenhouse building envelopes, greenhouse lighting, indoor controlled environment horticulture (CEH) lighting and indoor CEH dehumidification.

It is essential for cannabis and non-cannabis growers, LED manufacturers, engineers, distributors, energy-efficient consultants, research groups, industry trade groups, as well as facility managers, engineers and developers to be aware of the suggested changes, the proposal states.

The proposed code requirements are listed in the proposal as follows:

Horticultural Lighting Minimum Efficacy (indoor CEH lighting): 

  • For indoor CEH operations, luminaires with removable lamps will be required to use lamps with a photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE) of at least 1.9 micromoles per joule.
  • Luminaires without removable lamps shall meet a minimum luminaire PPE of 1.9 micromoles per joule.
  • This will allow the use of efficient double-ended HPS lamps; most LED luminaires will qualify. The minimum efficacy requirements only apply to CEH spaces with more than 40 kW of aggregate horticultural lighting load. This equates to approximately (36) 1000W HPS luminaires.

Horticultural Lighting Minimum Efficacy (greenhouse lighting):

  • For greenhouses, luminaires with removable lamps will be required to use lamps with a PPE of at least 1.7 micromoles per joule.
  • Luminaires without removable lamps will also need to meet a minimum luminaire PPE of 1.7 micromoles per joule.
  • The minimum efficacy requirements only apply to greenhouse lighting with more than 40 kW of aggregate horticultural lighting load.

Greenhouse Envelope Efficiency:

  • Greenhouses will now have clear, simplified language for the skylight and window requirements that can be met using building materials and construction methods that are commonly deployed in the market (a U-factor of 0.7 or less).
  • This clarifies and improves the existing energy code, which treated greenhouses with the same requirements as warehouses.

Dehumidification Efficiency:

  • Stand-alone dehumidifiers will be required to meet the minimum federal efficiency standard.
  • HVAC systems designed for dehumidification will need either heat recovery capabilities or will need to utilize solid desiccant or liquid desiccant dehumidification systems.

The purpose of the proposal is to explain each proposed code change clearly and to inform the California horticulture industry of the upcoming changes so they can prepare for them.

The proposal is currently under review by the California Energy Commission, and if approved, the updated requirements are expected to take effect for projects permitted on or after Jan. 1, 2023. Already existing facilities will only be required to comply if undergoing extensive modifications, the proposal states.

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