What Is Cannabis Mergers and Acquisitions and Why It Matters

Mergers and acquisitions sound glamorous—CEOs shaking hands over glossy pitch decks—but in the cannabis world they’re often driven by desperation. The industry is overbuilt, taxes are crushing profits and capital has dried up. As a result, larger well‑capitalized players are scooping up smaller, distressed operators. Think of it as farming season: the survivors are consolidating their plots while weaker farms sell their land to pay the tax collector.

The consolidation wave is real. In California alone, the number of inactive or surrendered cannabis licenses recently surpassed active ones. When half your competitors throw in the towel, it’s not a sign of success—it’s a warning that oversaturation and mismanagement have ravaged the market. Meanwhile, investors who sat on the sidelines are finally moving in, buying distressed assets at pennies on the dollar. The current phase of the cannabis “consolidation curve” marks the shift from chaos to scale.

Market Conditions Driving M&A in 2025

Why are so many deals happening now? Three drivers dominate the 2025 landscape:

1. Oversupply and falling sales

Retail sales in California—a bellwether for the U.S. market—fell to a five‑year low of $1.088 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Too many licenses and not enough consumer demand mean lower prices, slimmer margins and shrinking bank accounts. Smaller operators that expanded aggressively in 2021–2022 are now underwater and looking to sell. Buyers see an opportunity to pick up prime locations and licenses for a fraction of their original cost.

2. Heavy taxes and regulatory burdens

Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code forces cannabis businesses to pay federal income tax on gross profits rather than net income. With no access to bankruptcy protection and strict state rules that prohibit license transfers, many deals must be structured as equity purchases—meaning the buyer inherits every liability. That’s a sobering reality for anyone thinking M&A is a quick cash grab.

3. Interest rates and financing constraints

Private capital has retreated from cannabis due to high interest rates and broader economic uncertainty. Banks still won’t lend to cannabis companies because the plant remains federally illegal; congressional reforms like the SAFE Banking Act have stalled. As a result, deals rely on creative financing: earn‑outs, convertible notes, vendor financing and management service agreements. If you don’t understand these instruments, you’ll either overpay or lose control of your business.

Notable Cannabis M&A Deals in Recent Memory

Real data beats speculation, so let’s look at actual transactions:

• Blüm’s dispensary spree: The Nevada‑based operator acquired three California shops for $9.7 million. That’s roughly $3.2 million per store, a fraction of peak valuations in 2019.
• Lowell Farms’ management play: Instead of buying licenses, Lowell signed management service agreements for two Los Angeles dispensaries. It’s a clever way to generate revenue without triggering 280E on the entire retail operation.
• Planet 13’s Vegas expansion: The publicly traded company snapped up a competing Las Vegas shop for $6.9 million. The deal gave Planet 13 additional square footage on the Strip, demonstrating that premium location still commands a premium price.
• Vireo Growth’s multi‑state merger: Four single‑state operators combined to form a nearly 50‑store platform across several states. The new entity boasts economies of scale in cultivation, processing and retail—advantages smaller players can’t replicate.

These examples illustrate a pattern: buyers aren’t gambling on unproven markets; they’re acquiring existing sales, management teams and real estate. They’re also structuring deals to minimize cash outlay up front—often through revenue‑sharing or deferred payments—because liquidity is scarce.

Regulatory and Due Diligence Challenges

If you’ve ever tried to buy or sell a cannabis business, you know the paperwork is brutal. Licenses can’t simply be transferred like liquor permits; the state must approve new ownership, and at least one original owner may need to stay onboard. Meanwhile, Section 280E prevents buyers from deducting ordinary business expenses, which can sink post‑acquisition cash flow. Those realities make due diligence not just important, but existential.

Here are hard‑won tips for buyers and sellers:

Buyer Due Diligence Tips

• Verify licenses and compliance: Confirm that state and local licenses are current, fees are paid and no disciplinary actions are pending.
• Review financials: Demand at least three years of audited financial statements and tax returns. Look for unreported cash sales, outstanding tax liabilities and inflated asset values.
• Inspect inventory and assets: Count plants, finished goods and equipment; adjust the purchase price for stale or overstated inventory.
• Explore flexible terms: Consider earn‑outs, contingent payments or seller financing to bridge valuation gaps.
• Hire specialized advisors: Work with CPAs and attorneys who understand cannabis rules and Section 280E.

Seller Preparation Tips

• Organize your house: Keep meticulous records, from seed‑to‑sale tracking to payroll and vendor contracts.
• Stay compliant: Resolve any licensing violations or tax issues before listing; they’ll surface in due diligence.
• Set realistic valuations: Understand that peak valuations are gone; price your business based on current cash flow, not 2018 hype.
• Be transparent: Disclose all liabilities and operational challenges; surprises kill deals and erode trust.
• Consider creative structures: Be open to earn‑outs or management service agreements if they maximize your payout.

Your diligence determines whether you buy a cash cow or a white elephant. The more questions you ask now, the fewer lawsuits you face later.

Build, Buy or Partner? Strategic Options

Not every growth plan requires buying another company. As MGO CPA notes, cannabis companies have three strategic paths: build, buy or partner.

1. Build

Building a vertically integrated operation—cultivation, processing and retail under one roof—offers control over supply chain and branding. But it demands significant capital and burdensome regulatory compliance. In saturated markets, building from scratch is often the riskiest and most expensive option. You’ll need to secure real estate, local approvals and capital to survive the long run.

2. Buy

Acquiring an existing business can shortcut the licensing process and provide immediate revenue streams. It can also give you intellectual property, skilled staff and vertical integration. However, you inherit the target’s skeletons: outstanding taxes, lawsuits, sagging equipment and worn‑out leases. If you’re not prepared to fix other people’s problems, don’t buy them.

3. Partner

Partnerships—joint ventures, licensing deals or management agreements—offer a flexible alternative. They allow you to enter new markets or product categories without buying a license. For example, an Oregon brand partnering with New York licensees to launch in the Empire State avoids the application gauntlet. Partnerships minimize capital outlay but require careful contract drafting to allocate control, profits and liabilities.

Which route is best? It depends on your goals, capital and risk tolerance. After years of advising cannabis operators, I can tell you that buying or partnering often beats building from scratch in mature markets. You’re paying for speed and regulatory certainty.

Innovative Deal Structures and Financing

Because traditional bank loans remain off‑limits, cannabis M&A deals rely on creative structures. A July 2025 420 Accounting article highlights several approaches:

• Earn‑outs: The seller receives additional payments if the business hits revenue or EBITDA targets post‑closing. This aligns incentives but requires clear accounting.
• Convertible debt: The buyer loans the seller money with the option to convert the debt into equity. This provides downside protection if cash flow underperforms.
• Vendor financing: The seller finances part of the purchase price, often with interest. It lowers the buyer’s cash requirement but gives the seller a secured interest in the business.
• Management service agreements (MSAs): The buyer operates the seller’s store for a fee, effectively controlling operations without buying the license.

These structures reflect the reality that cash is scarce, valuations are compressed and regulatory rules make simple asset sales impractical. If you’re a buyer, use them to bridge gaps between what you can pay and what the seller wants. If you’re a seller, use them to continue sharing in the upside while transferring risk.

Future Outlook: Rescheduling and New Markets

You can’t talk about M&A without discussing federal rescheduling. The DEA is considering moving cannabis to Schedule III. If it happens, Section 280E would no longer apply, allowing cannabis companies to deduct ordinary business expenses and drastically improving profitability. The 420 Accounting article predicts that rescheduling and improved access to banking could spark a second wave of M&A—one driven by growth rather than distress.

Meanwhile, emerging adult‑use states like Missouri, Maryland, Connecticut and New York are experiencing a licensing land rush. Operators are consolidating early to build regional dominance. In Michigan, Arizona and Massachusetts, the story is the same. Market leaders want scale before out‑of‑state capital pours in and dilutes their market share.

Outside capital is also eyeing technology plays: AlphaRoot reports that 2025 will see larger companies buying smaller, specialized firms that develop AI and blockchain tools for inventory, compliance and consumer experience. Diversification—into beverages, edibles and wellness products—is another driver. The bottom line is that consolidation isn’t about empire building; it’s about survival and strategic advantage.

Conclusion: Don’t Sleep on Due Diligence

Mergers and acquisitions can rescue a failing operator or catapult a boutique brand into multistate stardom. They can also bankrupt naïve buyers who ignore tax rules, regulatory risks and cash flow realities. In 2025, the cannabis M&A market is a buyer’s market—if you know what you’re doing. With oversupply crushing valuations and federal tax burdens still in place, distressed deals are abundant. But that will change quickly if rescheduling occurs; valuations will rise and deals will get more expensive.

If you’re considering a merger or acquisition, start with due diligence, hire experienced counsel and structure your deal creatively. My team at Cannabis Industry Lawyer helps buyers and sellers navigate licensing, tax planning and contract negotiations. Schedule a consultation to explore your options and avoid costly mistakes.

How to Plan a Cannabis Event

RELATED POST: Cannabis Marketing 101: How to Market Your Cannabis Brand

RELATED POST: How to Grow Your Cannabis Business

​What is EventHi?

“How to plan a cannabis event?” might be your first question when organizing an event but the second question should be “How will I get the word out about my event?” That’s where EventHi comes in.

EventHi is an online ticketing platform catering to the cannabis culture. They provide event hosts with a safe hosting platform to sell tickets and sponsorships for their cannabis-related events while creating a marketplace for event-goers and brands to find these events.

What advice would you give someone planning their first virtual cannabis event?

1. Create a game plan. Every event should have a strategy. Start with a key goal and concept, then take it from there. The earlier you can get planning, the better.
2. Choose the right time. Picking the right date and time for your event is important, regardless of size or platform. Do a little research. Make sure there are no competing events or holidays that would interfere with attendance.  Take time zones into consideration, too. If you plan to go global, try your best to pick a time that works for as many of your customers and followers as possible. Make sure content is accessible after live presentations for those who couldn’t make it.
3. Promote the event. Determine the key selling points your event has to offer attendees. It could be a noteworthy speaker, skill-sharing, an opportunity to network, and more.  Whatever you choose, make sure the value proposition is clear in your marketing.
4. Prepare for tech troubles. If physical events have hitches, virtual events have glitches.  Before kicking things off, test your Internet connection—and have your speakers do the same. Prepare backups of visuals and presentations in case a file goes wonky or awol. Schedule a practice run and tech check.
5.  Encourage engagement. Ask viewers to submit questions in comments or through a chat tool. Chances are the people who ask questions are going to stick around to see if they get answered.

What advice would you give someone attending their first virtual cannabis event?

1. Treat a virtual event as you would an in-person event with respect to your calendar and task load. Be present in the experience, engage with the sessions or presenters, and use the chat regularly to connect with other attendees.
2. Minimize distractions: When you’re watching alone, it’s easy to “multi-task” and get distracted. Instead, try to reduce notifications, grab a notepad, and get ready to start learning!  
3. Check your technology before the day of the event. The last thing you want to do is wait until the event starts to realize your browser is not updated, or your wifi doesn’t work well or there is an app you have to download. 
4. Have fun! Virtual events don’t have to just be for work or business, especially now you can experience all types of unique experiences. Have fun, learn and get connected.

Cannabis Events – 10 Best Events You Shouldn’t Miss

Written by: TRprabs

Ever since some states in the US legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, a whole new industry has begun to grow. It’s a relatively new field that starts with growing the hemp and extends to the manufacture and marketing of the CBD oil. If you are in any way related to this field, you must be part of the many cannabis events being organized across the country. You may not be in a position to attend them all, but if you know when and where they are held, you could make a plan.

There are several events for the growers of hemp and other events for the end products and possibilities. EventHi presents you ten of them here. Let’s take a look.

1. US Hemp Expo; Eastern US Hemp Growers Conference and Expo

Event Date: May 3-5, 2020

Location: Buffalo, NY

Description: This is a 3-day expo cum conference dealing with the cultivation of hemp in the state of New York. The US Hemp Expo organizes these events in many cities in the Eastern part of the US.

Why You Should Attend: If you are in any way connected with agriculture in the state of New York or any other location, you will find this extremely useful. The sessions include the full range of topics from sourcing the seeds to planting and finding the market for hemp. You will get to hear directly from people who have cultivated hemp and have benefitted. The information and knowledge you gather here will help you plan your activities back in your farm. There are trade shows which give you exposure to the latest developments in the field.

2. Lucky Leaf Expo

Event Date: May 29-30, 2020

Location: Dallas, TX

Description: Lucky Leaf Expo in Dallas, Texas is one of the first events here after the state joined the others to pass the law making the use of cannabis legal. The expo will cover a vast range of related subjects.

Why You Should Attend: The organizers of Lucky Leaf Expo see the growth of the cannabis business as a positive development. They feel it has been beneficial for the health of the people as well as offering better business opportunities. You can help yourself to a wealth of knowledge, whichever category you belong to. The expo will expand your vision on what cannabis can do to your health if you are a consumer. You can plan to start a new business in cannabis and learn all the inputs you need to succeed in it.

3. CannaFarm CON – Hemp Edition

Event Date: June 26-27, 2020

Location: Chicago, IL

Description: The CannaFarm CON – Hemp Edition brings hemp farmers, specialists and scientists together on a single platform. The 2-day conference is meant to highlight innovative technology adopted for cultivating hemp with discussions on harvesting techniques.

Why You Should Attend: This could be a rare opportunity to meet and interact with master growers from around the world. There are also reputed keynote speakers on the various topics of relevance with interactive sessions. These will give you a deeper insight into this sunrise industry. There is even an Investor Pitch session where you can make a presentation on your bright idea for a project in cannabis and win a prize. Investors, if they are impressed with your idea, might pitch in with the funds.

4. Midwest Cannabis Business Conference

Event Date: August 26-27, 2020

Location: Detroit, MI

Description: The Midwest Cannabis Business Conference in Detroit will address the entire gamut of the cannabis industry. It will cover areas like the seed and hemp cultivation to the marketing of end products. It is one of the best Cannabis events as it attracts the best experts in each area.

Why You Should Attend: This event brings together the whole bunch of people involved in the cannabis business. You would be missing out if you are not there. Whether you plan to cultivate hemp in your farm or wish to enter into retailing the products, you should be there. Hear the speakers share their knowledge and experience and have your questions answered. You will be able to forge new relationships with people who matter in the cannabis business. You will find the event very useful.

5. Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition

Event Date: September 16-17, 2020

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Description: The CWCB Expo brings together some of the best brains and professionals in the cannabis trade. They share their ideas and the latest developments in the cannabis industry.

Why You Should Attend: CWCB Expo is the place to be for anyone connected to the cannabis business. California is where it all started and LA offers a huge market for CBD in all its derivative forms. The expo will have product displays and the conference will offer immersive and educative sessions to lift your level of knowledge. Almost all stakeholders in the cannabis business, from legal luminaries to delivery firms will be there. This is the best opportunity for networking and creating new relationships to expand your business.

6. Grow Tradefest

Event Date: September 17-20, 2020

Location: Lake Ozark, MO

Description: The Grow Tradefest conference will have a galaxy of speakers delivering their address on diverse topics related to the cannabis business. There will be an update on how Missouri has progressed in the trade.

Why You Should Attend: This is a unique conference and a cannabis event that attracts speakers with varied experience in the production of cannabis to its processing and use. There will be speakers from the field of sports who will speak on how the use of CBD has improved recovery times for injured sportspeople. Overall, this event can enlarge your vision on cannabis as a commercial product and spur you on to develop your business. You should be there if you wish to know what’s happening to the industry at these times.

7. CannMed 2020

Event Date: September 20-22, 2020

Location: California

Description: This is a unique event in the cannabis event calendar since it is more focused on the medical aspects of cannabis. The organizers position this event more like a science and technology program aimed at a clearer understanding of cannabis.

Why You Should Attend: If you are a cannabis user and have the scientific inclination, you must attend this event. If you are a medical practitioner and your patients have been asking you about CBD and its uses, you can attend CannMed 2020. The event has participants from the industry who manufacture cannabis-based products. You can directly hear from these experts on the scientific perspective of cannabis and its therapeutic uses. Learn about the breakthrough technologies in the field too.

8. Cannabis Business Summit & Expo

Event Date: September 29-October 1, 2020

Location: San Francisco, CA

Description: This expo is a premier cannabis event and it is a B2B summit. Cannabis business owners congregate to refresh their knowledge on the latest developments in the industry. A lot of networking happens too.

Why You Should Attend: If you have a business dealing with cannabis, this event would offer you the best ringside view of the industry. You can meet and greet the best brains in the industry and build new relationships. You can consider booking a stall and display your products. The expense will pay off as hundreds will be visiting the exhibition. The event consists of tours, workshops and solution rooms. There is no way you will return from the Cannabis Business Summit & Expo without your knowledge and confidence boosted.

9. Cannabis Drinks Expo

Event Date: October 30, 2020

Location: San Francisco, CA

Description: Though the event is titled as Cannabis Drinks Expo, it will include products other than drinks made from cannabis. A dedicated one-day expo on cannabis drinks, however, is an exciting prospect since this is a fast-growing business. It has already generated a lot of interest among the stakeholders.

Why You Should Attend: If you are in any way connected with the production, distribution and retailing of cannabis products, you should be here at San Francisco for the Cannabis Drinks Expo. You can understand how the innovative industry has harnessed the power of CBD to make sports drinks. These drinks are gaining popularity as its usefulness is being experienced by more people. As with most such events, you get the chance to meet experts in various connected fields, including medical experts. They can share their knowledge on the latest developments in the processing of cannabis which can be useful in your business.

10. The Original CBD Tour Southeast 2020

Event Date: December 4-5, 2020

Location: Orlando, FL

Description: The Original CBD Tour Southeast 2020 is positioned by its organizers as a hybrid’ conference. Its neither business to business nor business to consumer. It’s all-encompassing. This could be the final event in the 2020 calendar for cannabis enthusiasts.

Why You Should Attend: There are the latest innovations exhibited. You can explore and test CBD products you might be hearing for the first time. There are expert presentations on topics that include laws, regulations, marketing, holistic medicine, medical trends, and technology. If all these are exciting subjects for you, you must attend the Original CBD Tour Southeast 2020. The workshops offer a unique experience in areas like extraction methods and CBD cooking processes. The event accumulates consumers, entrepreneurs, and professionals all in one place.

Bottomline

Cannabis is the new exciting business prospect as the country learns its multiple uses and benefits. There are a lot of things still to be known in the trade. From regular users to cultivators of hemp and medical professionals getting introduced to the product, all can gain from attending the Cannabis events.

Check Out:

• EventHi
• Tom Howard at CannabisIndustryLawyer.com
• Miggy at Cannabis Legalization News

Interested in coming on as a guest? Email our producer at lauryn@collateralbase.com.

How to Control Your Cannabis Dosage

How to control cannabis dosage is a question that most cannabis consumers ask themselves at one point or another. We’ve all taken an edible that either had a little too much THC for comfort or not enough to even feel anything. Figuring out your CBD:THC ratio can completely change your consuming experience. This week we were joined by Dr. Gary Rodziewicz from Your Perfect Dose to discuss how exactly you can identify your perfect dose.

“How to Control Cannabis Dosage” means identifying and regulating how many milligrams of CBD or THC you choose to consume.

What is Your Perfect Dose?

• An app that provides personalized cannabis dosage suggestions
• Created an algorithm that can identify a consumers recommended dosage and learn with more use
• Headquartered in New York
• Founded in 2020

Why is Indefying Your Perfect Dose Important?

Controlling your cannabis dosage is essential to having a good cannabis experience. Though many consumers rely on recommendations from budtenders or friends, it can be very difficult to identify the dosage requirements for a specific consumer. For first-time consumers it’s a good rule of thumb to start low and slow. Colorado initiated the campaign “Start Low and Go Slow” which was aimed at first-time consumers and older patients urging them to start at a low THC mg and take their time scaling up. But even with strategic dosing initiatives, it’s still theorized that many consumers aren’t getting the most out of their medicine.

“Even with really good doctors using really good medicine, you’re only talking about 30-40% of people are getting optimal results. So what about those other guys? That’s where Your Perfect Dose comes into help.” – Dr. Gary Rodziewicz

How to Control Cannabis Dosage: Your Perfect Dose

Written by: Laurakennedy

How to Control Cannabis Dosage: Your Perfect Dose

Controlling cannabis dosage is important. Without such, chances are high that you will misuse it and, as you well know, the consequences won’t be pleasing. Therefore, it’s imperative for you to have a viable way of managing cannabis dosage. There are several aspects that influence cannabis dosing. They are: the person consuming it, the medical issue being treated, and how a person consumes it. That being said, this guideline will help you in controlling cannabis dosage.

Start With a Low Dosage

This is essential, especially for those who are just beginning to take cannabis. Since you have little or no experience with it, it’s highly advisable that you start with a low dose. Beginning with a low dosage will enable your body to get used to it as you increase it slowly. Specifically, you can start with a 10mg amount. From there, you can begin to increase the quantity with increments of 5-10mg. If you take note of this and follow it consistently, you will be successful in controlling cannabis dosage. This is, indeed, a good place to begin.

Make Sure That the Doses Are Taken Effectively

It is advisable that as you consume cannabis, you pay attention to how it is affecting you. Therefore, taking small doses, multiple times in 24 hours is a good practice in controlling your doses. Unlike taking one large dose at the same time, it’s better for you to spread the doses across your day. This is an effective dosage practice especially if you are new to cannabis consumption. Through this, it will make you active and, at the same time, give you the awareness you need regarding how it is affecting you.

What is your THC: CBD Ratio

Medical experts assert that knowing your THC: CBD ratio goes a long way in helping to learn how to control your dosage effectively. Obviously, cannabis products have different levels of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). Tetrahydrocannabinol is the major psychoactive component in cannabis. On the other hand, Cannabidiol is known to relieve ailments. Different amounts of the two components of cannabis play major roles in treating different medical conditions. In fact, a combination of THC and CBD are believed to improve therapeutic effects significantly. It is recommended that, in order to have optimal benefits, you should take cannabis products that have both compounds. Thus, if you will get to know your THC: CBD ratio, you will be a step ahead in controlling cannabis dosage.

Evaluate Before You Make Any Big Adjustments

Of course, as you continue to take cannabis, you will feel like you need to make changes on how you consume it. Before you make any adjustments on how you have been taking cannabis, it will be prudent for you to evaluate yourself first. Having known your THC: CBD ratio and the dose level that is fitting for you, it’s necessary that you observe how it affects you for a certain amount of time. A period of 7 days is enough. After evaluating yourself, you need to consider whether you will change the type or amount of cannabis you take in order to generate the desired outcome. Since you know the effect that you desire from the consumption of cannabis, you will know whether you need to make any changes or not. This, also, will be crucial in controlling your cannabis dosage.

There’s a Danger in over Consumption

It is advisable not to overdo it. Normally, taking cannabis for therapeutic purposes will require you to take less of it. In fact, for some people, if the amount of THC in cannabis is too high, it can lead to anxiety, mood disorders, and other side effects. The best thing to do is to begin with a CBD-rich product and then increase the amount of THC moderately until you attain the balance that is good for you. The idea here is for you not to overdo your consumption. If you notice that you are having severe side effects, then it’s time for you to evaluate your doses.

What Medical Issue Are You Treating?

The medical issue that you are treating has a big role to play in determining the amount of dosage that you take. Different medical conditions require varying amounts of cannabis to treat. Therefore, you should know the amount of dosage that you should take for your specific condition. This will be helpful in the effective management of your doses. You should consult a medical specialist for you to know the amount of dose you should take to effectively treat your medical condition.

Using Technology to Track your Cannabis Consumption

For those who are having problems keeping track of their consumption, technology can make work easier for them. With the help of an app, you are able to know what product you are taking, how much you have taken, and the effect it has on you. The app is able to record the data and allow you to share it with a healthcare provider. Moreover, the app has the capacity to help you find your perfect dose. If for example, you are having pain in your body, you can input the amount of pain you are feeling and the app, based on your level of pain, will recommend to you the cannabis dose that you should take. In this regard, Your Perfect Dose is building a smartphone app with the capacity to help you keep track of your data so as to provide you with the dosage that is perfectly fit for you.

Indeed, Your Perfect Dose comes to make it easier for many people who are struggling with keeping a good track of their cannabis consumption. Given that it’s of crucial importance for you to take the right dose of cannabis, you can rely of Your Perfect Dose to help you take your cannabis product at the right time and also take the right amount. With this smartphone app, you will get suggestions on how to take your dose and also when to take it. Simply put, it will be personalized for you, to give you the desired effect for positive and quality outcomes.

Check Out:

• Your Perfect Dose
• Everything You Need To Know About Marijuana: What Is Cannabis?
• Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know
• New York Governor Confirms Cannabis Legalization By Budget “Not Likely”
• Tom Howard at CannabisIndustryLawyer.com
• Miggy at Cannabis Legalization News

Interested in coming on as a guest? Email our producer at lauryn@collateralbase.com.

Cannabis Culture and Putting Consumers First

The Fresh Toast entered the publishing space in 2016 and since then they have established themselves as “the most trusted name in cannabis”. The Fresh Toast currently provides entertaining and informational content such as their most recent articles titled “This Year’s New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewe Has A Cannabis Queen” and “Aluminum Cans May Reduce Potency Of Cannabis Drinks”. According to their founder JJ McKay, The Fresh Toast was also the first cannabis focused company granted a press pass by a mainstream media company to cover a political debate. Check out their coverage on the Las Vegas Debate. This week Tom and Miggy were joined by JJ McKay to discuss cannabis culture, consumer trends, and the future of cannabis media.

What is The Fresh Toast?

• A platform that provides content on cannabis, culture, and tech.
• They make it a mission to always put consumers and patients first
• Educate physicians on medical marijuana
• Founded in 2016
• Headquarters in Seattle

The Fresh Toast on Educating the Medical Community

The Fresh Toast is much more than a publishing company. In addition to proving content for cannabis consumers, The Fresh Toast is the exclusive training partner for the largest healthcare training system in America. They work with about 80% of practicing physicians on how to have the conversation about medical marijuana.

Why Do Cannabis Media Companies Fail?

“Most people in the industry are focused on the industry and not on the consumer. Some companies launch without a business plan, some are miss managed. We put the consumer first.” JJ McKay

What’s Your Take on Celebrity Cannabis Brands?

“If you go into a Walgreens or CVS and look at the beauty or perfume section, all the hot celebrity brands are things that millennials relate to. People don’t relate to Willie Nelson or Bob Marley. People are buying brands that relate to them. Now if Justin Bieber or Lizzo came out with a brand, it would do really well. Think of it like the shoe industry – not every celebrity sports star has a shoe, it’s a couple people who really work it and stay relevant to the audience and sneaker heads.” – JJ McKay

How the Fresh Toast Changes the Cannabis Media World

Written by: simonat

The Fresh Toast is much more than a pot-related media. In the ocean of similar marijuana businesses, Fresh Toast has an advantage. It is the first cannabis company that is approved by Google Adsense, according to its founder JJ McKay. What does that mean for a brand? It is a representation of a smart business strategy and continuous delivery of quality news.

How the Fresh Toast Brings Change to the Cannabis Industry

Since the founding year, 2016, the Fresh Toast has created the formula that brings success. From a company with only a few followers on social media, they’ve come to the point where 1 million readers on a daily level want to see what’s new.

The Fresh Toast covers entertainment news, music, comedy, and medical news about cannabis and its use. They don’t want to come up as another media that supports cannabis. They try to be actively involved in the lifestyle of all cannabis users, being the famous ones or completely unknown.

The company’s headquarters are in Seattle, Washington, the ideal ground for cannabis promotion. At the time, Washington was the second state in the country that legalized recreational marijuana. It is still ahead of time when it comes to initiatives and plans for the further change of regulations.

As a company located in the right place, the Fresh Toast offers its readers something that is called “more of the Martha Stewart’s pot than Snoop Dogg’s pot”. In this definition, we see why the Fresh Toast holds the leading position in objective and balanced reporting about the cannabis industry news. Their news is equally focused on the medical side of cannabis as they are focused on the entertaining side of marijuana use.

What is the Vision of the Fresh Toast’s Founder?

At the early beginnings, JJ McKay had the vision to meet the demand for a cannabis lifestyle brand. It was the time when many brands existed on the market, but none of them was ready to affect the lifestyles of people. Fresh Toast was the brand that changed the way we see the cannabis industry.

From the medical news where you can read about the new findings in the medical application of cannabis to the news about popular supporters of cannabis initiatives, you can see why the brand has reached such popularity.

Today, Fresh Toast has deeply devoted readers who want to find out how to apply marijuana for medical purposes and get the most benefits from it. We all need to know how to use marijuana in the best way, or at least, how it can benefit the people who already use it.

JJ McKay has created something that could transform the way we see cannabis. Tons of regulations, predictions, and medical announcements are on the way, and we are eager to read about them. With the right vision, JJ McKay keeps the pot burning.

How Will the Fresh Toast Look Like in the Future

The Fresh Toast will continue to develop the stories that keep the readers engaged. With more than 1 million active readers, the media must deliver the news that is truthful and honest.

With the progress of technology, we also see the progress of the cannabis industry. The Fresh Toast tries to share that knowledge with us, so we can get full insights into the marijuana business.

The founders, editors, and writers are all dedicated to the same goal. Reaching more audience on a daily level can effectively increase the popularity of the brand. People behind the Fresh Toast know exactly how to deliver the news that will entice the readers to use marijuana in the best manner. It is not all about quantity, at the end. It is more about the quality of the right information and its implementation in the real world.

Will the Fresh Toast continue to serve readers with the right amount of information? They will. As long as we are ready to read. And we all see how the Fresh Toast set the standards in the marijuana industry with the right approach to the readers. We also see how they shape the future of the industry.

It’s not pretentious when they say that the Fresh Toast is the “most trusted name in cannabis”.

Check Out:

• The Fresh Toast
• Tom Howard at CannabisIndustryLawyer.com
• Miggy at Cannabis Legalization News

Interested in coming on as a guest? Email our producer at lauryn@collateralbase.com.

What Can We Do About the Cannabis Industry’s Waste Problem?

Hemp packaging could be the environmental savior the cannabis industry needs. It’s clear the cannabis industry has a packaging and waste problem – hard to recycle plastics like flower packaging and vape cartridges run rampant in the market. There are recycling programs like TerraCycle and waste services like EcoWaste who are doing their best to fight our waste problem but some would say that our environmental efforts should be proactive rather than reactive. This week Miggy and Tom were joined by James Eichner, Co-Founder and CSO of Sana Packaging, to discuss how using hemp itself could help the cannabis industry’s waste problem.

What is Sana Packaging?

• Designs and produces compliant sustainable cannabis packaging
• Uses 100% plant-based hemp plastic and other sustainable materials
• Partners with Oceanworks to create compliant cannabis packaging from 100% reclaimed ocean plastic
• Made in the USA
• Founded in 2016
• Headquarters in Denver, Colorado

Why Hemp Packaging?

• Hemp grows faster and requires less water compared to many other industrial crops
• Hemp plastic biodegradable and takes 3-6 months to completely decompose. Normal plastic takes up to 1000 years to decompose.
• Hemp plastic is non-toxic
• Hemp is five times stiffer and 2.5 times stronger than polypropylene which is used to make most common plastic types

What is Hemp Plastic?

Sana Packaging uses bio-based binders to blend 30% micronized hemp hurd and 70% PLA. PLA or polylactic acid is derived from renewable resources such as corn and sugar cane.

Compliant Cannabis Packaging

Hemp packaging, as with all cannabis packaging, needs to be compliant. Packaging and labeling regulations change from state to state but these rules are common across the board:

• Certified child-resistant
• Dosage amount on the label
• Tamper-evident safeguards
• Resealable packaging

Sana Packaging Products

Hemp packaging isn’t the only environmentally friendly option Sana offers. They also collaborate with Oceanworks to use reclaimed 100% HDPE ocean plastic. All Sana Packaging products are ASTM child-resistant certified and odor-resistant. Sana Packaging also offers customizable branding for all their products.

• Sana Ocean Tube 78 – 78mm package perfect for vape cartridges and mini-prerolls. Produced with 100% reclaimed ocean plastic and 100% HDPE which is #2 recyclable.
• Sana Ocean Tube 110 – 110cm tube suited for vape pens and king-size pre-rolls. Produced with 100% reclaimed ocean plastic and 100% HDPE which is #2 recyclable.
• Sana Hemp Tube 78 – 78mm package perfect for vape cartridges and mini-prerolls. Produced with 100% hemp plastic.
• Sana Hemp Tube 110 – 110cm tube suited for vape pens and king-size pre-rolls. Produced with 100% hemp plastic.
• Sana Hemp Container – 27.5 nesting style dram perfect for edibles, pre-rolls, and up to 3.5g of flower. Produced with 100% hemp plastic.

At Sana Packaging, we design and develop hemp plastic packaging solutions for the cannabis industry. The hemp plastic we use is 100% plant-based and chemical free and our products are ASTM child-resistant certified.

Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond simply offering ecologically conscious products. We envision a world where our bodies, natural environment, and oceans are not polluted with toxic waste. We believe packaging should be regenerative and help heal the environment throughout its lifecycle.

We’re proud to be an American-made company committed to supporting domestic agriculture and domestic manufacturing.

Check Out:

• Sana Packaging
• Tom Howard at CannabisIndustryLawyer.com
• Miggy at Cannabis Legalization News