CMB Global, Author at Cannabis Means Business

April 10, 2025April 10, 2025 By CMB Global

HITR #28: Anthony of 40 Tons on Advocacy and CA and NY Markets

In this episode, KymB speaks with Anthony of 40 Tons Brand about advocacy and the CA and NY markets. 40 Tons is a brand that’s making real change by advocating for diversity, inclusion, and second chances for those impacted by past cannabis convictions.

What’s in this episode?

The story behind 40 Tons – how it started and the powerful meaning behind the name.
Breaking the stigma – how the cannabis industry is evolving and what we can do to drive real change.
What’s in and what’s out for 2025 – hear Antony’s take on the trends shaping the future.
California vs. New York cannabis – Antony weighs in on which market reigns supreme.

March 31, 2025April 3, 2025 By CMB Global

Spring. Stay Positive. Seize Opportunities.

Happy Anniversary MRTA!
Be in the Right Room.

Spring Has Sprung

Blink. Four years has gone by. Indeed. March 31, 2025, marks 4 years for the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) of New York State which was signed into law March 31, 2021, legalizing adult-use cannabis. Happy Anniversary MRTA!

Cannabis Means Business, CMB, (formerly CWCBExpo), featured Chair Tremaine Wright, at our 2021 Conference & Expo at the Jacob Javits Center. It was her first keynote address as Chair of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB).

It was exciting on so many levels. The energy of being back in-person was exhilarating. That year, as venues began to re-open, several live in-person expos started up again across many business sectors. We held our 2021 event in October and returned to our typical date pattern in the spring of 2022.

Equally exciting and energizing was that NYS had legalized adult-use cannabis earlier that year. Much has happened in four years. Like many of the states, MRTA’s rollout had its challenges and still has many to tackle. NYS remains one of the top markets for cannabis business owners and investors to seize upon and make their mark here.

As we soak up the warming air and sun this spring, and say goodbye to March, let’s remember it is MRTA’s birthday. The Office of Cannabis Management has accomplished much in the past 4 years.

More than $1Billion in retail sales has been clocked
CCB issued over 1,600 licenses across several types of cannabis businesses
The number of legal dispensaries is closing in on 340
Social Equity programs were implemented successfully with over 50% of all adult-use licenses being awarded to Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants including Service-Disabled Veterans, Women, Distressed Farmers
Working collaboratively with all state and city agencies to shutdown illicit cannabis businesses
…and much more

Blink.
Four more years will go by.
Much more will be accomplished.

Cannabis Means Business – Now in its 11th Year

Cannabis Means Business, formerly CWCBExpo – now in its 11th year– is a conference and expo that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry. It is the place to be if you want to expand your business in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Means BUsiness Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board, Cannabis Advisory Board

The CCB held a meeting on March 20, 2025. Some highlights include:

Over 100 new adult-use licenses were approved for a total of 1,614 across the NYS, of which 225 are CAURD licenses
Adult-use sales have passed $220 million already in 2025 with most of the sales coming from dispensaries in Manhattan, Queens and Long Island
The CAURD Grant Program was launched designed to help CAURD licensees actually get their dispensaries started. Although the amount of the grants is small, at least the program exists. It covers quite a few expenses regarding dispensary openings
US Veterans support regarding cannabis use, employment and business opportunities
Issuance of a new license for research that allows the licensee to get cannabis for research purposes and studies from licensed dispensaries, processors, and cultivators
Extended the provisional licenses for 6 months for those issued prior to February 1, 2025
…many other items were discussed and resolutions made

Download the deck of meeting slides here.

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 338 legal Adult-Use dispensaries were operational by March 28, 2025. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS.

Yerba Buena
BROOKLYN | 292 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn 11201
Website: https://yerbabuena.nyc

FlynnStoned Rochester
ROCHESTER | 125 State Street, Rochester 14614
Website: https://flynnstoned.com

Chelsea Cannabis Co.
MANHATTAN | 104 7th Avenue, New York 10011
Website: https://chelseacannabis.co

Command Cannabis Dispensary
BLASDELL | 3871 South Park Ave, Blasdell 14219
Website: https://commandcannabiswny.com

Coney Island Cannabis
BROOKLYN | 875 Neptune Avenue, Brooklyn 11224
Website: https://coneyislandcannabisny.com

Jungle Kingdom Flower
BROOKLYN | 515 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn 11216
Website: https://junglekingdomflower.com

Hell’s Kitchen Cannabis*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
MANHATTAN | 356 W 40th Street, New York 10018
Website: https://hkcc.nyc

Cannabis on Lex
MANHATTAN | 459 Lexington Avenue, New York 10017
Website: https://cannabisonlex.com

RENAISSAÑT NYC
SUNNYSIDE | 40-07 A Queens Blvd, Sunnyside, NY 11104
Website: https://renaissant.nyc

Cloud Nine Legal Cannabis Dispensary
YONKERS | 305 Saw Mill River Road, Yonkers 10701
Website: https://cloudninelcd.com

LA FFOCA
NIAGARA FALLS | 1618 18th Street, Niagara Falls 14305
Website: https://laffoca.com

Starlife Dispensary
WHITE PLAINS | 1 Hall Avenue, White Plains 10603
Website: https://starlifedispensary.com

Canna Planet Wappingers
WAPPINGERS FALLS | 1444 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls 12590
Website: https://cannaplanet.com/location/wappingers

Culture Canna Co.
CORNING | 90 E Market Street, Unit 101, Corning 14830
Website: https://culturecanna.co

Lively Harvest*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
MARGARETVILLE | 75 Bridge Street, Margaretville 12455
Website: https://livelyharvestny.com

Canna Buddha
BAYSIDE | 215-46 39th Avenue, Bayside 11361
Website: https://cannabuddha.us

Silver Cannabis Company Albany
ALBANY | 10 Executive Park Drive, Albany 12203
Website: https://silver-therapeutics.com

Gaea’s Garden*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
FLUSHING | 134-24 Northern Blvd, Flushing 11354
Website: https://gaeas.garden

Paint, Puff ‘n Peace
MANHATTAN | 2119 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York 10026

Dream Daze
DEPEW | 5100 Transit Rd, Depew, NY 14034
Website: https://thedreamdaze.com

Bud City Cannabis
BROOKLYN | 3343 Fulton Street, Brooklyn 11208
Website: https://budcityny.com

Third Rock Cannabis
SOUTH GLENS FALLS | 131 Saratoga Avenue, Unit 7, South Glens Falls 12803
Website: https://thirdrockcannabis.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

Town Hall Meetings for Medicinal Cannabis

The NJ-CRC was quite busy this March with conducting town hall meetings for the NJ Medicinal Cannabis Program (MCP) to update its regulations and help patients get access to medical cannabis. They held 3 virtual town hall meetings: March 19, 25 and 26.

These virtual meetings is where the commission plans to consider annual license applications, conditional-to-annual conversions and renewals.

You can watch the March 18 meeting here for licensing updates and other issues.

Apply for Consumption Area Licenses

Quite exciting is that consumption areas will be coming to NJ very soon. The NJCRC will begin to accept applications starting April 2, 2025.

Learn more about applying for a consumption area license here.

Virginia Cannabis News

Governor Vetoes Cannabis Legislation

Governor Youngkin vetoed the cannabis legalization bill that would have legalized retail sales – again. He also limited medical cannabis provisions.

Read more from NORML.

Ohio Cannabis News

GOP Senators Amend Cannabis Measure

Once again, the voter-approved measures for cannabis legislation approved by Ohioans have been set back by a super majority of state GOP Senators.

Read the whole story from NORML.

Corporate Cannabis News

Edibles Brand

Mainstream businesses are still coming strong into the cannabis space strengthening the industry and removing stigma. Edible Brands, which owns Edible Arrangements, created Edibles.com to sell high-end edibles with THC, and hemp beverages. Deliveries are planned to be done within their existing franchised network. Store-fronts are also planned for Edibles.com in the future.

Read about it from CNBC.

International Cannabis News

France and Medical Cannabis

France has initiated medical cannabis legalization. France conducted a 3-year program with patients, prescriptions and distribution using cannabis as a medicine. The French Health Ministry has asserted success in its 3-year program and wants to move forward with a formal legal medical cannabis program.

Learn more here from Radio France Internationale.

Special Recognition – Dasheeda Dawson

The CMB Team wishes Dasheeda Dawson good luck in her next phase of championing the industry.

We thank you, Dasheeda, and want you to know that you have made a difference for everyone in the cannabis space with your many years of dedication, vision, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and kindness.

You have been integral in moving cannabis forward in all of its aspects, most recently as NYC Cannabis Czar at Cannabis NYC.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in your next chapter going forward.

This Month’s Featured Video

Where is Wall Street: Now You’re Funded, Now You’re Not

This month, we share what is a very timely and important conference session that we presented in June at our 2024 CWCBExpo event.

In this session, we feature a discussion with financial home offices, banks, fund managers and investors who discuss the funding crunch for cannabis businesses, investing in cannabis, and what attracts the prospects of M&A for a business.

Moderated by: Chris Day, Co-Founder, Global Cannabis Network Collective (GCNC)

With Speakers:

Jennifer Makris, Director of Banking & Compliance, Cannabiz Media and Industry Consultant;
Cassidy McFarland, CPA, Owner/Franchisee, Dope CFO Certified Advisors;
Peter Su, Director of Specialty Banking, Hanover Bank

This session was recorded at CWCBExpo, Javits Convention Center, NYC, on June 5, 2024.

To watch this session now, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at the
Cannabis Means Business Conference & Expo.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC

Highest in the Room, KymB with Luna Stower

March 28, 2025April 3, 2025 By CMB Global

HITR #27: Luna Stower, Plant Medicine Advocate, OG of Cannabis

In this episode, KymB meets with Luna Stower, Plant Medicine Advocate, and an Original Queen (OQ) of cannabis.

What’s Hot in Cannabis Right Now?

Signing Contracts – Businesses are getting things in writing to avoid legal battles
New York City
Advocating for the Plant and Mother Earth

What’s Out – OR SHOULD BE OUT

Corporate Greed
Lack of Authenticity

As a cannabis executive, educator, and advocate, Luna has played a key role in developing and expanding leading cannabis brands. She’s passionate about social justice, community empowerment, and cutting through corporate greed to create a more authentic industry. She is also a powerful plant medicine advocate.

A strong proponent of trade shows, Luna believes that brands need in-person venues to engage and grow their businesses.

Luna is also a fan of New York City, New York Culture and the New York marketplace, and she is excited to be at the CMB in June. Hear her take on what makes New York the hottest place to be.

Where is Wall Street: Now You’re Funded, Now You’re Not, withGia Morón, Sara Gullickson, Matt Karnes, Brett Finkelstein

February 28, 2025March 22, 2025 By CMB Global

Back to Business. Innovation. Perseverance. Progress.

Be in the Right Room.

The industry is entering the final month of the first quarter of 2025. No matter what month, what quarter and what year, the legalized cannabis industry with all of its brave, courageous and committed business owners, must continue to do what it always does: innovate, persevere, and plow forward.

Nothing has been easy for legalized cannabis businesses. With no real signs to fully de-schedule cannabis now or anytime soon, the hopes, planning, and expectations that rescheduling it to a Schedule III drug was going to happen have been put on hold, and for now we must continue dealing with Cannabis as a Schedule I drug. As we layer in the new administration and the cabinet appointees – the challenges and uncertainty in the cannabis industry keep mounting.

Despite these realities, the legalized cannabis industry has always taken care of business and has persevered for decades from coast-to-coast and has built a robust marketplace. According to the Pew Research Center, across the USA, 74% of residents have either adult-use and/or medical laws.

All of this requires that cultivators, processors, dispensary owners, and ancillary services serving the cannabis industry come together to build-out and strengthen the cannabis economic layer across a full range of business sectors.

How and where the marketplace gets built is important.
Being in the right room is crucial.
The CMB Expo & Conference is the right room.

Cannabis Means Business – Now in its 11th Year – Be There

Cannabis Means BUsiness Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

National News

Most Americans Live in a State with Adult- or Recreational-Use Laws

Pew Research Center:

“Marijuana is illegal under federal law, but most Americans now live in a state that has legalized the drug. And most also have at least one cannabis dispensary in their county, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.”

Read here directly from the Pew Research Center.

Rescheduling – Postponement and Uncertainty

The drama continues surrounding the DEA’s plan and subsequent postponement to hold hearings to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Uncertainty and lawsuits abound against the process, as well as motions to no longer participate as selected witnesses in the DEA hearings – whenever they will occur.

Read the Cannabis Business Times for a good explanation of what’s going on.