Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era,From the left: Mike Zaytsev, Ed Keating, Solonje Burnett, Mike Ballard, and Jon Lowen

A new year. Unpredictability. Entrepreneurship & Opportunities in Cannabis.

Power and Deal Rooms at CMB Conference & Expo.

Happy New Year!

As we look toward the rest of 2025 and beyond, the industry and our thousands of entrepreneurs continue to be faced with challenges. The difficulties the industry had at the end of 2024 still remain, with 2025 arriving with additional concerns including:

  • Uncertainty of the Rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III and what appears to be stagnation of any progress, as the anticipated January Rescheduling hearing has been postponed.
  • A new congress and government administration whose support for cannabis reform is also uncertain.
  • Threats to ballot measures that have been approved at the ballot box for medical and/or retail cannabis legislation– will they be challenged to the point of not being economically feasible, or not being implemented at all?
  • Continued tax burdens for legitimate cannabis business owners as collateral damage of the Rescheduling stagnation.
  • Debanking issues where business owners are prevented from opening bank accounts and obtaining other financial services from banks in the name of risk management and risk aversion.

Amid the many challenges, the industry has much to be optimistic about, thanks to the business owners who continue to build and expand it with their passion for the plant, their ingenuity, their dedication to developing the plant’s health benefits, and their perseverance. In addition, as the new year unravels, the industry will welcome new entrepreneurs and investors who see the opportunities ahead.

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

Cannabis Means Business, formerly CWCBExpo – now in its 11th yearis 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

Federal News

Rescheduling Hearings

As we highlighted in our December Newsletter, on December 2, 2024 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held its first hearing about Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug – without testimony from selected participants. Full hearings with testimony had been delayed into 2025 with the timeline set by Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney. Hearings with actual witness testimony were set to start January 21, 2025, but have again been postponed.

SAFER Banking Act

Whatever Happened to SAFER Banking Act?

High hopes abounded for well over a year regarding the SAFER Banking Act, which was not brought to a vote despite good prospects that it may have gotten passed. “Debanking” has become an issue in the newly Republican-controlled Senate. Where this all goes will have to be seen.

New York State Cannabis News

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

The OCM, the CCB and the CAB held meetings in January with much to celebrate – as NYS retail cannabis sales exceeded $1B and over 295 dispensaries were opened for business. Several items were addressed and discussed at these meetings including:

  • Market Update & Data Highlights
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Advocacy
  • Social Equity and Licensing
  • Training Programs for Licensees
  • More Adult Licenses Approval
NYS OCM Office of Cannabis Management

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 298 legal Adult-Use dispensaries are were operational by the end of January. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS.

 

Woodstock Oasis
BETHEL | 2166 NY-17B, Bethel 12720
Website: woodstockoasis.com

 

Kaya Bliss Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 8412 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn 11209
Website: kayablissnyc.com

 

The Spot Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 154 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn 11205

 

Cannabicity
SCHENECTADY | 220 Harborside Drive, Suite 111, Schenectady 12305
Website: cannabicity.net

 

The Phinest Buds
DEPEW | 576 Dick Road, Suite 10, Depew 14043
Website: thephinestbuds.com

 

Phenos*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
BUFFALO | 69 Allen Street, Buffalo 14202
Website: phenosnewyork.com

 

Canna Planet Kingston
KINGSTON | 1221 Ulster Avenue, Kingston 12401
Website: cannaplanet.com

 

Canna Planet Ellenville
ELLENVILLE | 37 N Main Street, Ellenville 12428
Website: cannaplanet.com

The Station Beacon
BEACON | 463 Main Street, Beacon 12508
Website: thestationbeacon.com

 

Clouditude Dispensary
STATEN ISLAND | 4034 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island 10308

Website: clouditudedispensary.com

 

Wild Flower Dispensary
AUBURN | 41 E Genesee Street, Auburn 13021
Website: nywildflower.com

 

Monticello Cannabis
MONTICELLO | 73 Pleasant Street, Monticello 12701

 

Vaporize
SOUTH RICHMOND HILL | 124-20 Liberty Avenue, South Richmond Hill 11419
Website: vaporizeny.com


The Dabber Hashery*
ELMIRA | 1051 College Avenue, Elmira 14901
Website: dabberhashery.com

 

Buddeez
ROCHESTER | 1460 Lyell Avenue, Ste 200, Rochester 14606

 

Caffiend Cannabis
BROOKLYN | 892 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn 11237

 

The Flowery Upper West Side
MANHATTAN | 2465 Broadway, New York 10025
Website: thefloweryny.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

Certain NJ Employees’ Insurance Now Includes Medical Cannabis

Some good news for certain municipal NJ employees who will now have insurance coverage for medical cannabis. Learn more from NORML.org who has been front and center on supporting health coverage for medical cannabis patients everywhere.

Cannabis Tax Revenue Helping to Fund Violence Intervention Programs

More good news in NJ as Governor Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin credit the NJ cannabis industry, through adult-use tax revenue, for helping to fund violence intervention programs.

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Licensing Portal Timetable

The NJCRC set a timeline for applications for cannabis consumption areas. Consumption areas must be attached to a licensed dispensary.

The Consumption Area Endorsements Licensing Portal began accepting applications for consumption area endorsements in January 2nd.

Here is the timeline:

    • January 2, 2025: Applications open for Social Equity designated retail businesses (owners with cannabis-related convictions or residents of Economically Disadvantaged Areas)
    • April 2, 2025: Applications for all other microbusinesses and Diversely-Owned dispensaries (minority-owned, women-owned, disabled-owned)
    • July 2, 2025: Applications open for all other Class 5 retail operators
NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

California Cannabis News

Wildfires Have Impacted Cannabis Business Owners

Our prayers and thoughts are with all of the victims affected by the CA wildfires. So many businesses have been affected both inside and outside the cannabis sector. The entire supply chain has been impacted to an astronomical degree.

Ohio Cannabis News

Lawmakers Propose to Roll Back Voter-Approved Cannabis Legalization

In our December newsletter we highlighted that Ohio had surpassed $200MM in adult-use sales in only the four months since it started. In spite of this strong start, Ohio is one of the states with cannabis legalization laws being challenged by its own lawmakers. The laws that are being challenged were approved by voters in 2023 and have started a thriving and sound adult-use cannabis industry.

The state Senate is proposing severe changes that would impose higher taxes on retail cannabis sales, restrict home-grow, limit the statewide retailers, and bar adults from sharing cannabis.

Colorado Cannabis News

Colorado Springs City Council Attempting to Overturn Voter-Approved Adult Use

The Colorado Springs City Council is trying to flatly overturn the 54% voter-approved ballot measure to allow adult-use within the city’s limits. Rejected was a ballot measure that restricted allowing it. Now, council members are trying to overturn it by asserting that voters voted on confusing write-ups of the ballot measures and are second guessing the voter-approved outcome.

Corporate News

Door Dash

Door Dash will begin to deliver to legal-aged customers hemp-derived THC and CBD products for on-demand delivery in select states.

This Month’s Archived Video

Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era,From the left: Mike Zaytsev, Ed Keating, Solonje Burnett, Mike Ballard, and Jon Lowen
Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era,From the left: Mike Zaytsev, Ed Keating, Solonje Burnett, Mike Ballard, and Jon Lowen

Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era

This month we feature a session from our June 2024 conference that focuses on retail marketing for dispensaries and brands.

This session explores marketing cannabis brands in the digital era. What are the best methods and platforms to market cannabis brands? What are the demographics that guide how cannabis brand owners create campaigns? What works and what does not work to market your brand front and center? What platforms should you spend your marketing dollars on? Should Artificial Intelligence (AI) be figured into your digital marketing budget? How does influencer marketing figure into your digital budget? Hear from experienced dispensary owners on how to secure shelf space for your product, what is driving the marketing for certain products, how a dispensary makes decisions in what products they sell, and what analytics are used.

Moderator: Michael Zaytsev, Academic Director, LIM College

Speakers: Michael Ballard, Vice President Sales, Leafwire; Solonje Burnett, Weed Auntie, Co-Founder and Chief Culture & Community Officer of Erven; Ed Keating, Co-Founder CannaBiz Media; Jon Lowen, Co-CEO, Surfside Media

This session was recorded at CWCBExpo, Javits Convention Center, NYC, on June 6, 2024.

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

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC

HITR #21: Ramon Reyes, Happy Munkey

In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Ramon Reyes, co-founder of Happy Munkey.

Ramon describes the uniqueness of New York City’s cannabis culture, where “flower is still king.” He says local weed quality has improved rapidly since last year, as new indoor strains are being developed. Ramon sees New York as leading cannabis in “every aspect, because it’s just getting better. It just started three years ago, and it’s just getting better.”

Listen as Ramon describes the keys to Happy Munkey’s success, which include creating venues where all people feel they are VIPS, feel they are safe, and can just be themselves.

Don’t miss this discussion of New York City vibes, culture and business.

HITR #20: Renata Serban, Highly Elevated CPA

In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Renata Serban.

Renata Serban is an award-winning cannabis accountant and Founder/CEO of Highly Elevated CPA. Renata Serban has a wide-ranging background in many disciplines, including chemical engineering and finance, making her eminently qualified to advise cannabis entrepreneurs and guide their businesses forward.

Renata, a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant, is driven by a passion to help cannabis businesses start, grow, and thrive. With a unique mix of private and public accounting experience, she has successfully served her clients while advocating for the cannabis industry through state and global organizations.

Renata is excited to see more women entering the cannabis space and breaking down stereotypes. She also discusses the specific obstacles faced by cannabis entrepreneurs, many created by the new business operators themselves, who enter a difficult industry with passionate ideals but without a clearly formulated business plan. She describes the challenges of operating in a highly regulated industry and the lack of specific guidance for accountants. Tune in to learn some fun facts about Renata and hear her thoughts on the future of cannabis—change is coming!

HITR #19: Jane West

In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Jane West.

Jane West is both a leading cannabis activist and CEO of the eponymous lifestyle brand Jane West. KymB refers to West as a true “pilgrim of the plant.” As part of her activism, West founded Women Grow in 2014, a pioneering organization that hosts networking events featuring industry leaders to empower women to succeed and influence the cannabis industry.

West shares her journey as a woman entrepreneur in the cannabis space, the challenges she’s faced, and her vision to make the industry more inclusive for women. From starting all of her businesses as a solo entrepreneur from her home office, to leading a movement, Jane’s story is one of resilience and dedication.

Tune in to hear West’s insights on how to survive as an entrepreneur and advocate in the cannabis space.

HITR #18: Solonje Burnett, The Weed Auntie

In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Solonje Burnett, the “Weed Auntie.”

Solonje is a trailblazing Brooklyn-based entrepreneur and activist in the cannabis space. As a two-time co-founder, first with Humble Bloom, and now as Chief Culture & Community Officer at Erven, Solonje shares her insights on how data and community-driven strategies are shaping the industry.

 

Solonje dives into her passion for self-care, mental health, and creating mindful moments, all while advocating for more diversity and inclusion. Tune in to hear how Solonje is leading the fight for cannabis by putting community first.

Photo by Mara Hoffman

HITR #17: Dharsh Casinathen, Joyleaf

In this episode, KymB gets the “blunt” facts in a candid conversation with Dharshini Casinathen, Co-founder and President of Joyleaf Recreational Weed Dispensary in Roselle, New Jersey.

In this interview, Dharsh shares her personal journey with cannabis, which began in 2018 as a medical patient in New Jersey. After starting her career as a CPA at KPMG Canada and spending over 13 years at PepsiCo, a Fortune 50 company, Dharsh held multiple leadership roles, building a strong foundation in leadership, finance, and operational excellence.

 

In 2020, an exciting opportunity in the cannabis industry arose, and Dharsh fully embraced it, marking the start of her true passion for cannabis. She went on to co-found the Joyleaf Dispensary in New Jersey, where she created a retail space that offers the perfect product for every moment, while actively working to destigmatize the plant. Dharsh talks about her love for selling cannabis and her dedication to providing her customers with the best possible experience and service. She explains how her corporate experience guides her thinking and her methods to surviving as an entrepreneur in a difficult retail environment.

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