Mark Collins MBA

Good morning California Cannabis Industry, Today, in the economic evolution of cannabinoids (both cannabis and help), there's one question remaining: WHO WON THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.  

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This report outlines some of the reasons for the failure of Los Angeles’ social #equity #cannabis licensing program. This is not a single-issue problem, but among the top reasons cited for the failure is the proliferation of unregulated shops. The NJCEA - New Jersey Cannabis Equity Association advocates for parity in regulation for the intoxicant THC, whether it is sourced from hemp or cannabis. This is an equity issue. https://lnkd.in/erAa2xpE

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🚨 Important Announcement 🚨 The New York Cannabis Advisory Board will be holding a crucial meeting on August 20th. We at The Black Institute and Black Institute Group believe it's essential for everyone in the cannabis space to attend. This is your opportunity to learn where funding for community investments is headed and to discuss what new policies should be implemented to ensure that these investments benefit our communities. Don’t miss out on this important conversation! 💬💼 #CannabisCommunity #NYCannabis #CommunityInvestment #TheBlackInstitute #CannabisPolicy #Advocacy

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As the cannabis industry matures, we are starting to get reliable data. This can help make decisions based on real sales figures and not predictions. 10 years ago, there was only one state with adult use sales (#colorado) and a handful of states with medical seals. Now there is 24 sates with adult use sales and an additional 15 states with medical seals. At the moment #california leads with total seals but #michigan leads with per capita seals. #florida leads in medical seals. #missouri with a relatively small population and only 17 months since they launched their adult-use market, is already in fifth place. Thank you Debra Borchardt from Green Market Report for the financial update. #cannabisindustry #cannabiscommunity #cannabisnews #cannabiseducation #cannabispolicy #cannbislaw https://lnkd.in/gc96gcCh

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Adaptability is Key to Business Survival In March 2020, I was in Anaheim for the Natural Products Expo West—one of the biggest and most anticipated tradeshows we attend each year. After months of preparation, this event typically accounts for nearly a quarter of incremental annual revenue. I had just spent the day connecting with colleagues, clients, and picking up my badge when I received an unexpected call: "Did you hear? They cancelled Expo West." Orange County had declared a state of emergency. As I sat in my Airbnb, my thoughts immediately went to the logistics—telling my team not to board their flights, and then the bigger question: What would this mean for our business? How could we protect our revenue? Then, I began to consider potential consulting opportunities that might arise from this sudden shift. A few days later, as I boarded my flight home, I noticed something that planted the seed for our pivot—people wearing masks. This was before mask mandates, but it got me thinking about regulated products like masks, gloves, thermometers, hand sanitizers, and disinfectants. 💡 These items are classified as medical devices, NHPs, and drugs, all within our regulatory wheelhouse of service offerings. We swiftly assembled a new marketing strategy, brought in a medical device regulatory expert, and within weeks, our focus shifted. While food and cosmetic compliance inquiries and service requests slowed down, medical device services took off, and that year we achieved our best revenue to date—up 40% from the previous year. If you're a business owner, staying nimble is crucial. Whether it’s an economic downturn, new government regulations, a competitor coming into the market, commodity prices have skyrocketed or a global pandemic, being prepared to pivot ensures you remain relevant and in business. It’s not just about understanding your industry; it’s about staying in tune with the broader world and economy. #businessstrategy #pivot #adaptability #resilience #leadership #entrepreneurship #regulatorycompliance

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Compliance and Success with 4LeafConsulting In California's burgeoning cannabis industry, compliance with intricate regulations is crucial for success. Led by Toni Forge, a seasoned expert with over two decades of legal and business experience, 4LeafConsulting offers tailored solutions to ensure your CannaBusiness meets regulatory requirements while thriving in the competitive market. From initial consultations covering federal, state, and local regulations to detailed compliance reviews, licensing assistance, and operational support, their holistic approach addresses every facet of establishing and maintaining a compliant cannabis venture. Beyond legalities, they provide guidance on entity formation, human resources, tax implications, security, and branding strategies. With a proactive stance and a network of trusted advisors, 4LeafConsulting equips clients to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities in California's dynamic cannabis landscape, setting the stage for sustainable growth and success. 4LeafConsulting Website: https://lnkd.in/djvctdBJ #CannabisCompliance #CaliforniaCannabis #CannabisConsulting #CannaBusinessSuccess #LegalExperts #CannabisRegulations #GrowYourBusiness #CannabisIndustry #BusinessConsulting #CannabisLegalAdvice

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Looking to enhance your brand portfolio? Consider integrating Blue Sky #Hemp #products! Here's why: 1️⃣ Turnkey White/Private Label Solutions: Seamless integration into your brand with our customizable options. 2️⃣ Nutrient Powerhouse: Hemp packs a punch with protein, omega-3s and 6s, antioxidants, zinc, and iron, offering wholesome goodness to your consumers. 3️⃣ Versatility: From baking ingredients to skincare lotions, our hemp seeds, oil, and protein can elevate a diverse range of products, catering to various consumer needs. 4️⃣ Eco-Friendly: Embrace sustainability with hemp! It enriches soil, detoxifies, sequesters CO2, and demands minimal resources, aligning with environmentally conscious values without any greenwashing. Choose Blue Sky Hemp for quality, sustainability, and versatility in your brand offerings! 🌿 https://lnkd.in/gKdbGz3i

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The cannabis companies that ‘WIN’ in 2025 and beyond will have these five things in common: 1) They understand the scale that they are trying to achieve and their entire operation is appropriately focused based on that scale. -Local companies need to market and connect locally (in an extremely authentic way) while focusing on profitable, sustainable revenue streams that are mostly consumer driven. -Statewide companies need to do the hard math and modeling to understand what realistic growth means for them. Set specific growth targets based on achieveable modeling. Too many statewide brands operate, market and spend like a national brand, and it will cost them in the end. -National brands must focus on lean profitability and maintain a highly targeted approach to their spending, despite a world that may seem like it has limitless customers. 2) They don’t try to do it all. Developing mastery and economies of scale in specific sectors, while building strong partnerships in the rest of the market, is the model for success in the years to come. The great companies from 2025-Federal Legalization will seek out expansion via truly strategic partnerships (and careful aquisitions) while the mediocre companies attempt to do it all themselves. The largest, best capitalized MSOs will be buying up statewide and regional businesse with lean, focused, positive-cashflow operations, which solve specific problems in their infrastructure. 3) They are building a business that is designed for the New World of Cannabis, and the Era of Commercialization. -We aren’t trappers anymore. -Hitting licks can only take you so far. -Weed is a CPG product. -THCA is sold openly online and in gas stations. -D9 Bevs and Gummies are sold in some of the deepest red states. -Weed by mail is probably here to stay. -Mushrooms are legal in various cities and states. -Consumer trust in a brand is the most valuable asset in the industry. No matter their scale, the companies that win in the next five years will integrate themselves into the new ways consumers interact with and purchase cannabis…. (Online, DTC, Low-Dose, Mixed Nootropic, Bev, Smoke Shop/Gas Station, Mass Market, Seshes, N.A. bars/lounges, add-on dispensary licenses) 4) They build continuous feedback loops with their customers. The great brands and companies that succeed into the 2030’s will have a deep, data-based understanding of their consumers at all levels. Brands must understand the buying criteria of the stores that carry them as well as the buying criteria of the consumers that drive sell-through. The very best will encourage a rewarding consumer engagement loop that directly influences operational decision making. 5) They just don’t quit. (In fact, they continue to innovate, pivot, and understand that at the end of the day, their business is change). A lot of cannabis operators will quit in the next five years. In all business, but especially in cannabis, sometimes it’s just about being there tomorrow.

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The upcoming Benzinga California Cannabis Market Spotlight in Anaheim is set to address significant challenges and changes facing California's cannabis industry. Declining legal sales, marked by the lowest figures since 2020 at $1.2 billion, are primarily due to high taxes, strict regulations, and competition from an illicit market. Additionally, California faces potential policy changes like a proposed excise tax increase from 15% to 19% by 2025. To combat illegal operations, Governor Gavin Newsom's task force has seized over $61 million in unlicensed products and eradicated 62,000 plants in 2024. Upcoming legislation, Assembly Bill 2223, could further affect the market by integrating hemp and regulating synthetic cannabinoids. The event aims to offer a platform for industry leaders to discuss these issues, explore investment opportunities, and consider the impact of California’s cannabis policies on global markets. https://lnkd.in/gDT5CVha

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Q4 2024 U.S. Cannabis Earnings: What’s Driving Growth? The cannabis industry continues to evolve, and recent Q4 earnings show promising signs of growth across the U.S. market. The latest analysis from Cannabis Risk Manager dives deep into what’s fueling this momentum, from shifting consumer trends to innovations in product development and regulatory advancements. The article provides a clear snapshot of where the cannabis industry is headed and the factors impacting its growth trajectory. For anyone in the sector—whether operators, investors, or enthusiasts—it’s a must-read to understand the market dynamics shaping 2024 and beyond. Read the full analysis here: Q4 2024 U.S. Cannabis Earnings: What’s Driving Growth? #CannabisIndustry #CannabisEarnings #Q42024 #Growth #hemp #Cannabis #Market #CannabisBusiness #IndustryInsights #Hemp #Economy #Compliance https://lnkd.in/gK2Rws7W

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Lowell Farms is expanding its presence in California's cannabis market by taking on the management of two Los Angeles dispensaries, Rose Collective in Venice and Sunnyside Collective in Westwood. Through a management services agreement, Lowell Farms' subsidiary assumed operational control on October 1, with an option to acquire equity ownership in the future. The company sees this move as a step towards vertical integration, aiming to improve efficiency and profit margins while enhancing customer experiences. Lowell's expansion comes amid financial challenges, including a 50% year-over-year revenue decline in the second quarter and ongoing struggles in California's competitive cannabis market. https://lnkd.in/geUbGGnd

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What risks could #cannabis businesses face in 2025? Get insights to help you stay ahead of the curve on emerging challenges in this webinar. https://bit.ly/41iyDr5

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Marcum’s Neil Prasad and Martin Martinez discuss the future of #taxdeductions for the #cannabisindustry for MJBiz. Click to read the article. #AskMarcum #CannabisBusiness

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In the spotlight: Kate Biggs, Sr. Director of Ads at LeafLink talks with MyCannabis.com about the power of B2B advertising and what it brings to the table. ✅ Cultivate brand recognition among potential customers ✅ Capitalize on impressions that generate revenue ✅ Get better data insights with ad performance reporting after each campaign including total impressions, total clicks and click through rate, new customer acquisition, and return on ads spend (ROAS) Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eymNZagy

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Four important cannabis bills are on Gov. Gavin Newsom desk. Make sure to use the links below to write to him and urge him to sign. AB 1775 (Haney) – Cal NORML is sponsoring this bill, which would allow cannabis businesses to prepare and sell noncannabis, nonalcoholic food and drinks in a “cannabis café” model boosting both the industry and the consumer experiences. A similar bill was vetoed by Gov. Newsom last year, citing concerns about worker safety that have been addresses in amendments this year. https://lnkd.in/g96i6zjf AB 2555 (Quirk-Silva) – to renew tax-free cannabis compassion programs for indigent patients, which were put into place with SB 34 (Wiener, 2019) and set to expire next year. Cal NORML supports this effort. https://lnkd.in/gyh8zcf8 SB 1059 (Bradford) – would prohibit a city or county from including in the definition of gross receipts, for purposes of any local tax or fee on a licensed cannabis retailer, the amount of any cannabis excise tax imposed under the Cannabis Tax Law or any sales and use taxes. https://lnkd.in/gWJK6PU5 AB 1111 (Pellerin) – would require the DCC to issue small producer event sales licenses that authorize the licenseholder to sell cannabis or cannabis products, containing cannabis cultivated by that licensee, at a limited number of state-licensed cannabis events. This bill secured its required 2/3 vote with Cal NORML’s help. https://lnkd.in/gedBu5px Thank you California NORML for the information and the Action Network links. #cannabisindustry #cannabiscommunity #cannabisnews #cannabiseducation #cannabispolicy #cannbislaw #cannabiscultivation https://lnkd.in/gdPBNSGf

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Want to learn how to do #BrandingLikeABoss? 🎓 Beard Bros Pharms and Angela Pih have teamed up to talk with the most authentically outspoken thought leaders in the #cannabisindustry. Here's a short highlight from the first episode with Author David Paleschuck. 📚 Branding Bud: The Commercialization of Cannabis 📚Cannabis vs Marijuana: Language, Landscape and Context 🖥️ If you missed it, you can watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/grbZCyqY 👀 Keep an eye on our social media for the next episode.

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