Rosie Mattio

Dope piece in BudsFeed featuring Marino. client Ellis Soodak from #VERDI #Cannabis. Always appreciate Ellis for his candor and deep thoughts on the #NY #cannabisindustry. #cannabispr "What is it about VERDI that makes it stand out? Everything about VERDI is a rejection of corporate culture. Rather than reduce people to data points, we strive to learn our customers’ names and greet everyone who comes in warmly. We believe that buying weed legally is a beautiful thing, and we are all blessed to be involved.   What does your typical day look like and what do you enjoy most about your work? What I love about my work is that there are no typical days! Every day is new challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities. What is the biggest change you want to see in the sector? Close the unlicensed shops and get them off of Google Maps! It is one thing to be an underground dealer but having a retail presence on the same block as tax paying, licensed businesses is setting us up to fail!" #cannabiscommunity #MarinoCannabis

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The H.R.2598 - #PREPAREAct of 2023 has a new cosponsor | #cannabis | Bill Name: PREPARE Act of 2023 (Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-prohibition Adult-use Regulated Environment Act) Introduced By: Representative David P. Joyce (R-OH-14) on April 13, 2023 Current Status: Introduced in House, gaining support with 5 cosponsors as of May 21, 2024 Latest Development: Representative Max L. Miller (R-OH-7) became a cosponsor on May 21, 2024 What's this about: The PREPARE Act aims to establish a commission to study and develop a comprehensive framework for federal regulation of #cannabis. It seeks to create a regulatory model similar to those used for alcohol, ensuring effective oversight while addressing the unique aspects of cannabis.

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Martha's Vineyard Is Running Out Of Marijuana There's trouble brewing in Cape Cod, where Martha's Vineyard is in danger of running out of marijuana. Local dispensaries are selling out of their product and are unable to order more, due to a quirk in the state's marijuana laws. While Massachusetts legalized recreational cannabis in 2016, federal laws make it illegal to tranport pot over the ocean - which is a problem since Martha's Vineyard is an island. It's led to a battle with the state's Cannabis Control Commission over whether it should be legal to transport marijuana on state waterways. States like California and Hawaii have dealt with similar issues. Should the federal government make an allowance here? Do you think the federal government will ever fully legalize marijuana nationwide?

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BRĒZ might be the single most intriguing startup in CPG right now. The South Florida based brand (pronounced 'breeze') makes social tonics microdosed with cannabis and mushrooms. THC, CBD, and Lion's mane are all in the mix. “Microdosed mushrooms in a can”. But the liquid is only part of the reason Brez is so fascinating. A few things that stand out: --- 1 / Extreme transparency Founder Aaron Nosbisch posts business results monthly to all social platforms. Revenue, growth metrics, conversation rates, CACs, AOVs, etc. Even net profit margin is posted publicly. Brez just completed its first full year of operations and business is booming. $5.4m in sales p12mo. Incredible. 2 / Unique business model The vast majority of Brez products are sold online. This is an anomaly in the beverage category due to the fact it's ridiculously expensive to ship water direct to consumer. Brez is well equipped to navigate this channel due to two key advantages: productive unit economics and strong performance marketing capabilities. 3 / Uncharted regulatory environment Brez is operating in a confusing legal landscape with contradictory messaging from multiple arms of the US government. The FDA actually investigated the brand earlier this year. Brez passed the compliance check with flying colors...and Aaron posted about the whole thing publicly. Phenomenal. --- I haven't tried the product yet so can't speak to it directly but have to say I LOVE what this team is doing. Few things people are thirstier for these days than transparency, and the Brez team is delivering in spades on that front. Well done Aaron Nosbisch Avin Kline Nick Shackelford #cpg #cannabis #mushrooms #brez #fda 

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#Cannabis Media Council publishes 2024 advertising guidelines report | "The Cannabis Media Council just released its 2024 report titled “Full Spectrum: Guidelines for Responsible Cannabis Advertising” | Green Market Report

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Explore the challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing loans and building legacy as we discuss the application process for micro business licenses. w/ @nycannabisretailassociation Britni Tantalo, MBA & Jayson Tantalo Join us to uncover solutions for achieving social equity in entrepreneurship. #MicroBusiness #SocialEquity #Entrepreneurship #LegacyBuilding #CommunityEmpowerment #MarginalizedVoices #AccessToCapital #BusinessLicensing #EconomicJustice #SmallBusinessChallenges

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New York's chief cannabis regulator got a big shakeup last week. New York State Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander will leave the embattled agency in September when his term ends, after a month-long review ordered after Governor Kathy Hochul called the delayed rollout of legal cannabis in New York disastrous. So, why is this happening now? Who's to blame? Where do we go from here? It seems like the answers to those questions probably depend more on where you stand politically, rather than the reality on the ground. Expansive ideas of using cannabis as a vehicle to lift people out of poverty and help correct the decades-old harms of the War on Drugs on minority communities have crashed into the complicated realities of the rough-and-tumble world of New York politics, a challenging business environment amplified by byzantine regulations guiding the sale and use of cannabis, and a flurry of lawsuits from cannabis companies who say it’s not the government’s job to pick and choose who gets to participate in the free market. There are many reasons why New York's cannabis rollout has been so slow. But I'll go back to what I've been writing: The needs (and spending habits) of regular consumers got lost in the high-minded discussions of social equity and corporations fighting for profits. What do you think? Why are we seeing such a big shakeup in New York cannabis? Has the social equity program been a failure, or are these just growing pains? The latest Cultivated Media hit your inboxes this morning. Subscribe to get in your inbox every day. https://lnkd.in/e4gbEHdU

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In this video, we explore how New York aims to set the benchmark for cannabis industry regulation. w/ @nycannabisretailassociation Britni Tantalo, MBA & Jayson Tantalo Join us as we discuss the trials and triumphs, showcasing how the state is paving the way for others to follow in the evolving landscape of cannabis governance. #CannabisRegulation #NewYorkCannabis #IndustryLeadership #GovernanceStrategy #CannabisCommunity #LegalizationSuccess #InnovationInCannabis #RegulatoryBestPractices #CannabisIndustry #NYLeadership

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It's happening, another instance of mold and fungus causing an issue for consumers. With the cannabis industry changing so rapidly and stricter regulation being put in place, it is obvious that more emphasis needs to be placed on the correcting these issues so contaminated products do not continue to reach the hands of consumers. With the technology available today, like the products offered by SafetyNet in our Enhanced Biosecurity program, there is no reason why cultivators, processors and packaging companies cannot do their part to change their approach and provide clean, quality products to consumers. It is the environmentally responsible thing for the cannabis industry to do and will go a long way towards allowing cannabis to be accepted nationwide as the medical benefits continue to be proven. Check out our offerings at https://lnkd.in/gfwyH5Ui #SafetyNet #Biosecurity #mold #fungus #cleancannabis https://lnkd.in/ey6ZUCTk

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Getting M&A to Pay in Cannabis  Some smart cannabis people believe that rescheduling, profit pressures, new markets and falling rates will trigger a new wave of M&A beginning in Q4 2024.   I’m not so sure, but let’s go with it for now. M&A speculation is a popular cannabis pastime. I won’t let on which MSOs and LPs are dating but some deals are inevitable given market and regulatory dynamics.  Other companies will follow suit because of FOMO. Accordingly, medium-to-large companies can’t afford to neglect M&A in their growth plans. The perennial challenge A healthy majority of all M&A transactions (including cannabis ones) fail to build accretive shareholder value. Two things regularly kibosh deals:  1) the inability of the acquirer to quickly capture expected cost savings & incremental revenues and; 2) a failure to unlock the hoped-for revenue synergies (e.g., cross selling). Most firms pay a lot of attention to choosing the right target, estimating maximum value and negotiating the right price.   However, much less time and effort are devoted to the ‘day after’ the transaction closes. The ‘day after’ is when you need to move quicky and effectively to secure 3 objectives:    i Integrate the firms ii Keep what you purchased iii Reap the financial benefits.  This last objective is where many acquirers’ stumble and fail to achieve target transaction ROI. A better approach Capturing all cost savings, efficiency gains and incremental revenues is about moving quickly with revenue on-boarding, eliminating redundancies and securing scale economies.  It is also about being aggressive yet realistic with your financial milestones and integration plans. Below are 4 of my best practices to help you ‘hit your number.’ 1. Set your deal price based on the most probable value outcome Many companies set their transactional prices based on what they can afford to pay.  Determining the achievable value is given short shrift or is heavily reliant on unrealistic market or pricing assumptions. To reduce risk, your estimated financial benefit should be discounted 30% as a safety margin.  Paying less goes a long way in doing better deals. 2. Forget synergies Revenue synergies are hard to realize so consider them the cherry on the sundae.   Your transaction’s attainable financial value should be enough to warrant moving ahead. 3. Have an ambitious payback period. Time hurts deal ROI and delays incremental cash flows. Insist on a 12 mo. payback period, or 18 mo. at the latest.  Suffice to say you will need to be ready with a solid integration plan and team at deal closing. 4. Build integration capability Post-acquisition integration is a learned competency.  Companies can get better at M&A when they inculcate learnings, develop repeatable practices and centralize expertise. 🔔 Hit that follow bell to always get my unique, impactful content #cannabisindustry #mergersandacquisitions #cannabis #growth #dealmaking #MSOs #LPs

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It is unbelievable that the "great" so-called public health groups like the cancer society and lung society would be dismayed by allowing more appealing vape products on the market. I'm appalled at their disinformation campaigns and misuse of data in youth vaping (yes, the way they show numbers on youth vaping is purposefully deceitful) to hinder the ability of the massively larger number of adult smokers switching to flavoured vapes and improving their health by using 95-98% less harmful nicotine products. I cannot believe we THR activists have to fight this misinformation from groups who should absolutely, without question, be on our side. It raises the question of their motives in this facade. It seems all governments and cigarette-tax-funded health groups are happily jumping on board whatever the Bloomberg-funded WHO FCTC group tells them to do, regardless of human lives.

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Absolutely astounded that Prohibition Partners have chosen to give a platform to Peter Hitchens at the upcoming Cannabis Europa. I’m all for welcoming lively and robust debate, the world would be a dull place if we all shared the same views, but I’m certain they could have found a more palatable opponent to cannabis reform than this man. First and foremost, Hitchens has an incredible track record of refusing to entertain any counter arguments to his views. His ignorance betrays his intelligence, and he’s known for not only dismissing legitimate uses of cannabis but also being rude to people for whom cannabis has saved lives. This isn’t a man who is interested in ‘debate’ - it’s a man who has already closed his mind to cannabis having any medicinal value already. With so much focus on the struggle to increase patient numbers in the medical industry, why would you give a spotlight to a man who would rather have patients die than access medicine? He regularly spouts deeply misogynistic nonsense. Dismissing assault by men against women, writing in The Spectator that women aren’t funny, suggesting women being able to work and divorce is the downfall of society etc. He is also vocally against same-sex marriage and has expressed downright homophobic views such as you can’t be a Tory and be gay. I know Peter Reynolds will do the cannabis cause a great service in challenging Hitchens in public, and I understand the motivation behind the debate, but personally I feel very uncomfortable that the cannabis industry is platforming a man with such extreme, bigoted views. This platforming won’t open up conversation, it’ll alienate vast swathes of the patient community. Surely we can do better?

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Hey #cannabisindustry Here's a new BREAKING story for WeedWeek subscribers -- Glass House Brands Inc. drops defamation suit against Catalyst Cannabis Co. Free to read at the link in the comments and then share your thoughts below

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ICYMI: Dope piece on Spectrum News featuring two Marino. clients - Cannabis Association of New York and Empire Cannabis Manufacturers Alliance! As the supply chain struggles to keep up, NY's #cannabis growers continue to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to take action and sign key bills to protect #smallbusinesses and support the growth of a sustainable #cannabismarket. With the industry still in its infancy, legislation can make or break these farmers—local cultivators are the backbone of this emerging sector. From stabilizing the #supplychain to ensuring equitable opportunities, it’s vital to ensure our #cannabisindustry thrives by addressing the needs of these growers. "Cannabis growers and processors want Gov. Kathy Hochul to act quickly on several bills to fix issues in New York's recreational marijuana industry amid recent concerns about a dwindling supply chain and increased sales. The governor has until the end of the year to sign or veto hundreds of bills that passed both houses of the Legislature, but license holders across the industry argue time is of the essence for related policy changes to take effect as the legal market struggles to get off the ground." #CannabisCommunity #NYCannabis #CannabisGrowers #CannabisPolicy #CannabisPR

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Which cannabis brand do I think will be one of the most attractive to Big Pharma and CPG when the TSUNAMI of M&A arrives? LEVELS Protabs. These discreet little pills were so far ahead of the game and are a glimpse at what cannabis COULD be. → Research-driven → Effect-based formulations → From a credible team of product developers Here's why I'm such a huge fan and you should be too. →→ THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE Since day 1, Chris Emerson, Ph.D. and his wife have been focused on creating a pharma/CPG level product. Chris is a REAL scientist. He earned a degree in Organic Chemistry and Molecular Biology from Stanford University. Chris (and his TEAM) have pushed the envelope in the area of effects-based cannabis products. They’ve used cannabinoids and terpenoids in ratios not found in the plant alone. What dosist got WRONG, LEVELS got RIGHT. →→ EXCELLENT PRODUCTS LEVEL is one of the more progressive and innovative companies I know in cannabis. I LOVE the products. They have six different tab formulations. They use 9 different cannabinoids in many different ratios, each formulated for a specific effect. They're pakaged in small boxes, which look like any other pill which you would get in a pharmacy. Because of: → The effects → The packaging → The novelty of the formulations I think LEVELS is the perfect acquisition for Big Pharma or CPG looking to enter the industry. →→ COMMUNITY & RESEARCH Chris is a US Army vet. LEVELS has gone out of its way to bring cannabinoid medicine to this community. They launched the first clinical study to determine whether CBG can help veterans sleep better. LEVEL supports The Registry, which is amassing one of the world’s largest data sets of clinical evidence on the health benefits of cannabis. LEVEL is also cosponsoring a study with the University of Michigan and Releaf on the efficacy of cannabis for managing chronic pain related to:  → Fibromyalgia → Osteoarthritis → Rheumatoid arthritis → And overall quality of life — This is one of the groundbreaking companies I’d hoped to see more of in the industry. They're also great people who I have a lot of respect for. Have you tried LEVELS before? Share your thoughts and some love for their bold innovation.

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Dope piece in NY Cannabis Insider featuring Ellis Soodak from #VERDI #Cannabis dropping some knowledge about the similarities and, more importantly, the differences between alcohol and cannabis. It's true that many states model their #cannabislaws after their regulated alcohol market - but its not apples to apples. This is a must read. #cannabispr "If we are going to be regulating the two industries in similar ways, we should be honest about the inherent differences between cannabis and alcohol...On the business-side, the two are different in one key way: long-term storage and expiration dates. Alcohol is sold in large containers that take up a lot of space. Cannabis is much more compact with hundreds of thousands of dollars of product occupying just one room. Additionally, alcohol often gains value over time, whereas cannabis goes bad fairly quickly in comparison...Because of this, cannabis purchasers must be wary of over-purchasing products that then expire before being sold. Since expiring products are bad for everyone, regulations pertaining to cannabis should target volume restrictions, especially minimum order quantities and large-volume discounts." #cannabiscommunity #MarinoCannabis

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📊 New data from BDSA reveals a fascinating trend: Daily cannabis consumption now exceeds daily alcohol consumption in the U.S.! 🍃📈 However, it's not the beverages driving this shift. Despite a growing market, cannabis beverages still only make up a small fraction of total sales: ▶Q1 2024 Sales: $50M ▶ Share of Edibles Market: 6% ▶Share of Total Cannabis Sales: 1% In contrast, cannabis gummies dominate the edibles scene, with 75% of consumers enjoying them over the past 6 months, compared to just 8% for carbonated beverages or teas. 🔍 Key Insights: ▶73% of adults in adult-use states have either tried or are open to trying cannabis. ▶51% of inhalable cannabis consumers use it more than once a day. ▶By 2026, 62% of U.S. adults will have access to adult-use cannabis, potentially opening the market to 80 million consumers. The cannabis market is expanding rapidly, and consumer participation is on the rise. Are you ready to tap into this growing industry? #CannabisIndustry #MarketTrends #CannabisBeverages #Edibles #BDSA #ConsumerInsights #CannabisGrowth

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