Rhode Island’s Top Lawmakers Say Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill Will Pass Next Year

Another dynamic year in the cannabis industry is coming to a close, and there’s certainly no shortage of themes and narratives and characters to look back on for a sense of all that’s happened. Here, the CBT editors provide some thoughts on their favorite stories of 2021. 

A Democrat-controlled Senate didn’t bring forth meaningful federal cannabis policy reform in 2021, as many legalization proponents thought it might in the beginning of the year. But what 2021 brought the industry is a new a new face on Capitol Hill and a new hope that ending prohibition doesn’t have to be red versus blue. When South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, a freshman U.S. House member, unveiled the States Reform Act (SRA) on Nov. 15, the legislation garnered support from industry advocates, small businesses, veterans, law enforcement, farmers and the like. Not only does SRA’s proposed 3% cannabis excise tax offer a lower option than what Senate Democrats have proposed (25%), but it also moves to put the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in charge of federal regulation for cannabis products in interstate commerce—two attractive elements for many industry leaders offering feedback on reform. As the MORE Act hasn’t captivated the same attention as it did when first introduced in 2019, and as Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer, N.Y., Ron Wyden, Ore., and Cory Booker, N.J., have sat on officially filing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which they first talked up in February, a young, southern Republican may be the spark needed to push federal cannabis policy reform forward. 

-Tony Lange, Associate Editor 

Cannabis Policy Proposals: Pros and Cons  

As adult-use cannabis legalization continues to spread across individual U.S. states, the industry is left wondering if – or perhaps more accurately, when – a federal legalization bill might become a reality. In the meantime, however, Cannabis Business Times columnist and industry legend Ken Morrow notes some key considerations to make when it comes to cannabis legalization, offering his perspective on how regulatory decisions made today can ultimately impact the shape of the U.S. cannabis industry. “We don’t need any more bad laws on the books,” Morrow writes in his August 2021 column, Tomorrow in Cannabis.  

– Zach Mentz, Senior Editor 

In CBT’s April cover story, Freelancer Jolene Hansen, dives into how Melinda Rombouts, founder and CEO of Ontario-based cannabis cultivator Eve & Co., turned a “120,000-square-foot ornamental greenhouse into a 1-million-square-foot, publicly traded, international cannabis operation by harnessing an untapped market,”—women cannabis consumers. In 2018, Eve & Co. launched as a women-centric brand. Through internal market research, the company discovered that women make up most of Canada’s cannabis consumers. Despite concerns from advisors about the company’s strong female focus, Rombouts and her team “held their ground,” Hansen wrote. “We decided we were going to go after women like us and make sure they got from cannabis what they were looking for,” Rombouts said.  

– Andriana Ruscitto, Associate Editor 

I had the pleasure of listening to the entirety of this conversation between two Hawaiian cannabis cultivation business operators. Noah Phillips, chief compliance officer for Hawaiian Ethos, based on the Big Island, and TY Cheng, president of Aloha Green Apothecary, which operates on O‘ahu, interviewed each other about their unique challenges and opportunities operating in The Aloha State. 

What stood out to me most during the more than 2-hour chat was the thought and care both companies have continued to put into sustainability efforts. To them, operating a business also comes with the responsibility of being a steward. As Cheng said in the May 2021 cover story, “All our shores surround us, the water that’s around us is very important to us. Not only does it provide habitat to the local fish that we consume, it’s also the playground for our children and for ourselves. So, we’ve got to be really careful not to upset that balance and that ecosystem.” 

As Associate Editor Tony Lange explains in this feature from early in the year, the small town of Ontario, Ore., grossed $91.7 million in 2020 to take over the “Highest County” title in Oregon after local voters overturned a ban on cannabis sales. One important bit of context: Ontario shares a border with the state of Idaho, which of course has maintained the illegal status of cannabis. This bit of legal tension is not unique to Ontario, but the economic and cultural dynamics in this little corner of Oregon make for a fascinating microcosm of the inch-by-inch maturation of the market. The town’s reputation has developed in tandem with the ongoing normalization and sophistication of the cannabis industry out West. Snoop Dogg even dropped by for a surprise concert celebrating the opening of Hotbox Farms, an intriguing anecdote that Tony captures in his piece. 

 – Eric Sandy, Digital Editor 

“If you don’t love it, you’re not going to be successful at it. Period,” shares Ball Family Farms’ CEO Chris Ball with Senior Editor Zach Mentz for the October 2021 issue of Cannabis Business Times. This rings true for any line of work, but is especially poignant for cannabis industry professionals—who face mounting regulatory challenges, constantly evolving market pressures, high start-up and operations costs, fierce competition, and more. An important reminder for small businesses entering new markets, as well as those up against increasingly difficult market conditions in more established markets, like California.  

The Ball Family Farms story sparks the “What’s next?” conversation as it relates to the true success of social equity-licensed operations. As the article explains, BFF didn’t receive outside resources (like legal guidance, fee waivers, consultation, etc.) beyond the license itself to help establish the business. “You have to have no money to qualify [for a social equity license], [but] somehow magically find millions of dollars to operate. … In what world does that happen?” shared BFF COO Ebony Andersen.  

-Cassie Tomaselli, Contributing Editor  

As an editor, there are certain interviews, articles, people and experiences that continue to impact you long after they take place. Working on the inaugural Cannabis Leadership Awards and the accompanying profiles on the six awards recipients was that kind of experience for me.  

The awards recognize cannabis cultivation and retail professionals who inspire and empower those around them and work to better the industry and their communities. Our editorial team worked diligently to tell each recipient’s very personal story of their entrance into cannabis, what has driven their personal and career development, challenges they have overcome, and the ways that they strive to be forces for good within their companies, their communities and the industry. We interviewed the recipients at great length, but also interviewed recipients’ colleagues, friends, and even family members–and this special supplement became my favorite collection of stories this year.  

The profiles are inspiring, motivating and often emotional, and certainly not short on leadership advice. It was such a positive experience to meet these impressive leaders and celebrate their selfless achievements in the pages of this Cannabis Business Times supplement and in-person at the Cannabis Leadership Awards Reception at the Cannabis Conference 2021 in Las Vegas.   

-Noelle Skodzinski, Editorial Director