Cannabis has long been judged at the point of cultivation. Genetics, lighting, nutrients, and environmental controls dominate the conversation. Yet the final character of the plant, its flavor, stability, and commercial value, is determined after it leaves the grow room.

David Sandelman, CTO and co-founder of Cannatrol, has spent his career working in industries where that reality is taken for granted. Wine, cheese, and dry-aged meats are defined by post-harvest discipline. Cannabis, he argues, is still catching up.

“A winery is basically all about post-harvest,” Sandelman said. “That industry spends 90 plus capital on building a winery post-harvest. And then we get into cannabis, and it’s an afterthought in the closet very often.”

That imbalance is beginning to shift as legal markets mature. The consumer is becoming more discerning. Operators are facing tighter margins and the science behind drying, curing, and storage is moving from intuition to repeatable systems.

Food Science to Cannabis

Cannatrol’s origin story sits outside the traditional cannabis arc. Sandelman and his team began as engineers working in food science.

“We originally developed a technology for the cheese industry, which then moved into charcuterie and dry aged meats,” he said. “It was that aha moment. Gee, would this work for a cannabis flower?”

The underlying principles translated directly. Shelf stability, moisture migration, and water activity govern whether a product holds its quality or degrades. Cannabis flower presents the same variables, just in a different form factor.

The first prototype was a test, but the response was immediate.

“And a week or two later, they said, ‘This is some of the finest flower they ever produced,’” according to Sandelman.

That feedback triggered a deeper dive into the mechanics of post-harvest cannabis. Terpene retention, trichome integrity, and yield preservation became measurable outcomes, eschewing anecdotal claims based on taste tests only.

Controlling the Variables

Traditional cannabis drying relies on environmental cycling. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers remove moisture in bursts, often overshooting the target. Operators intervene manually, moving product, burping containers, or adjusting conditions to avoid overdrying or mold.

Sandelman sees that process as fundamentally unstable.

“Every time they cycle on, the vapor pressure drops, it removes moisture from the product, and that’s a continuous process,” he said. “If you leave the flower in a room with air conditioners and dehumidifiers, it’s going to dry it to dust.”

Cannatrol’s approach centers on maintaining constant vapor pressure. Instead of forcing moisture out, the system allows the flower to reach equilibrium.

“What we do is we maintain a constant vapor pressure in the space so that it’s constantly drying until it gets to equilibrium and then stops drying because it’s at equilibrium,” he explained.

The Economics of Moisture

Cannabis, like cheese and meat, is sold by weight. Every percentage point of moisture lost beyond the optimal range is product that cannot be sold.

“If you overdry the product, you degrade the quality… and also you’re losing revenue,” Sandelman said. “That’s money coming right off your top line.”

This is where engineering and economics merge. A controlled dry and cure process protects both the sensory profile and the bottom line. The industry is starting to recognize that connection, particularly as margins tighten and competition increases across mature markets.

Rethinking Standards

One of the more technical, and consequential, debates in cannabis regulation centers on how product stability is measured.

Most jurisdictions rely on percent moisture. Sandelman argues that metric is insufficient.

“Definitely the percent moisture should be done away with, and it should just be about water activity because it’s water activity that determines when mold and microbes can grow,” he said.

Water activity measures the availability of free water that can support microbial growth. It is a standard used across food science. In cannabis, it offers a more accurate picture of shelf stability.

“What we’re finding and learning is that the percent moisture will vary based on the cultivar,” he added.

That variability creates risk. A one-size-fits-all moisture target can lead to underdrying in one strain and overdrying in another. Water activity provides a consistent benchmark across cultivars. As legal markets mature, these kinds of technical adjustments are likely to shape both compliance frameworks and product quality.

The conversation around post-harvest inevitably loops back to the industry’s origins. Before legalization, quality control was inconsistent at best. Storage conditions were unknown and contaminants were common.

“Let’s go back to the old days when you were getting bricks out of Mexico with stems, seeds, twigs, and everything else,” Sandelman said. “Who knows what kind of chemicals they were using… you had no idea.”

Legalization has introduced testing, traceability, and baseline standards. The product is cleaner, safer, and more consistent.

Read more: Electric Haze: Why Real Sativas Refuse to Rush

Extending Quality to Retail

Packaging is only one step in post-harvest. Storage at the retail level is emerging as a critical control point.

“You would never manufacture ice cream and then ship it to a retailer who leaves them out on the shelf in a non-refrigerated space,” Sandelman said.

Cannabis has historically done just that. Product moves through distribution and sits in dispensary vaults under inconsistent conditions. By the time it reaches the consumer, the original quality has degraded. Controlled storage systems are starting to close that gap.

“When I buy the same flower from the same producer at other dispensaries, it isn’t as good as when I buy it at your dispensary,” Sandelman recalled from customer feedback.

That observation reframes the retail environment as part of the production chain. Quality is maintained, or lost, all the way to the point of sale.

A More Informed Consumer

For years, the cannabis market has been driven by a single number. THC percentage dominated packaging, marketing, and purchasing decisions. That is finally beginning to change.

“The consumer is going to get away from, ‘give me your highest THC,’” Sandelman said. “People are going to start understanding the terpene profile, flavor, taste, a lot more.”

This shift aligns with broader trends in food and beverage. Consumers are moving toward complexity, nuance, and experience. Cannabis is following a similar trajectory. Post-harvest plays a central role in that evolution. Terpenes are volatile and flavor is fragile. Without controlled drying and storage, those attributes degrade quickly.

As consumers become more educated, the market will reward operators who can preserve those characteristics.

Scaling Across Markets

Cannatrol’s recent expansion into Europe, partnering with Dutch Garden Supplies highlights adaptability as another dimension of post-harvest technology. Germany’s social club model favors smaller-scale cultivation. Other markets may lean toward medical production under strict GMP standards. Each framework requires different infrastructure.

“Each country is going to be different how they roll out,” Sandelman said.

The common thread is consistency. Whether the system is serving a home grower or a pharmaceutical-grade facility, the expectation is the same. The product should perform predictably.

That expectation is pushing the industry toward standardized processes, even as regulations vary across jurisdictions.

Source link

When Calyx Peak Companies decided to scale its cannabis operations across multiple states, it knew that technology would be the foundation—not an afterthought. The company, known for brands like Smackers and Pinchy’s and for its flagship cultivation facility in Missouri, turned to Netverta to design the infrastructure that would support its ambitious growth. What began as a small advisory role has evolved into a multi-year strategic partnership reshaping the operational backbone of one of the most forward-thinking cannabis operators in the country.

A Meeting of Minds—and Markets

Netverta and Calyx Peak were first connected by a mutual industry executive, a typical origin story in what Mike Cote, Managing Partner at Netverta, calls “a very small world” when it comes to cannabis.

“The initial engagement was to simply come in as a technology advisor and help get the ‘house’ in order a bit,” said Cote. “Calyx Peak was facing the same technology challenges that you’d expect from any fast-growing, startup business, so we took a practical approach to designing the systems they needed—always with scalability in mind.”

That foundational alignment quickly turned into something much more robust. Calyx wasn’t just looking for an IT contractor; they needed a long-term solutions partner who could help them expand into new territories without starting from scratch every time.

“It was made very clear that the owners wanted a solutions partner, not just a technology vendor,” said Cote. “We were on the same page with Calyx’s ownership team when it came to their vision.”

Infrastructure Meets Innovation

Netverta brought decades of retail technology and physical infrastructure experience to the table—skills that translated seamlessly into the cannabis space. With hundreds of retail build-outs under their belt, the team didn’t just install tech—they built the foundation.

“Cannabis tech infrastructure isn’t just about point-of-sale or surveillance,” Cote explained. “It’s compliance. It’s security. It’s redundancy. It’s being ready to respond to whatever a state regulator or market change throws at you.”

Netverta’s approach includes comprehensive seed-to-sale tracking systems, redundant network failovers, and vast video surveillance networks capable of storing terabytes of data—all tailored to the specific regulations of each state.

Even logistics vehicles aren’t overlooked. “Fleet vehicles transporting product may require compliant infrastructure and video retention,” said Cote. “Every piece of the operation has to be connected and accountable.”

The Smithville Cultivation Center

Perhaps the most impressive example of this partnership is Calyx Peak’s 82,000-square-foot cultivation and extraction facility in Smithville, Missouri. The build-out began with Netverta embedded in the blueprinting phase—an advantage that allowed for a truly integrated infrastructure.

“Think of it like building a home,” said Cote. “If the foundation is poorly constructed, the entire house suffers. We ensured the technology foundation could support rapid expansion without structural stress.”

That foundation now supports a fully connected cultivation operation. Environmental controls, irrigation systems, and lighting cycles are all digitally monitored and adjusted through a centralized system. Wireless connectivity blankets the facility, enabling AI-driven monitoring for both plant health and security anomalies.

“Technology is in every aspect of the cultivation center,” Cote added. “We designed it not just to support today’s operations, but to be future-proof for tomorrow’s expansions.”

The Power of Scalability

Howard Keum, CEO of Calyx Peak, credits the early tech investment with helping streamline growth as the company expanded from California to Missouri and Massachusetts.

“Because Netverta helped us build a scalable, compliant system from day one, we’re able to expand without rethinking everything every time we enter a new state,” Keum said. “That kind of foresight saves time, money, and a lot of headaches.”

With cannabis regulation differing widely between states, the tech stack had to be both standardized and adaptable. Netverta leaned into cloud-based cannabis software solutions with customizable workflows and built-in compliance updates.

“These platforms help reduce guesswork,” said Cote. “They evolve as state laws change, ensuring operations are always aligned with the latest requirements.”

Smart Facilities, Smarter Surveillance

While compliance is a priority, Netverta also brings cutting-edge innovation to the table. The firm is currently integrating AI-based video analytics that pair surveillance systems with 3D image recognition software. The goal? Real-time anomaly detection, loitering alerts, unauthorized access notifications, and more.

“Enhanced cybersecurity is becoming the new standard,” said Cote. “We’re deploying threat intelligence feeds, behavioral analysis, automated patching, and multi-factor authentication across our partners’ systems.”

The smart facility features extend to every corner of Calyx Peak’s operations—helping the company monitor everything from employee access to HVAC performance.

Back-End Technology Driving Front-End Success

While infrastructure lays the groundwork, it’s the data flowing through these systems that gives Calyx Peak an edge in product distribution and branding.

“With inventory and seed-to-sale systems integrated across states, we’re able to spot trends in real time,” said Keum. “We can shift supply to meet demand, fine-tune our retail experience, and make informed decisions about our in-house brands.”

That includes tailoring product distribution strategies for their flagship brands, Smackers and Pinchy’s, across more than 150 dispensaries served by their Missouri hub.

“Customer analytics help us understand who’s buying what, where, and why,” Keum added. “That kind of insight is invaluable when building consumer loyalty in a crowded market.”

Also Read: Last Week in Weed: May 27- June 3, 2025

What’s Next for Netverta

With cannabis tech evolving at a breakneck pace, Netverta isn’t slowing down. The team is currently piloting new AI-driven features and exploring further integrations with security, CRM, and direct-to-consumer tools.

“It’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all industry,” Cote said. “Each client, each market, each facility requires a different approach. That’s what makes this space so fascinating—and it keeps us on our toes.”

From its initial role as a behind-the-scenes advisor, Netverta has grown into a cornerstone of Calyx Peak’s operational success.

Source link

For decades, thanks to anti-money laundering laws and the fear of banking funds from illicit activity, cannabis operators have been on the radar of every financial institution compliance team in the United States. As each state has authorized the sale of cannabis, there is a process that has to happen to educate the financial institutions that they can bank the cannabis industry and that there is guidance for them on just how to do that. It takes time to turn the ship around from avoiding cannabis-related businesses to welcoming them as customers.

There are state-legal, compliant cannabis businesses that need access to legitimate banking. It’s this change in perspective that’s holding them, and the greater cannabis community, back.

So what’s the solution? Legislation? It would help massively, for sure. But changing legislation takes years. A more short term solution is FinTech. FinTech is helping to legitimize the industry by giving CRBs access to banking, enabling compliance, and delivering the transparency regulators and FIs need to work with the industry. Essentially, FinTech is laying the foundation for cannabis to operate like any other industry, reframing it as a credible, compliant, and investible market.

We’re at a point in time where cannabis normalization is no longer just a cultural movement, it’s also a tech movement.

The Risk of Cannabis Banking

It’s important to distinguish between two types of risk in cannabis banking: FI-level risk and CRB-specific risk.

Before a FI can decide whether or not to bank cannabis businesses at all, it needs to assess the overall risk to its institution from participating in the industry. This means evaluating their own ability to manage and mitigate the unique risks that come with banking cannabis.

An FI needs to consider:

• Can we safely bring in high volumes of cash from cannabis-related deposits?
• Do we have the right tools and systems in place to monitor account activity in order to understand normal and expected behavior, or detect red flags?
• Are we prepared to file the required ongoing FinCEN reports on a quarterly basis, and for the additional volume of cash deposits?
• Can we clearly demonstrate to examiners and regulators that we’re only working with state-legal cannabis operators—not entities from the illicit market or those engaged in questionable practices?

Operational readiness and compliance infrastructure are critical for FIs working with this industry. Regulators will want to see that they’re not just taking on cannabis clients, but doing so responsibly and within the guidance provided by FinCEN.

From a strategy and business development perspective, it will be vital to the success of their program for financial institutions to understand the risk of the CRB market, considering:

• Whether the market in their footprint is growing, flat, or contracting?
• Is the licensing structure limited or is it open to anyone, and what is the cost of entry?
• How is the value of the license impacted by the structure and maturity of the market?
• What education is required to get up to speed on the dynamics of the local cannabis industry?

This is where many financial institutions hit a roadblock. They don’t have internal expertise in the cannabis space, and that’s understandable. It’s a relatively new and complex industry and one they’ve avoided until now. But it raises a key question: How can you get the expertise you need? Who can you partner with to fill those knowledge gaps?

Building Trust Through Data Transparency

It’s important to understand that banking is essential for the growth and long-term success of the cannabis industry as a whole. Financial institutions need access to reliable, transparent information in order to confidently bank cannabis businesses, and demonstrate that compliance to their examiners.

At the end of the day, financial institutions need data.

FinTech solutions are designed to centralize and simplify the process of managing cannabis-related financial data. This technology brings together key datasets like sales, deposits, and market insights into a single platform, allowing financial institutions to more effectively assess both FI-level risk and CRB-level risk, all in one place.

Without this technology, CRBs are left wrangling and sharing documents manually. That might mean relying on spreadsheets, trying to track down data from different sources, or figuring out how to connect with market experts or FIs partners on their own.

That’s where data steps in. And it plays a bigger role than most realize.

Data is foundational. It’s essential for:

• Assessing risk at both the FI and CRB level
• Demonstrating compliance to regulators and examiners
• Monitoring the performance and compliance of cannabis businesses
• Making informed decisions around pricing, portfolio management, and client selection

Ultimately, having access to the right data (and the tools to use it effectively) is what enables financial institutions to operate safely and confidently in the cannabis space. Without it, they’re flying blind in a high-risk environment.

There’s also a common misconception that once cannabis becomes federally legal, every bank will just open its doors and say, “Come on in.” But that’s not how it works. Even in legal industries like alcohol, gambling, or money services, you’re still dealing with high-risk categories because of things like large cash volumes and regulatory complexity.

As long as there’s an illicit cannabis market—where unregulated product continues to be sold—financial institutions will still need to exercise caution. Just like with any other high-risk sector, the focus remains on making sure you’re only working with legitimate, compliant businesses. And some financial institutions will always avoid high risk industries based on their own internal risk tolerances and resources.

FinTech as a Cannabis Normalization Tactic

An important factor to note is FinTech is actively solving structural barriers to banking in cannabis, not just lobbying for reform.

As the cannabis industry matures, its growth will be shaped not only by cultural acceptance or policy reform—but by the strength of the systems that support it. FinTech is at the heart of that transformation.

By aiding in financial institutions’ ability to transparently work with cannabis businesses, more FIs will begin working with cannabis businesses. This collaboration between big name FIs and CRBs will support the shifting perception of cannabis.

Once FIs get into the financials, understand the growth cycles, and interact directly with these operators, they see what’s really there: legitimate, professional, well-run, and often highly profitable businesses. It moves the narrative away from their outdated perceptions of what these businesses are and reframes cannabis as what it truly is—a serious, highly regulated industry with real economic impact and a strong consumer base.

Source link

New York City may be known for its marquee lights and Broadway legends, but in early June, the spotlight belonged to cannabis—and one EGOT-winning icon who brought a dose of star power to the industry’s premier East Coast B2B event.

At the 2025 Cannabis Means Business Conference & Expo (CMB), Whoopi Goldberg stole the show. The actress, comedian, and entrepreneur introduced Whoop-Tea, her new line of infused beverages created in partnership with South Jersey-based Pure Genesis. Marketed as a “crisp blend” of iced tea, lemonade, and 10mg of hemp-derived THC, the drink represents Goldberg’s mission to create a wellness product rooted in decades of personal cannabis use.

“This is like having a cocktail—but without the alcohol,” Goldberg told a packed crowd during her fireside chat with CNBC’s Tim Seymour. “If you don’t want to drink alcohol but want a light buzz, this is your drink.” 

Her candid reflections, from managing pain and period cramps with cannabis to the systemic hurdles faced by Black women entrepreneurs, struck a chord in a hall filled with founders, investors, and aspiring moguls. “We’re not waiting for anyone,” she declared to cheers. “We are making it work for ourselves.”

Tech, Trends, and a Taste of the Future

The Javits Center buzzed with energy for two full days as CMB—formerly known as CWCBExpo—welcomed over 75 exhibitors, with a strong East Coast showing. From AI-powered packaging trackers to a joint-printing machine that drew more than a few Instagram stories, the expo floor was a laboratory of innovation. Panels touched on everything from international expansion to beverage infusion trends, with voices like Franny Tacy, Cynthia Salarizadeh, and Dr. Chanda Macias offering insight into the next frontier for cannabis branding and wellness.

The conference’s refreshed identity reflected the maturing cannabis marketplace: less flash, more function. And yet, the networking scene was anything but dull. Tuesday night’s rooftop NORML FORML set the tone with sweeping skyline views and policy conversations over cocktails. Wednesday’s O2Vape-sponsored yacht party offered a floating dancefloor and front-row seat to a smogless Manhattan sunset.

A Marketplace with Heart—and Momentum

CMB’s programming uplifted entrepreneurs at every stage. Cannabis & Tech Today’s own Editor-in-Chief, Charles Warner, led a workshop on AI’s transformative role in cannabis operations. Across panels, speakers urged pragmatism and adaptability in an industry increasingly defined by shifting regulations, cautious capital, and consumer demand for low-dose, reliable formats. Beverage sales alone are expected to top $3 billion by year’s end, according to Hype Magazine.

Yet amidst the market talk, CMB 2025 never lost its human thread. Thursday’s Women in Cannabis Entrepreneur Luncheon offered a platform for leaders like Kymberly “KymB” Byrnes, Degelis Tufts Pilla, and Faye Coleman to celebrate wins—and strategize for what’s next.

As the conference came to a close, one sentiment rang clear: Cannabis may mean business, but it’s personal too. Whether you’re launching a brand, lobbying for policy, or—like Whoopi—just tired of hiding what you love, the industry is carving space for more stories, more ownership, and more impact.

Source link

Cannabis flower sold in Colorado claims to contain much more tetrahydrocannabinol– or THC- than it does, according to my findings published in the peer-reviewed journal Plos One.

THC is the psychoactive compound that is derived when cannabis flower – commonly referred to as “bud” – is heated through smoking or cooking.

Why It Matters

Accurate THC reporting is a linchpin for medical patients, recreational consumers, and the overall integrity of the cannabis industry. Medical and recreational flower are generally the same – the difference is in testing requirements, price, taxes, and purchase limits. Misleading potency information can disrupt medical dosages, misguide recreational users, and erode trust in an industry striving for legitimacy.

Consumers often associate higher THC levels in cannabis flower with superior quality, potentially leading to overpayment for products that may not meet their expectations. This misconception can also create incentives for cultivators, testing labs, and dispensaries to generate higher THC numbers – whether through cultivation techniques or testing fraud.

Additionally, testing for toxins, pesticides, and total yeast and mold can also fall victim to falsification. Recent reports reveal instances where labs in New York and other states have passed products that should have failed. This casts doubt on the credibility of the broader testing processes in place.

How I Did My Work

I gathered a total of 23 cannabis flower samples from 10 dispensaries across the northern Colorado Front Range, which includes Denver, Fort Collins, and Garden City. The samples encompassed 12 strains, including indica, sativa, and hybrid types, and varied in reported THC values. Some had ranges, such as 12.8%-19.3% on the lower end and 28.07%-31.28% on the higher end, while others had single values, such as 16.4% or 17.4%.

I sent the samples to a third-party testing lab that does high-performance liquid chromatography, or HPLC. HPLC is a method to separate, identify, and quantify components in mixtures based on their chemical properties. It is the most commonly used method in cannabis testing to analyze cannabinoids and detect contaminants. This can ensure product potency, safety, and quality.

Approximately 70% of the labels reported THC percentages more than 15% higher than what was quantified through the lab.

Among the 23 flower samples analyzed, 18 displayed lower THC levels than reported – with 16 falling below 15% of the stated value, 13 falling below 30% of the reported THC, and three samples falling below half of the reported THC. Notably, only one sample had slightly higher THC than reported. Four were within the reported range.

The observed disparity was not due to aging. When THC ages and degrades, it turns into cannabinol or CBN. CBN was not found in measurable amounts in any of the samples, however, and further testing indicated stable THC levels over time.

What Still Isn’t Known

A fundamental query looms large: With advancements in cultivation techniques, including lighting, nutrients, and selective breeding, has the potency of cannabis flower genuinely surged over the past 15 years?

THC levels averaged 9.75% back in 2009, based on testing of DEA-seized cannabis flower. Today, levels reportedly surpass 35%, though they’re not as common as consumers have been led to believe. DEA-seized cannabis flower averaged 13.88% in 2019, which is closer to my observed mean of 14.98% than the reported mean of my samples, which was 20.27%-24.10%.

We also do not know who is responsible for the misinformation regarding inflated THC potency for cannabis flower. It could be cultivators or dispensaries selecting the best flowers to test. 

Sampling guidelines differ by state, but all require a random sample from the entire batch. But there is little to no oversight when it comes to enforcing these guidelines. It could also be lab fraud. Facilities might manipulate the testing process or doctor numbers on the certificate of analysis to ensure repeat business from producers and distributors who set prices based on THC content or to generate new customers.

What’s Next

I believe a critical next step is for the cannabis industry to educate consumers on how to make more informed choices by looking beyond mere THC percentages. People generally do not shop for wine or beer based on alcohol content. Instead of focusing on THC content, a novice cannabis consumer might consider brands that are reputable or strains that have an aroma or flavor profile they enjoy. Eventually, they may move on to find a favorite breeder or grower, or a trusted dispensary that employs a knowledgeable budtender. A budtender is akin to a bartender in a dispensary setting, serving as a customer representative.

Cannabis consumers, industry players, and the public must also continue to advocate for better oversight in sampling and testing to ensure safety, transparency, and accountability and to foster trust in the cannabis community.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Source link

When Katie Motta launched Jade Stone, she wasn’t coming from a background steeped in cannabis. In fact, her earliest impressions were shaped by prohibition-era narratives.

“I was raised in a family with strong anti-cannabis beliefs, and I carried some of that stigma myself,” Motta said.

It was a branding project for a friend’s rolling paper company that became the catalyst—not just for a career shift, but for a reframing of cannabis itself. That project revealed a market void: little existed in the way of modern, inclusive design targeting women or canna-curious consumers. “That’s when it clicked,” Motta recalled. “There was a real need for a design agency that could bring fresh energy and representation into the space.”

A New Design Language

Jade Stone is on a mission to dismantle stereotypes. Gone are the slime drips, red-eyed cartoons, and stoner tropes that alienate potential consumers. “The design work we do views cannabis as a modern wellness tool, not something illegal, underground, or grungy,” Motta explained. Even the cannabis leaf is rarely featured in Jade Stone’s visuals—a conscious decision to avoid triggering ingrained biases and make space for curiosity.

This refined aesthetic is a strategic move grounded in understanding regional nuance.

“West Coast branding is often laid-back and surf-inspired,” said Motta, “but in New York, the energy is faster, more style-conscious, and rooted in cultural diversity.”

Jade Stone’s work reflects this elevated expectation, pulling cues from fashion, beauty, and wellness sectors rather than from legacy cannabis aesthetics.

Strategy in Every Stroke

Creativity, while foundational, is never adrift. Every Jade Stone brand is engineered to evolve.

“We design with the next five to ten years in mind,” Motta said.

That might mean a packaging suite that adapts as a product line expands or a tone of voice that’s strong enough to transition from CBD to THC markets.

Their process is immersive. A typical project includes brand immersion decks, two distinct design directions, and ultimately a full Brand Identity Book. But it’s the personal investment that distinguishes the agency.

“We consider ourselves an extension of the client’s team,” Motta said. “If they need support beyond design… we leverage our network to help.”

Grounded, Artful, and Ahead

In a recent New York project, Jade Stone named and branded a dispensary using a nearly forgotten piece of city history discovered in the archives—a move that turned a vague retail vision into a place with soul.

“We added a lot of value to the business as a whole,” Motta said, emphasizing their holistic, research-driven approach.

Looking ahead, she sees the pendulum swinging away from glossy digital graphics toward handcrafted, tactile design. “As AI becomes more prominent… we’ll see a rise in natural textures, recycled papers, and candid photography.”

That philosophy—grounded, human-centered, and built to last—is what makes Jade Stone a creative force reshaping the visual identity of modern cannabis.

Source link

A cannabis entrepreneur (let’s call him Ben) runs a small cannabis brand in Michigan. He’s dealt with harvest shortages, human resource issues, and the labyrinth of state regulations over the years. Then he gets a rattling message: his wholesale marketplace, Leaflink—his digital lifeline to hundreds of retailers—is jacking up fees three-plus-fold. No phased schedule, no public webinar, just an “effective next billing cycle” notice.

This story may sound familiar to the myriad brands who found out about a rate hike being implemented that would significantly increase their monthly costs. Operators in different states were already venting on Reddit, one claiming their monthly bill had gone from $599 to $6,200. Some described how they’ve begun to look at alternative platforms, while various brands in Missouri and Colorado were known to have organized coalitions of sorts to figure out if they were going to stay or migrate off of Leaflink, covered not too long ago by a few publications. The common refrain: We’re already bleeding margin. Why is our tech partner twisting the knife?

When Predictability Disappears

At first glance, a small percentage-based fee doesn’t look like much. But over time, those percentages pile up, especially if your sales start to grow. One month you’re paying a few hundred bucks, the next it’s thousands. That’s not a fee. That’s rent.

Operators aren’t just upset about the money. It’s the lack of warning. When a major vendor suddenly changes pricing with no heads-up, you’re left scrambling. Budgeting becomes a guessing game. Forecasts get tossed out. And there’s no time to rethink strategy because you’re already on the hook.

In places like Colorado and Missouri, where wholesale prices have dropped for years, even small unexpected costs hit hard. Add in taxes, compliance, and overhead, and margins get razor thin. Operators are already stretched. So these surprise hikes don’t just hurt—for many, they feel like betrayal.

An Industry Already on Edge

The truth is, cannabis operators are under constant pressure. In states like California, Michigan, and Colorado, prices have tanked from their peak. Meanwhile, costs haven’t followed suit. You still have to pay for testing, Metrc tags, packaging, and staff whether you’re selling at $1,500 a pound or $400.

Federal illegality makes things worse. No easy access to credit, no tax deductions under 280E, and no room for error. And in emerging markets like New York, legal businesses are being undercut by a booming illicit market while waiting for licenses and rule changes. It’s a slog.

So when a software platform flips the script and starts charging a percentage of every transaction, that leaves operators asking: Can I even afford to stay on this platform?

Incentives That Don’t Align

There’s another issue with take-rate pricing: it changes the incentives. When a platform makes more money as your gross sales go up, it starts to care more about volume than profitability. That might mean encouraging bulk deals or bigger discounts, even if those eat away at your bottom line.

That kind of misalignment isn’t harmless. When your vendor’s goals don’t match your own, it becomes harder to trust them. And in cannabis—where trust is already scarce—that matters.

Also Read: Stay ‘Melo,’ Build ‘Lowd’

A Shifting Landscape—and the Opportunity to Innovate

Since the price hike, operators have responded in a handful of ways. Some are raising their own prices for orders placed on the marketplace while others are shopping around, trying out platforms with flat monthly rates and clearer billing. Some are even piecing together multiple tools to reduce dependency on a single marketplace.

This pushback is creating space for innovation. New platforms are now stepping up with better UX, real support, and clean pricing models that don’t change on a whim. When a tool feels more like a partner and less like a toll booth, people notice.

Operators are now asking smarter questions: Does this software actually help me run my business better? Is the support team responsive? Can I track my costs and margins easily? Can I switch without months of chaos?

Slowly, control will shift back to the brands.

Because in the end, that’s what this is about. In software we talk a lot about fees and features, but this is really about cannabis companies’ ability to have control over their data, costs, and future.

The winners in this space won’t be the platforms that extract the most. They’ll be the ones that give operators the tools and confidence to move forward without surprises. In cannabis, that kind of clarity is a lifeline.

If you get a surprise rate change tomorrow, it’s normal to feel frustrated. But it can also be a moment to pause and look at the bigger picture. Are the tools you’re using helping you stay connected to your business, or making things more complicated? When margins are tight, clarity matters. And when you gain that clarity, the better your chances of navigating what comes next.

Source link

A powerhouse partnership is taking shape in California’s Coachella Valley, where cannabis operator Green Horizons has signed a five-year master service agreement with FOHSE, a leader in high-performance cultivation lighting and technology. The strategic alliance signals a major step forward for scalable cannabis production, merging advanced engineering with a vision for industry-leading efficiency.

Under the agreement, FOHSE will become the exclusive lighting and technology provider for Green Horizons’ sprawling one-million-square-foot cannabis campus in Coachella. The deal kicks off with installation at the company’s 101,787-square-foot Phase I cultivation facility, where perimeter and under-canopy lighting will be implemented in Q3 2025.

Lighting the Way Forward

FOHSE—short for Future of Horticultural Science + Engineering—has earned a global reputation for innovation in LED technology tailored specifically for cannabis. With this new partnership, the company solidifies its role as a technology-first provider in a sector increasingly driven by precision and scale.

“We are very excited about our agreement with Green Horizons and being able to work so closely with them on the cultivation side,” said Ben Arnet, Co-Founder and President of FOHSE. “Our main goal is to increase yields, decrease cost per pound, and introduce more efficient technology specifically designed for cannabis cultivation.”

That technology is already being put to use. The current deployment at Green Horizons’ Phase I facility will help optimize growing conditions and drive operational efficiency, setting the stage for what both companies see as a transformative evolution in cannabis agriculture.

An Enterprise Vision Beyond the Plant

While plenty of lighting companies sought a piece of Green Horizons’ attention following the success of its Phase I rollout, FOHSE distinguished itself with its long-term, systems-based approach to cultivation.

“FOHSE is more than a lighting company. They are a technology company,” said Michael Meade, Co-Founder of Green Horizons. “Los and I see Green Horizons the same way. We’re elated at the partnership and the innovation to come.”

For Green Horizons CEO Carlos “Los” Arias, the partnership is about more than infrastructure—it’s a blueprint for the cannabis industry’s future. “Brett, Ben, and the entire FOHSE team are dream partners,” Arias said. “They have a global vision and understand what creates enterprise value beyond merely producing flower and selling it. This is a moment for the industry and we’re ready to rock this.”

Looking Ahead to “Black Label” Breakthroughs

With Phase I lighting installation underway, the partnership will expand in 2026 to Green Horizons’ Phase II facility—a high-tech “black label” greenhouse designed from the ground up. The new build will incorporate FOHSE’s next-gen lighting fixtures and Green Horizons’ proprietary evaporative cooling systems, aiming to achieve indoor-quality cannabis at a disruptive cost model.

This convergence of LED precision and climate control will further blur the lines between greenhouse and indoor cultivation, a critical advancement in a market increasingly focused on sustainability and ROI.

Scaling with Purpose

Green Horizons’ Coachella campus is among the most ambitious cultivation projects in North America, a purpose-built complex designed to address the growing demand for high-quality cannabis at scale. With an eye on compliance, environmental stewardship, and technological adoption, the company is crafting a model that could set the tone for the next decade of cannabis cultivation.

Meanwhile, FOHSE continues to dominate the horticultural lighting space, supplying some of the largest licensed cultivators in the world. The company’s emphasis on tailored engineering, energy efficiency, and performance-based solutions makes it a natural fit for operators seeking to scale responsibly.

As the industry braces for further consolidation and increased competition, the Green Horizons-FOHSE partnership offers a case study in what the future of cannabis production may look like: smart, efficient, and built to scale.

Source link

Before Nature’s Heritage was a premium cannabis brand, it was a lesson learned the hard way—through a failed California venture that sparked something more enduring.

MariMed, the company behind Nature’s Heritage, has roots that stretch back to 2008, when co-founders Bob Fireman and Jon Levine entered the cannabis industry through an investment in a California operation. The venture ultimately folded, but it left a lasting impression.

“They learned a ton about the industry and became passionate about the benefits of the plant in improving people’s lives,” said Tami Kirlis, Brand Director at Nature’s Heritage.

That early experience laid the groundwork for the brand’s more measured East Coast rollout. What began as an advisory firm for startup cannabis businesses evolved into a multi-state operation with a focus on cultivation, packaging, and retail. The company now operates across Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, and Delaware.

Genetics as Philosophy

At the center of Nature’s Heritage’s ethos is a commitment to plant genetics—both preserving legacy strains and introducing new cultivars with distinctive profiles. That direction came largely from COO Tim Shaw, a longtime grower whose experience informs the company’s strain selection and cultivation processes.

“Our mission is to curate an archive of genetics from around the world, cultivating strains that capture the finest elements of the plant,” Kirlis explained. “We care for our plants like Mother Nature would.”

The team also emphasizes a longer-than-average dry and cure process—an often-overlooked step that can make or break terpene expression and cannabinoid stability. “The importance of the dry and cure process cannot be understated,” said Kirlis. “It’s one of the longest in the industry, and the results are a potent blend of terpene and cannabinoid-rich flower.”

Nature’s Heritage has built a reputation around less common strains and robust phenotypes. “Lamb’s Bread is a big one,” Kirlis said. “She’s a landrace strain native to Jamaica and notoriously hard to find.” Known for its earthy, pungent aroma and historical connection to Bob Marley, Lamb’s Bread occupies a unique niche in the market.

More contemporary favorites include Double Krush and Chocolatina, strains with strong potency and unconventional flavor notes. The brand’s recent release, Strawberry Jelly, leans into a sweeter profile, offering what Kirlis described as “an energetic, happy high.”

Between Purism and Innovation

While infused products continue to gain traction across the market, Nature’s Heritage maintains a focus on flower-driven experiences. “We’re purists and believe our customers want to experience a strain’s natural aromas and flavors,” said Kirlis. Still, the company has developed a double-infused preroll—featuring flower, live resin, and bubble hash—for those seeking a more layered experience.

Another area of experimentation is variety packs, a format still relatively uncommon in the cannabis space. “Consumers love when they can get multiple strains and experiences in one pack like our Fresh Flight Variety Pack,” Kirlis noted.

Balancing Growth With Quality Control

As with many cultivation-focused brands, scale introduces risk—particularly when it comes to maintaining consistency. “Cannabis is a plant and it’s hard to control Mother Nature,” said Kirlis. “We let the plants be the boss.”

To manage variability, Nature’s Heritage conducts monthly internal product reviews via a task force made up of cultivation staff, lab technicians, and brand ambassadors. That feedback loop, along with customer and buyer insights, helps inform iterative improvements in everything from grow methods to packaging.

Rethinking the Metrics of Quality

Kirlis pointed to the industry’s preoccupation with total active cannabinoids (TAC) as a trend the brand is looking to push back on. “We’re hoping to overcome that with more education around terpenes and their effects on experience,” she said. “It’s not just about getting blasted.”

Instead, the team is working to shift the conversation toward experience-based consumption: choosing strains not for the numbers on the label, but for the effects and sensory characteristics they offer.

Later this year, Nature’s Heritage plans to launch a product line that reflects a broader trend in wellness: the fusion of cannabis and functional mushrooms. Called MycroDose, the product includes four formulations—Spark, Chill, G’Night, and Remedy—each designed to support specific moods or outcomes.

“There’s a mushroom movement gaining momentum,” Kirlis said, referencing brands like Host Defense and LemmeLive. “We’re excited to join that conversation.”

Source link

Humans have loved cannabis for millennia, but historically the edibles category has lacked true innovation and underperformed. Traditional edibles have been plagued by unpredictable onset and offset, poor taste, imprecise dosing and limited infusion methods. In 2024, gummies alone accounted for $2.57 billion in U.S. sales. But while the category is growing, many products still rely on outdated infusion formulations making the segment truly ripe for innovation!

Today’s consumer is not just looking for potency. They want precision. They want trust. They want products that honor the power of the cannabis plant in its entirety—flavor, form, and function. At Azuca, we’ve spent years listening, researching, and innovating to meet that shift in demand and loyalty to the plant. Our mission has always been to demystify the cannabis experience and make it accessible. With our Whole-Plant ACTiVATOR, we’re delivering just that: a clean-label, solventless edible that preserves the plant’s integrity—its taste, its effect, and its origin.

What We Mean by Whole-Plant—and Why It Matters

When we talk to people about “whole-plant” infusion it quite literally blows their minds. Honestly, it still blows our mind sometimes. Our whole-plant infusion process uses flower, not extract, as the active ingredient, yielding a final product that delivers the full inflorescence of the cannabis flower—cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids—all in a fast-acting, predictable and delicious edible. In traditional edibles using extracts like distillate, those elements get stripped out during conventional extraction. These compounds don’t just add flavor. Together, they deliver a synergistic experience—the entourage effect—that many consumers describe as more balanced, more effective, and true to the plant.

Historically, this true-to-the-plant integrity was impossible to achieve in an edible. Extraction simplified dosing but sacrificed the soul of the plant. That trade-off is no longer necessary.

Our Whole-Plant ACTiVATOR replaces distillates and isolates with actual flower as the infusion input. The only solvent we use is water. The result is a fast-acting edible that reflects the flower’s full profile—strain-specific, terpene-rich, and designed to deliver onset in 5–15 minutes.

Fast + Full-Spectrum = The New Premium

According to our 2025 Edibles Premiumization Report with BDSA, fast-acting edibles command a 31% higher original price and 39% higher sell-through price than traditional options. Consumers are seeking out brands that deliver precision and plant authenticity.

Flower Union, one of our standout partners, is on the cutting edge of this shift. Their gummies use our Whole-Plant ACTiVATOR, preserving visible flower flecks, strain-specific terpene

profiles, and the true-to-plant taste that cannabis connoisseurs love. And they’re not alone—more brands are choosing to lead with formulation integrity, not flash.

Also Read: Hemp vs. THC: Inside the Industry’s Identity Crisis

Why This Matters Now

The clean-label movement has arrived in cannabis. Just as food and beverage companies pivoted away from artificial dyes and synthetic additives, cannabis consumers are gravitating toward edibles made with recognizable, natural inputs. Our industry must rise to meet this consumer expectation.

Whole-plant edibles a introduce a new dimension to consumer experience—sessionable highs, authentic flavor, and a closer relationship with the plant. They are the bridge between the cannabis connoisseur and the cannacurious, offering predictability without compromising on depth.

Source link