LOCAL NEWS PT. 2

TOO MUCH MARIJUANA IN MAINE

The price of recreational Cannabis in Maine has decreased more than 40 percent since adult-use retail sales kicked off in 2020.

It took nearly four years for Maine to launch its adult-use retail program because while voters approved a taxed and regulated market in November 2016, officials didn’t begin retail sales until October of 2020.

At that time, recreational pot was provided by just nine dispensaries throughout the state. And consumers faced long lines, product shortages and high prices.

Less than two years later, the state boasts 100 stores catering to adult-use consumers. On top of that, Maine has licensed 70 cultivators to provide product to the 100 stores throughout the state. The influx of retail shops and Cannabis cultivators has contributed to a significant drop in the price of pot.

Since the launch of retail sales, the price of recreational Cannabis is down 41 percent in Maine. For example, in October 2020 at the start of sales, the average gram cost $15.83. In 2021, a gram of pot dropped to $12.75. Now, in the summer of 2022, a gram of flower has decreased to just $9.26, according to the state’s Office of Cannabis Policy as reported by the Press Herald.

Industry experts believe retailers and cultivators overestimated demand in Maine, which has led to steep declines in the price. When retail sales began, shortages were reported across the state. That initial demand was met, and then some. Now, even with greatly reduced prices, the cheaper weed isn’t being sold as retailers are unable to move the marijuana produced by the influx of cultivators – while a glut of Cannabis sits on dispensary shelves.

The medical marijuana market has always been stronger than recreational pot in Maine. In fact, thanks to the medicinal industry, Cannabis is the state’s top cash crop. There are currently 3,500 medical pot caregivers in Maine

While medical Cannabis is as popular as ever in the state, only 10 percent of Maine jurisdictions opted-in to the legal marijuana industry when given

Photo by Rodnae Productions

the option. The vast majority of towns shunning retail shops only exacerbated the problem as the existing licensed adult-use stores aren’t spread across the state, making it easier for consumers to purchase pot from more conveniently located medical caregivers or black market dealers.

Photo by Richard T

Several Cannabis business hopefuls in Connecticut are suing state regulators after being rejected as social equity applicants.

While there are likely to be additional suits brought by other companies that were rejected, the four current businesses suing Connecticut’s Social Equity Council (SEC) are The Hartford Cannabis Company, Connectibuds, The Goods THC Co., and Kebra Smith-Bolden who is working with Acreage Connecticut Cultivation.

All four companies were seeking equity licenses for large-scale cultivation, which would permit them to create grow facilities as big as 250,000 square feet.

Ultimately, the SEC rejected 25 social equity applicants for the cultivation license. The Council found that only 16 of the 41 applicants met the social equity requirements.

According to The Hartford Cannabis Company, regulators changed their own requirements for social equity approval midway through the application process and then would not allow them to adjust their application.

The SEC changed their rules to require that applicants prove that 65 percent of the business’ day-to-day ownership is under the control of a qualified social equity applicant.

However, the companies suing the Council claim that the new rule was not adequately communicated and applicants were not given the opportunity to revise their paperwork.

“There was no debate or discussion by the SEC regarding this change or any update on the online checklist as to the required evidence concerning the level of control which needed to be submitted by an SEC applicant,” according to the lawsuit.

While the rule was adopted to prevent companies from using social equity applicants to obtain a license and then assuming day-to-day control of the company after the licensing process, not all Social Equity Council members agreed with the outcome.

Some members of the Council sympathized with the complaining companies and expressed concern that qualified business owners could be rejected due to ambiguous rules.

“I don’t think it’s fair that we should be voting where there’s any ambiguity, where it’s not clear,” Council Member Corrie Betts said. “Not when this is people’s livelihood, not when we’re talking about making sure we’re helping those that have been affected by the war on drugs. Who’s to say that this right here isn’t one of those individuals?”

The four companies suing the SEC want the court to reverse the Council’s decision and allow their applications to be reconsidered.

SOCIAL EQUITY LAWSUIT IN CONNECTICUT

PAPI LOVES POT

One of the most recognizable faces in baseball will lend his name to a new line of Cannabis products aimed at healing and achieving a better quality of life.

A 20-year career in the Major Leagues will lead to some wear and tear on the body. And that’s exactly what happened to Hall of Famer David “Big Papi” Ortiz. Even though the vast majority of his time in MLB – six years with the Minnesota Twins and 14 years with the Boston Red Sox – came at designated hitter, there’s still plenty of bumps, bruises, aches and pains that come with the grind of a 162-game season.

Ortiz has long enjoyed a jovial, larger-than-life reputation. Now, he’s bringing that love of life to a new product line – pairing up with Rev Brands of Massachusetts to create his own Cannabis products.

The first strain Papi will unveil is called Sweet Sluggers, which should debut in late summer 2022. Following Sweet Sluggers, Ortiz and Rev will drop Bootylicious #4, Black Mamba #7, Lava Cake #7 and Motorbreath #15.

According to Ortiz, he discovered his affinity for Cannabis later in life. “Once I embraced the flow of the flower everything changed,” he explained in a statement. Regular pot use had a serious impact on his Photo from Creative Commons quality of life as well as his mental health.

“Cannabis has helped me relax, sleep better, manage stress and heal physically after a lifetime of playing ball, and I look forward to sharing Papi Cannabis and my personal journey to help people understand its benefits,” Ortiz said. A number of (mostly retired) athletes have embraced Cannabis as advocates and even entrepreneurs – including former football players Ricky Williams, Calvin Johnson and Eugene Monroe, former basketball players Gary Payton, Matt Barnes, Al Harrington and the late Cliff Robinson, and former hockey player Riley Cote. However, baseball players have been slow to join the pot party. Yet, David Ortiz appears to be the perfect ambassador to help lead baseball players into the burgeoning industry. According to Rev Brands, the plan is to roll out Papi Cannabis in dispensaries throughout Massachusetts. Keep an eye out for more of his exclusive strains and products in Bay State retail locations near you this summer and fall.

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