23 minute read
THE SCENE
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NFTs: Fad or the Future?
Love them or hate them, you may be buying your next toke with non-fungible tokens. TEXT GREGORY FRYE
So, have you bought your fi rst non-fungible token yet? Awareness of the new technology, better known as NFTs, is steadily rising and more people are learning how to tap into the benefi ts. But a lot of folks are still scratching their heads, uncertain about all the fuss and downright dubious toward the idea of digital art NFTs selling for millions of dollars.
What’s the point of NFTs? Are they a silly trend, a scam, or is there intrinsic value in this emerging technology? More important, what does all this mean for cannabis lovers and the industry as a whole?
NFTs Explained
Let’s keep this simple. NFTs are essentially an evolution of cryptocurrency. They exist on a blockchain, which means any transactions are securely recorded and largely tamper-proof. You buy an NFT, it’s yours and nobody can ever dispute that.
These cryptographic tokens can represent the ownership of both digital and real-world assets. NFTs could be art, music, event tickets, and even real estate.
When you hear the term “Web3” this is a big part of what people are talking about—increased privacy, data security, and token-based economies.
Depending on the project, NFTs can also come with ongoing membership perks and community benefi ts. This is primarily where people fi nd potential risks, as when NFT project organizers do not follow up on their promises.
The technology itself is mostly secure with lots of potential, but mainstream adoption of NFTs is slow because of the learning curve and a clunky set-up process, which requires
opening a crypto wallet, buying cryptocurrency, and vetting new NFTs before you buy.
Every step in this process is intimidating to the average person, for now. Even with credit-card access entering the picture, the NFT world has plenty of work to do. Just like the early days of cannabis, a lot of storytelling and education is needed to ease peoples’ minds toward the possibilities around this unfamiliar concept.
NFTs + Cannabis = Community
Imagine buying a cannabis NFT where you get ongoing discounts, early access to new products, and invitations to exclusive events and online groups. Like consumer brands in other industries, many cannabis brands are already off ering such NFTs.
If done right, this model could help solve the engagement and customer loyalty challenges in cannabis, which involves inspiring people with an irresistible NFT off ering, educating them on how NFTs work, and then following up on the off er.
Crypto Cannabis Club (CCC), which launched its fi rst NFT in July 2021, has grown into one of the most ambitious NFT projects in cannabis. In addition to their own weed brand in California, they also have dozens of chapters across the U.S. and in other parts of the world.
“Some people approach NFTs because they like the art and view it as an investment; other people approach NFTs out of a sense of community,” says Ryan Hunter, CEO of Crypto Cannabis Club.
“Members of our community are getting together on their own organically to socialize and sesh and to network,” Hunter says, mentioning parties in Florida and at the Indianapolis 500, as well as CCC’s own organized events for NFT holders, such as spring break in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, an event at Art Basel in Miami, and a big meetup at MJBizCon last fall.
Additionally, CCC partners with about 30 accessory brands, which gives their members discounts on everything from dab rigs to rolling papers.
On the virtual side, CCC has developed a range of virtual off erings with their followings on Discord and Twitter, where they host cannabis and psychedelics-education conversations every week on Twitter Spaces.
“Those environments create a natural platform for online communities, and our real-world experiences are an extension of that,” Hunter says.
“We love seeing our community members in the real world. We have folks that go to all of these events and travel to see one another. There’s a kindred spirit vibe mixed in with the art and culture, just like we’ve seen for decades with stoners wanting to hang out and sesh. NFTs are a natural extension of that.”
NFTs are also a way for brands and marketers to draw new members into the cannabis world and educate, notes Polly Lieberman, cofounder of thric3, a Web3 and cannabis 2.0 community. “The number one challenge that all cannabis companies have is access to customers. Web3 presents a unique marketing opportunity because there are fewer restrictions than traditional media.”
This is how cannabis brands can engage the massive demographic of canna-curious people, consumers who are interested in incorporating cannabis into their lives but don’t know where to start and need help.
To engage this untapped demographic, thric3 is preparing to unveil a new NFT collection where the art showcases everyday people as consumers, rather than as the stereotypical stoners featured on other cannabis NFTs.
—Polly Lieberman, cofounder of thric3
“We built a collection to represent everyone,” Lieberman explains. “Our hope is that people look at our collection and see someone who looks like them and thinks, ok that’s me, this is cool, I can be open about my use. This will go a long way in helping to reduce the stigma.”
Like the Early Days of Cannabis
When projects like CCC host regular shows about their projects on Twitter Spaces, it’s not about promotion. “It’s more about authentic, organic building of community. That to me feels like early cannabis,” says Amanda Reiman, Founder of Personal Plants.
Reiman has been around long enough to remember the early days of cannabis cooperatives where, much like NFTs, people could buy into a community for shared benefi ts. That’s how she feels about much of the Web3 space. “Those of us from early cannabis have almost an advantage coming into this because we understand the culture behind how this is being built,” she says.
NFTs became a solution for Reiman’s project Personal Plants, a psychedelic-plant nursery that sells specimens like huachuma cacti and salvia cuttings. Even though the plants she sells are legal in most states, she got tired of dealing with payment-processor rejections and shadow bans on Instagram.
Reiman needed to fi nd a subversive way to keep her business alive, and now, thanks to NFTs, she’s co-founding a new project called Sacred Garden, where people can enter a psychedelic marketplace, safely and securely.
“In our vision, we have a network of people who grow psychedelic plants at home for hobbies, and your NFT enables you to access these farmers,” she explains.
“If you have one of our NFTs you go to our website, you connect your wallet, it sees the NFT is in there, and now you can enter the marketplace. It’s a way for us to give a benefi t to our NFT holders and to vet who comes into the marketplace, which is for the safety and security of our farmers. And it’s a way to give opportunities to people to be part of the community, anonymously if they desire, and you just have to buy membership once – it’s not that diff erent from the old cannabis collectives.”
Hype Vs Opportunity
Reiman sees two diff erent types of NFT projects popping up in cannabis. One type of project is like what Crypto Cannabis Club is doing—authentic experiences, community, and excellent benefi ts that make the NFT a worthy asset.
“This is the future for cannabis companies, and it’s a great way to reach our communities because even SMS texting is shutting us down,” she says. When you’re promoting an NFT instead of a psychoactive plant, it’s a diff erent story.
“The other type of project we’re seeing in the cannabis space, which builds on what I call the phase one of NFTs, is all fl ash and no substance. People are trying to capitalize on the sexiness of weed, but they don’t
really know a lot about it. They think they can create NFTs that appeal to stoners, but when you look underneath the hood, there isn’t anything there.”
The Importance of Education
To help fi ll those NFT knowledge gaps Reiman has teamed up with Lisa Snyder, cofounder of Tokeativity, for a virtual education series hosted by Women Employed in Cannabis.
“Web3 and NFTs are like the early days of the internet, where people are like, ‘inter-what?’ Amanda and I are trying to educate people, especially women and BIPOC folks, so they get to know it, and it’s not as scary,” Snyder says, who has been building websites since 1995 and was early to embrace NFTs, starting her own collection out of curiosity.
Snyder, a trained graphic designer, is also the artist on the upcoming thric3 project. This project will have 9,999 NFTs, each NFT in has unique variations based on a theme, some rarer and more valuable than others.
“This is still the early days of NFTs, and like with early internet, there’s going to be a lot of experimenting. The fi rst experiment was to make art and see if people would buy, and they did,” she says.
The Future of NFTs
Both Snyder and Reiman believe NFTs will continue to rise in popularity over the next few years, as an integral part of safer digital transactions, community building, asset ownership, and new investment opportunities.
However, the space still requires a degree of caution on all sides. For instance, NFTs for cannabis breeding or community-owned cannabis companies open up a whole new can of worms when you consider the “fuzziness around federal and state cannabis laws combined with the fuzzy laws around NFTs and securities. Is it a company and are people buying shares and what does that mean?” Reiman asks.
Reiman explains how the Sacred Garden project required a ton of background work on legal issues, understanding what was allowed, and untangling hairy questions around crypto-based revenue versus traditional revenue. The space is still really new, and people have to be careful, she says, but that doesn’t mean NFTs aren’t worthwhile.
“If the cannabis industry taps into this now and starts educating themselves about it, they’ll have an amazing opportunity to connect with Generation X and Z and Y. That’s all the people who are embracing this technology,” Snyder says. “They’ll be looking at cannabis companies and asking about Web3 projects. If you’re like, ‘Web3? What’s that?’ you’re going to be out of touch.”
—Lisa Snyder, graphic artist, cofounder of Tokeativity
PRESENTS
MUSIC & CANNABIS GO HAND-IN-HAND
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ACT
www.sanctuarymed.com
PLEASE CONSUME RESPONSIBLY. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not analyzed or approved this product. There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breastfeeding may pose potential harm. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment affects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.
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No More Risky Business
Time spent with the National Cannabis Risk Management Association can lead to long-term success.
ote: NCRPS recently
Ncombined with the National Cannabis Risk Management Association (NCRMA) and will serve as the lead risk solutions brand while NCRMA manages association membership and the NCRM Academy’s educational offerings
In today’s increasingly complicated cannabis marketplace, business owners must employ every tool in their toolbox to ensure success. Fresh new products, increased digital engagement, and consumer-friendly retail spaces can grab all the attention and help drive profi ts. Still, there is one critical area that is routinely overlooked.
We are talking about risk management. While it’s not as sexy as many other parts of the industry, it is crucial to ensuring your long-term health and possibly survival. Ensuring that inside any cannabis business’s four walls that their property, product, worker safety, banking, and on-premises risks are secured is no simple task. While many people think that by having insurance, they are safe, they are incorrect.
“Any risk has the potential to make your business worse, period,” says Rocco Petrilli, the CEO and president of the National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services (NCRPS)). “So, if you can mitigate and eliminate that risk, you improve your business. Nobody has ever mitigated risk by buying insurance coverage. Insurance simply shares or transfers the risk that cant be fully reduced. What successful businesses do is take care of any risks up front.”
NCRPS is a pioneering and innovative risk management platform that solely focuses on the complexities of the cannabis world. Their members enjoy access to a whole suite of educational materials and access to cannabis-focused partners, and insurance plans. But one of their most critical offerings is their expert risk management assessment.
By crafting a complete risk assessment from time spent by one of their team, they identify and completely break down everything into easy-to-understand sections. Each facet of your business has a risk score detailing any identifi ed issues and a list of recommendations to solve them. By using tried and true safety standards for non-cannabis industries and the many cannabis-specifi c problems, they know and understand, they can create a detailed action plan to ensure a safe workplace and peace of mind.
They are not fi nished once they hand over their report. That’s when NCRPS can bring their whole host of in-house and service partner resources into play to ensure their clients succeed. This hands-on execution ensures your business safety, security, and success are secured.
National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services
Risk Management ncrps.com —Rocco Petrilli, the CEO and president of the National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services (NCRPS)
Pot Roast
The quest for a perfect pot pairing begins the same way a perfect day begins: with co ee. TEXT JEN BERNSTEIN
WEED+
In this brand-new segment, Sensi searches for weed’s perfect pairing. What is it about coff ee and cannabis that makes it the perfect combo? It’s such a powerful pairing that many of us choose to start our daily routines with a brew and a blaze. The band Sublime famously sang “I smoke two joints in the morning,” which is exactly how Amsterdam’s Queen of Hash, Mila Jansen chooses to get going. “For me, every day I smoke two joints with my fi rst coff ee,” she says. Amsterdam, of course, is home to world famous coff ee shops where ganja and java are intimately linked.
But is there some type of scientifi c explanation behind why we’re so passionate about coff ee and weed? I decided to dig in and learn more. To that end I connected with a super knowledgeable source on the subject, Tony Bowles, an avid cannabis-and-coff ee consumer of 20 years who works with Sava, a premier women-, LGBTQ-, Latinx-owned cannabis marketplace based in San Francisco. Bowles is also the creator of terpenefl ashcards.com, an educational tool that helps you learn all about terpenes. Here’s what I learned:
Cannabis and coff ee have a powerful con-
nection. Caff eine gives you that jolt of energy, while cannabis has the ability to take the edge off . Together they create a mellow, yet productive kind of balance.
Coff ee houses have been around since the
Enlightenment. In the 18th century groups like the Club des Hachichins (Club of the Hashish Eaters), a Parisian circle dedicated to the exploration of drug-induced experiences, popped up and quickly included such literary lions as Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Charles Baudelaire, Gérard de Nerval, and Honoré de Balzac.
Coff ee and weed both stimulate creativity.
Research reveals that cre-
ativity is associated with the brain’s frontal lobe, and cannabis consumption increases cerebral blood fl ow.
There’s a link between cannabis, caff eine, and
metabolism. A study in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that the more coff ee you drink, the fewer blood metabolites are found in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS helps regulate essential bodily functions such as mood, appetite, stress, infl ammation, and sleep, and more.
Coff ee naturally contains a variety of
compounds, including caff eine, antioxidants, and terpenes, which contribute to both the beverage’s unique fl avor and the well-researched physiological eff ects of coff ee.
Coff ee and cannabis both have terpenes
and terpenoids, which primarily make-up the essential oils of many types of plants and fl owers, including cannabis and coff ee, so when you smell coff ee brewing or the waft of some skunky weed—that’s the terps.
SOCIAL SMOKERS
Here’s what Twitter’s #potheads have to say about the magical combo of Weed+Co ee:
There is something about coff ee and cannabis that is extra special. The mind fi res right up with creativity and a certain clarity that only happens for me in the morning, with that glorious combo.
@j_ian420
The sweetness of the smoke pairs quite nicely with the bitterness of the coff ee. The eff ects are harmonious, both energizing and relaxing at the same time. Nothing quite like the combo.
@elwoodsbrewery
It gets you grounded while it gets you moving!
@dontudoubtme
They bring out the best in each other. Pairing a single-origin with specifi c terps based on their scents and fl avors is like pairing chocolate and wine. For instance, I love pairing a light Kenyan (citrus notes) with a limonene-heavy Sativa.
@randyhofbauer
The defog/refog combo can’t be beat! It’s like a stereo equalizer that levels everything out just right.
@dubfuq
Hippie speedball for the win!
@allthesalsas
You get a little bit of the calm w/ the storm! Coff ee to bring you up and cannabis to even you out and not make you jittery!
@rivamonsta
Focus, Romance, and Retribution. The work you put in, with love, can yield amazing experiences. Rise and Shine!!!
@dezdouglas
They are perfect mirror of each other, coff ee revs you up while cannabis takes the edge off and helps with my motivation too.
@harpua666
Seriously the greatest substance combination on Earth
@andymagnes
The Art and Science of Cannabis Cultivation
GreenCare Collective puts the expertise of master growers inside a world-class facility.
annabis producers are
Cforever focused on quality and consistency. Quantity is also important: maximizing the number of crops and the yield with as little downtime as possible. There is both art and science in the cultivation of the sweet leaf, and every grow team develops its own approach to the process. Ultimately it all comes down to the plant.
Two plants, really: the cannabis plant and the physical plant where it is grown. And no one knows the importance of both better than GreenCare Collective. GCC recently invested in a $40 million, state-of-the-art cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary facility in Millbury. The 100,000-square-foot space is now home to one of the largest and most advanced grow facilities in Massachusetts.
“Our complete focus is on the cannabis plant, and that means having a world-class facility, where we combine commercial agricultural techniques with the best practices of cannabis cultivation,” said Charles Smith, General Counsel, GreenCare Collective. “We are proud of the facility we have built. It is the culmination of a tremendous amount of experience, planning, and execution.”
GreenCare Collective’s facility features clone, mother, and vegetation rooms; six 9,500-square-foot grow rooms; cultivation process rooms for drying, trimming, curing, and packaging; secure vault storage; and a commercial kitchen for edibles.
The highlight is a perpetual harvest system that keeps plants fl owering and vegetation stages continuously. The system features GCC’s custom rolling trays from EnviroTech Cultivation Solutions. Plants are seated in 15.5-foot-long by 4-foot-wide trays and rolled on conveyor racks through each stage of growth, from mother to vegetation to fl ower, right up to processing. The process allows growers to tailor light and fertigation at each stage, which increases crop yield, quality, and overall effi ciency.
The six massive grow rooms are built with Norbec insulated metal panels and epoxy fl ooring, which help maintain the clean environment critical to cultivation. Each grow room has 24 separate fertigation zones and four lighting zones to maximize growth of healthy plants. More than 2,200 LED lights from Revolution Microelectronics illuminate the grow conditions.
All aspects of the process – fertigation, lighting, temperature, and CO2 levels – are controlled by a smart Priva building management system (BMS), while a second BMS controls the offi ce and dispensary. Funky aromas are eliminated by the Benzaco Scientifi c odor neutralization system.
For the construction GCC hired Vantage Builders, a general contracting fi rm that has built approximately one million square feet of cannabis-related space, including cultivation facilities and high-end dispensaries.
“GreenCare Collective’s cultivation facility is one of the most complex projects we’ve worked on in the cannabis market,” said John Connor, Principal, Vantage Builders. “Our team’s years of experience in cannabis construction was critical to the success of the build.” Category: Contractor/ Construction Author: Vantage Builders
The Sensi Advisory Board comprises select industry leaders in a variety of fi elds, from education to cultivation. They are invited to share specialized insight in this dedicated section. For a full list of board members, see page 9.
Breakfast In Bud
Leaf peepers rejoice. The great New England pastime of gaping at brilliant, multicolored fall foliage is even more dynamic when you bed down in bud-friendly accommodations.
TEXT MIKE DIPAOLA
Massachusetts, the cradle of American liberty, is likewise New England’s leader in liberating the onerous prohibitions on cannabis. And autumn is a great time to explore the Bay State, whether you’re seeking the annual arboreal color show or enjoying the shore one last time before the Nor’easters blow.
Google is your friend when it comes to fi nding accommodations suitable for herb enthusiasts. It’s as easy as searching something along the lines of “420 friendly lodging New England.” When you fi nd a place you fancy, it is prudent to phone ahead and confi rm that your favorite puff -puff pastime is welcome. Ask about local dispensaries and things to do in the area while elevated—enjoying the great outdoors or live music or what-have-you.
The Colorado-based site budandbreakfast.com has made a business out of pointing weed-loving travelers toward kindly lodging. Type in a region or state name and fi ne-tune your search according to your personal tastes. Want WiFi? A hot tub? Breakfast? Perhaps you’d like to have cannabis provided.
The site’s description for Massachusetts speaks to us: “It’s said that there’s nothing in the world quite like the breathtaking natural splendor of New England in the fall.
Aside from the foliage, Massachusetts draws visitors from far and wide thanks to the rich historical signifi cance of Boston and surrounding areas, the magnifi cent seafood and watery vistas found in coastal villages like Cape Cod…”
Melody’s Place Lodging
Charlemont melodysplacelodging.com The Berkshires are a prime locale for fall colors, and Melody’s Place Lodging in Charlemont is an extremely charming place to lay your head (and feed it). Melody Whelden doesn’t sell weed out of her 1860 Victorian home, but she will steer guests toward the best local dispensaries. She does make her own edibles on occasion and will sometimes share in kind, as it were.
Though Melody’s started out as a bed and breakfast that once catered to families, today the lodge is child-free. “Eighteen or over,” says Melody. “Once the laws passed for recreational use here in Massachusetts I went right over to cannabis and stopped doing families.” Most everybody sits out on their decks to enjoy a relaxing toke, before or after digging the natural grandeur of the Berkshire Mountains. If you’re into something more strenuous than peering at leaves, the area is also a mecca for mountain bikers, zip-liners, whitewater rafters, and hikers. Melody’s is best buds with Berkshire Roots Cannabis Dispensary in Pittsfi eld, the largest cultivator in the Berkshires.
West Tinsbury Inn
Vineyard Sound westtinsburyinn.com Travelers to the Cape might wish to venture across Buzzard’s Bay, then Vineyard Sound, to visit Martha’s Vineyard. Most visitors do not come here for the fall colors, but savvy leafers know the interior forest on the island is a subtle gem for that sort of thing. Not quite as dramatic as inland or farther north, but the Vineyard’s red maple, black gum, and tupelo trees—known here as the beetlebung—put on a spectral show worth seeing. Note that the colors turn slightly later in the season on the island, late October into November.
The West Tisbury Inn is an elegant stay, conveniently located in the island’s historic center. West Tisbury has a couple of lovely beaches, includ-
ing the private Lambert’s Cove, accessible to Inn guests. Otherwise, kayaking, hiking, bird watching, and generally good vibes are on the activity schedule. The Inn doesn’t advertise its greeness, but will accommodate discreet guests. Call ahead and inquire, you might score a discount. Ask for Keith, the owner.
Onset Beach Compound
Cape Cod stayherecapecod.lodgify.com Cape Cod has limited but interesting leaf-peeping, but there are plenty of other attractions for autumnal visitors. You could do worse than stay at the Onset Beach Compound, which is happy to accommodate cannabis-adjacent guests. The beach is perfect this time of year, with fewer tourists and delightful weather, usually. If surf and sand is not your thing, Onset is a short drive to cranberry bogs and apple orchards, and it is apple-picking season. As it happens, this year marks the fi rst Harvest Moon Festival at Onset Beach, on September 24. There will be chowder, chili, fi reworks, and all manner of festivities that pair very nicely with the relaxing herb of your choice.
The Colony Hotel
Kennebunkport, Maine colonymaine.com Tired of Massachusetts? Try Maine. Right up the coast in Kennebunkport, the Colony Hotel has a lot going for it—its own beach, a short drive to fall foliage colors, and stately accommodations (one of the Historic Hotels of America). POTUS groupies can even take a walk up the shore to gawp at Walker’s Point Estate, a.k.a the Bush Compound, summertime home of Kennebunkport’s most famous denizen. Discreet, respectful guests can elevate their stays on the hotel grounds.
The availability of bud-friendly lodging tracks closely to a state’s marijuana laws, as one would expect. So remember to read the room before embarking on your Northeastern adventure, as not all New England states enjoy the same freedoms. Massachusetts is the most kind, but New Hampshire isn’t playing ball any time soon. Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are all on a path toward full legalization. Even when the leaves turn, there’s still plenty of green.
