NECANN Boston: The Best of Cannabis in the Northeast

NECANN Boston: The Best of Cannabis in the Northeast

Written By Jessica Reilly-Chevalier

For years, the west coast has been the domestic mecca of cannabis, a shining paradise of legalization in a sea of prohibition. But it’s not 2012 anymore – over half of Americans now live where cannabis is legal, and the biggest wave of legalization reform has been on the East coast in recent years.

So, when NECANN descended on Boston for 3 days, it was the kind of good time you can only expect in the cannabis industry. This was the first time in 9 years that a majority of states in the NE were legal, and people were ready to celebrate.

I spent two days on the show floor, attending sessions, and afterparties, and talking to people. You don’t need to have visited the city to get the highlights - here’s the best of the best.

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Rolling it up without RAW

Rolling it up without RAW

Written by Melanie Rizzo

The news of RAW’s recent court case left us all feeling a bit bamboozled. As a joint aficionado, I frequently try new papers in an attempt to find the smoothest smoke that doesn’t burn too quickly or cover up the taste of my delicious and intentionally selected flower.

In my experience, paper preferences are personal, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt (or a puff of smoke) as my criteria may be different from your own. 

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No More Monkeying Around: That Manila Hemp Is Bananas!

No More Monkeying Around: That Manila Hemp Is Bananas!

Written by Shannon Flaherty and Austin Roberson

As the industry learns of the bad corporate behavior coming from prominent suppliers of rolling papers (and other smoking accessories) one might wonder: “I know the product I have is safe, I have a lab report for that, but what about the paper I’m about to roll it up with?”

Some have already been asking these questions, from growers to testing labs, to even TikTokers. You know, people. People who have a relationship with cannabis that is central to their daily lives.

As two people who refuse to harm the patients that are about to walk through our dispensary doors, our loved ones, and our personal health; we are now intent on finding the cleanest and most ethically produced rolling papers out there. Manila hemp is not the way.

Don’t know where to turn to now? We got you!

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Uncovering the “Invisible Shopper”: Re-examining How We Look at Data to Give Brands a New Edge

Uncovering the “Invisible Shopper”: Re-examining How We Look at Data to Give Brands a New Edge

Co-written by Lara Fordis, M.A. and Tymofey Wowk, Ph.D.

Data, data, data. It’s all around us, we all know about it, but why is it important, especially for the burgeoning cannabis industry? And, who are the “invisible shoppers™” in cannabis?

The cannabis industry is no different than other vertical markets in terms of a need for contextual, accurate, actionable consumer data, perhaps even more so given how new the industry is and what an opportunity this presents.

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From Red to Pink - Part VIII: Hot Pink mess

From Red to Pink - Part VIII: Hot Pink mess

Written By Lindsey Gunter

Listen up people: You can be a big, bad whatever, but if you put two types of weed in the bag, you’re doing bad business. Period. It’s unacceptable. I could not believe the blatant illegality of this, outside of the poor planning and product development. Such shamefully low regard for the consumer. There is only one C.O.A. for good reason, and besides, people have eyes and can clearly see a difference.

'Red would never have done something like that' I remembered thinking to myself. What a shame it felt like at times, everyone from the teams I worked with running dispensaries were scattered all over the place by now, and couldn't likely come in to see what all that I learned from them could make. 

For some, after the amount of drama that had so far unfolded, they were starting to feel embarrassed about even being associated with the place. I wondered what my own late business owning mother would say about Pink as I watched ownership and the owner's assistant show family around the dispensary around holiday time.

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From Red to Pink - Part VII: Pink & Red Flags

From Red to Pink - Part VII: Pink & Red Flags

Written By Lindsey Gunter

Unsurprisingly, there were a few hurdles up front. Aren’t there always? Namely, construction ran behind and, oh yeah, a pandemic was beginning to unfold, followed by one of the greatest movements for civil rights in recent U.S. history. Then there was the racism - yes, I used that word, and it won’t be the last time I mention it, either.

We still set a goal for a soft opening to culminate into a hard opening day celebration on 4/20/2020. And once I got my team together operationally, the store seemed closer to opening than ever. But it also seemed more and more clear that no one would be having a 4/20/2020.

It is my sincere hope April 20th someday becomes a nationally recognized holiday for the USA, marking cannabis’ debutante moment of acceptance, to at least make up for this sacred moment, snatched away by fate.

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From Red to Pink - Part VI: The Pink Era Begins

From Red to Pink - Part VI: The Pink Era Begins

Written By Lindsey Gunter

My layoff date approached, red jackets began to appear in thrift store windows around town (ouch), and I found myself sitting in a dark, shabby room covered in concrete dust - clearly the only habitable place in the general sea of construction going on inside. I was interviewing for a new dispensary’s ownership that got my resume from The Blacklist. “Gold” someone had called it. We knew some of the same people, shared some brand-building opinions and a desire for an open, feminine, inclusive ideal for the dispensary. I shook hands and agreed to an hourly rate until opening, upon which time a salary for myself and the people I brought into other key positions would go into effect. I walked out and just about danced all the way home.

Do you ever wish you could just go back in time, not to prevent anything from happening necessarily, but to warn yourself? I probably would’ve just tapped myself on the shoulder and simply said, “Don’t dance yet.”

But alas, as I danced down the street, “Finally,” I thought, “this is my chance to put a real dent in the binary!”

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Women Are Now Networking Over Blunts & Brunch: Next stop - Vegas!

Women Are Now Networking Over Blunts & Brunch: Next stop - Vegas!

Written By Lindsey Gunter

Would you know if a woman smoked cannabis by looking at her? This is what’s hard for brands and companies to connect with in cannabis when it comes to marketing toward women.

What better way to begin building awareness as well as connection to this vast and unfamiliar assortment of women than a woman-focused event? One with “activations” and more, within which women can explore and converse! Cannabis is still a very male-dominated industry, women sticking together in cannabis will inspire women to stand together more in general - Events are a great way to accomplish this.

When it comes to this niche, Adelia Carrillo (CMO/Co-Founder of “EventHi”) and “The Marijuana Momma” Parisa Mansouri-Rad’s “Blunt Brunch” has grown to become one of the nation’s best places for women in cannabis to network and empower one another. 2022 has been a great year, as Blunt Brunch has successfully put on events in multiple cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and, coming up - Las Vegas!

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The Seven Cannabis Factions - Part III

The Seven Cannabis Factions - Part III

Written By Trent Hancock & Shayney Norick

Many in the cannabis community are going to disagree with Pharmaceuticals having a spot in the industry. Most of us choose cannabis because we believe in a more natural route. That being said, there is a large population of people with health conditions that trust the pharmaceutical process.

It is not too much to ask that the government free people who had minor charges so that they can support and be with their families. Requesting that people are no longer imprisoned for a small-time cannabis distribution conviction or specific homegrow quantities would resonate with the majority of the public, and could potentially free the majority of cannabis felons.

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The Seven Cannabis Factions - Part II

The Seven Cannabis Factions - Part II

Written By Trent Hancock & Shayney Norick

In our humble opinion, The MSOs that have ownership in dozens of craft businesses, while still allowing the companies to be independent, will have the strongest foundation.

The suggestions for amendments to state laws in this article are written to provide a pathway for everyone to focus on the model they believe in. Investors need to see a clear focus claimed by businesses based on the aspects of cannabis they want to invest in.

The future of cannabis investing should and will hopefully be more diversified between Small Businesses, MSOs, and Pharmaceuticals.

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The Seven Cannabis Factions - Part I

The Seven Cannabis Factions - Part I

Written By Trent Hancock & Shayney Norick

If you look closely enough at the groups with interest in the future of cannabis, they can be broken down into seven factions. They all have a different vision, and none of them are going anywhere. Instead of the situation boiling over politically, the best course of action is for all factions to negotiate a future that is best for everyone. Each cannabis faction’s concerns need to be addressed via amendments written to update current state cannabis laws.

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From Red to Pink - Part IV: THE BINARY, MY FIRST TOWNHALL, & PARTIES

From Red to Pink - Part IV: THE BINARY, MY FIRST TOWNHALL, & PARTIES

Written By Lindsey Gunter

…However, this spark was diminished shortly after the introduction of the newly hired CFO - further emerging as the main purpose of the town hall. I recalled a few days prior when one of my coworkers urged us to read the report freshly filed by the previous CFO in a new lawsuit. I knew nothing about it, but I was still curious to meet the replacement and see what he had to say. I am going to do my best to communicate the unbelievable farce that happened next…

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