Ken Duffy

Be sure to check out this great article about #NeighborhoodPetStoreDay in the lasted edition of Pet Product News Magazine and support independent pet retailers this September 28! 👉https://lnkd.in/eQuNWFiE #indiepet #petindustry #doglovers #catlovers

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Cannabis businesses looking to differentiate in a crowded space need to understand something: you are your brand. A brand used to be represented by its products and their fontext, along with logo, colors, a couple tag lines. Today, a brand is the humans behind it. From influencers hawking tee shirts to Elon Musk placing his personality squarely in the center of Tesla and X, people are starting to buy from people, instead of buying from brands. They love Elon, and they love Bob from Bob Does Sports, so they buy Teslas and $80 Breezy polo shirts… becuase they want to support the human. This doesn’t mean selling low value products through a great personality is going to be a viable business, the products and underlying business have to be sound... But I do believe that marketing programs which are anchored by a real, consistent, authentic human presence have a much greater opportunity to capture new market than those that do not. This is more true for cannabis than most industries, and it becomes more and more important as you attempt to target younger demographics.

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Inside this week's issue: ☑️ Kenvue sets a course to continue its industry-leading legacy in New Jersey; ☑️ TerraCycle is turning a profit by redefining the value of waste; ☑️ Some of New Jersey’s most well-known consumer packaged goods companies are facing an increasing number of lawsuits over labeling and ingredients; ☑️ We shine our Spotlight on health care education; ☑️ and much more! Read it in print or online now! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g_7NkYJi

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How's the NYC cannabis market roll-out going? Take a look at the recent OCM assessment task force findings sent to the governor. The report highlights key areas for improvement within the agency's operations and the adult-use retailer licensing process. Key findings include limited administrative depth, decentralized licensing operations, complex requirements, sparse customer service, lack of data and KPIs, and the use of multiple disparate IT systems. These insights shed light on the challenges OCM faces in its decision-making processes and operational efficiency. #nycannabis #OCM #GovernorHochul #CannabisControlBoard In March 2024, Governor Hochul convened a mul�-agency task force to assess how to improve public engagement and restore trust in OCM. The task force included government leaders from mul�ple State agencies with extensive opera�ons experience and exper�se in organiza�onal redesign for agency success. Over several weeks, the task force conducted interviews with execu�ves at OCM, employees, and external stakeholders, reviewed regula�ons, public guidance, and Cannabis Control Board (CCB) mee�ngs, and designed high level process maps for adult-use retail license applica�ons. This report details current OCM opera�ons and procedures and primarily focuses on improvements of general agency opera�ons and a review of the adult-use retailer licensing process. Key Findings Specifically, the task force found OCM had: Limited depth in administra�on; Failed to centralize licensing opera�ons; Created complex and obscure licensing requirements; Provided sparse customer service; A lack of data and key performance indicators (KPI); And u�lized mul�ple disparate IT systems. These findings have been exemplified through OCM’s o�en confusing decisions regarding agency opera�ons

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The world of cannabinoids is constantly evolving, and two new players, HHCp and THCp, are making waves for their potent effects. HHCp offers a strong, cerebral high, ideal for creativity and focus, while THCp provides a more balanced, relaxing high, suitable for pain relief and evening use. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? ▫ 𝐇𝐇𝐂𝐩 is a hydrogenated form of THCp, making it more stable and altering its effects. ▫ 𝐓𝐇𝐂𝐩 is up to 33 times more potent than THC, thanks to its longer alkyl side chain. 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬: ▪ Pain relief ▪Anxiety reduction ▪Appetite stimulation 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨: ▪Start with low doses due to their potency. ▪Choose reputable brands with third-party lab testing. ▪Research local laws as legality varies by region. Ready to explore these potent cannabinoids? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! 👇 #HHCp #THCp #Cannabinoids #Cannabis #Wellness #Health #Potency #NewTrends #LabTesting #MellowFellow https://lnkd.in/eRgbS6gw

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Despite the best of intentions, legislation to "ban" vaping by teens & pre-teens has proven time and again to be counterproductive. According to this news report, for example, a survey of more than 4,000 New Jersey adolescents found that 25% were vaping — far outpacing cigarette smoking, according to a 2020 study. Like many states, New Jersey made it illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under 21 and then went a step further by banning flavored vape juice. But the laws did little to curb the problem, experts told a recently convened panel. Students who vape during school hours, on school grounds, are creating problems for school officials on a variety of levels. Fortunately, there are resources such as Soter Technologies' #FlySense vaping detection devices, which notify school officials - in real time - when vaping (and/or bullying) is taking place in areas such as restrooms where recording devices are not an option due to privacy issues. ★ Derek Peterson ★ #novaping #vapinginschools #stopthevape

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The CRA has ILLEGALLY overstepped its authority by excercising powers which have only been proposed, and not yet granted to them. Here’s the story: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs requires cannabis operators to create and submit contracts for all processing as a service work. Bullshit, yes. Unconstitutional, probably. But ok. So we comply, but their team is totally unequipped to reveiw said contracts, and ask for changes to them that not only make no sense, but would make them unenforceable in court. Now they are trying to add an additional provision that would require facilities to wait until they approve the contracts before we act on them. Keep in mind, this proposed rule has not yet been approved through proper administrative channels. If it is, we will have to wait for their team, who doesn’t understand contracts, to request changes which nullify the contracts, before we can use our license…. (Our license which grants us freedom to perform the very activity the contracts are required to define, costs us $24k a year to maintain, and required a one year approval process and anal-probe-level background check.) Just recently, the CRA attempted to illegally enforce this rule before it was passed by prohibiting my company The Lab: Processing & Co-Packing from moving forward with an lucrative contract until they approved it. This delayed production by over a month, and cost both parties tens of thousands of dollars in revenue. Yes, they asked for changes to that contract that made no sense, too. Yes this delayed production. Yes, I have all of this in writing. … this is the kind of work they are doing to “follow the money” (their own words, again in writing, in regards to the importance of digging into our vendor list), all while the national cannabis market passes them by…. …this is the kind of work they are doing, (arbitrary enforcement with no public benefit) which they hope to bolster with their $20m state lab, instead of investing back into the operators which need all the help they can get to surrrvive the New World of Cannabis… It’s time for change in the CRA. Write your senators and congresspeople. Make as much noise as possible. Cops have a history of breaking the law. Now former cops running the CRA are illegally enforcing powers which have not been granted to them. Coincidence? I think not.

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WYNK™ and COUNTDOWN are actively sold in dispensary markets in the Midwest and New England, thanks to our innovative production capabilities. WYNK continues to grow in markets with high adult beverage consumption per capita, regardless of channel availability. Meanwhile, COUNTDOWN is succeeding in legacy medical markets, like Maine, Arkansas, and Missouri, where consumer tolerances and preferences demand beverages with higher potency. There is still a place for beverages in dispensary retail. We will continue to lean on our patented technology to provide options for dispensary shoppers, whether they are looking for alternatives to alcohol or seeking a higher potency experience. Our commitment to quality and innovation ensures we meet the diverse needs of consumers, across multiple channels, regardless of the ever-changing regulatory environment.

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The UK is flooded with illicit products before a ban even comes in to force, when the ban eventually hits the flood will spread faster and further. Hopefully post-election there will be a plan, a plan that firstly deals with the source and implements a ban on import of products not fit for retail. A plan that resources our amazing trading standards team to allow then to seize & destroy illicit products and courts that deliver harsh sanctions to put rogue retailers out of business. The disposables ban is happening but we need a ban date announced as a priority, we need to get the sell through period started now, the sooner we have a date the sooner we can get these out of retail. This will also help enforcers as it will remove any ambiguity as to what is legal and what is not.

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Is anyone out there trying to run a cannabis business like Patagonia? Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard often said: “We're running Patagonia as if it's going to be here 100 years from now, but that doesn't mean we have 100 years to get there.” I think most of my colleagues would say it’s impossible to build a cannabis business for anything other than the next 1-5 years… even the ones who aren’t worried about making a profit during that period. While I would agree that the mix of regulatory uncertainty and yet-to-be-defined consumer behavior necessitates building for agility over fortitude, (more on this idea specifically tomorrow), Patagonia has woven this idea into the fabric of their business and their products in a way unlike any other company. We all should take note of the core concepts that drive their business forward with ‘100-year ethos’: Long-term Vision: Make decisions with a long-term view, prioritizing sustainability and ethics over short-term profits. Employee Well-being: Invest in employee satisfaction and well-being, developing a team of master-level operators who have a vested interest in the success of the company. Innovation: Continuously seek innovative solutions to internal challenges and consumer demands, thereby driving industry standards. Community Engagement: Support local communities where they operate, fostering long-term relationships. Transparency: Openly share supply chain processes and challenges, promoting accountability. Quality Over Quantity: Design products to provide value, not to produce profit. Undertake expansion thoughtfully, and without cutting corners. Sustainable Practices: Prioritize sustainable sourcing and manufacturing, reducing environmental impact and ensuring supply chain security. Activism: Actively engage in environmental and social causes, aligning with their values. Customer Education: Educate consumers about the impacts of their business and products, fostering mindful consumption. Corporate Responsibility: Take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, from design to disposal.

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