ARIZONA ADULT-USE LEGALIZATION: PROSPECTS AND BENEFICIARIES Arizona – one of the biggest medical cannabis markets – is looking to legalize adult-use marijuana through the November 3 ballot. With Proposition 207, Arizona aims to legalize recreational cannabis and apply a 16% tax on marijuana sales in the state. If successful at the ballot box, Prop. 207 will [...]
MICHIGAN’S BLOOMING CANNABIS MARKET AND ITS BEST-POSITIONED PLAYER Driven by adult-use legalization, Michigan is emerging as one of the most attractive cannabis markets in the U.S., with 2020 sales expected to top $1 billion and an average basket size that is superior to all other states. Michigan began adult-use sales in December 2019 and the state’s [...]
CRESCO LABS (CRLBF): HEADED INTO A PHASE OF ACCELERATED GROWTH The topline of Cresco Labs (CRLBF) – one of the biggest vertically integrated MSOs and the largest branded cannabis products wholesaler in the U.S. – is set to grow to $1.3 billion in 2024, nearly 10x its 2019 revenue. Cresco is one of the largest U.S. [...]
CBN: THE MINOR CANNABINOID READY FOR THE MAJOR LEAGUE In our January 15 Stash report, we identified Cannabigerol (CBG) as the next big cannabinoid after THC and CBD thanks to its non-psychoactive nature and therapeutic properties which include 1) the ability to help regulate mood, 2) cancer fighting properties, 3) antibacterial properties, 4) potential ability to [...]
CANNABIS’ ILLICIT-TO-LEGAL VALUE MIGRATION IS FINALLY HAPPENING The long-awaited $60bn+ illicit-to-legal value migration in the North American cannabis industry finally seems to be playing out. In our Cannabis Industry Primer: Growing Like a Weed, we discussed that the illicit-to-legal value migration of cannabis sales is the single most important growth driver for investors to monitor as [...]
State-level legalization momentum continues to intensify with Pennsylvania signaling its intent to legalize recreational cannabis. Late last month, Pennsylvania (PA) Governor Tom Wolf asked state legislators to legalize recreational marijuana, saying the government could use the tax revenue to support small businesses impacted by the pandemic and to fund restorative justice programs. The call for adult-use [...]
The DEA’s recently announced Interim Final Rule (IFR) related to the 2018 Farm Bill has far-reaching negative consequences for the entire hemp and hemp-derived CBD industry. On August 20, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued proposed rules for hemp and CBD to put the federal agency officially in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill. The good [...]
THE CANNABIS TECH SPACE IS HEATING UP; AND THE CONTENDERS ARE ... The pandemic has resulted in heightened use of technology and e-commerce solutions across industries, and cannabis is no exception. With in-store cannabis sales taking a backseat due to lockdowns and social distancing measures, cannabis consumers have taken to online ordering of marijuana for home [...]
CANNABIS IS A COVID-19 WINNER. HERE IS PROOF. In the last few months, we have shared our views on why COVID-19 is a net positive for the cannabis industry, including cannabis’ essential status and its emergence as a recession-proof consumer industry (read our previous notes here, here, and here). The latest data from LeafLink, a cannabis [...]
ILLINOIS: A FAST-GROWING WINNER-TAKE-ALL CANNABIS MARKET Benefits of cannabis’ essential status and illicit-to-legal migration are best reflected in Illinois – the youngest state to legalize recreational cannabis – where total marijuana sales (adult use + medical) are on track to top the $1 billion mark in 2020. In June 2019, Illinois became the 11th U.S. state [...]
