The holiday season is right around the corner! So what do you get the cannabis grower in your life?  Although the obvious choice might be a pair of socks decorated with cannabis leaves,  for the more sophisticated cannabis cultivator, we’ve found 14 gifts every grower would be stoked to receive. 

1. A mobile farm radio for grows in weak cell reception areas

Don’t let a weak signal put your communications in jeopardy! With a farm radio from Midland, you’ll always be able to get in touch with team members. The system from Midland can provide a range of up to 50 miles in areas with little or no obstruction.

2. Software to streamline their operations 

Traditionally, growers have used notebooks and whiteboards to track daily tasks and record grow data. But as the industry matures and operators scale their businesses, a need for smarter tools is born.

Meet Trym– user-friendly software built just for cultivators. Trym’s task management system allows a team to map out its tasks for a new plantings’ entire growth cycle. And Trym’s integrations with leading environmental sensors automate the monitoring of grow conditions. 

The coolest part is being able to access past data on harvests in order to optimize future ones. One thing all growers have in common is that they never stop trying to improve.

Help the grower in your life reach the success they deserve. With Trym they’ll quickly increase their operation’s productivity and consistency.

3. An environmental controls system to keep conditions at optimal levels

The professional grower who’s into tracking all of their environmental conditions will dig TrolMaster products for their powerful control systems and sensors that monitor lighting, temperature, humidity, and CO2.

Imagine how a plant experiences the sun outdoors, with gradual light intensity increasing from morning to afternoon. Now, a grower can program the light cycle and specific environmental conditions they desire to simulate natural outdoor conditions.

4. Microbiometer for quick and affordable soil tests

For farmers growing in soil, microbial biomass is considered to be the best indicator of soil health. With a product like a Microbiometer, growers can take their own on-site soil tests in only 10 minutes. 

Results are read through a mobile app and data is stored for later analysis. This is a great tool to track and evaluate the effectiveness of soil amendments. And for those who simply need to know their soil is healthy as can be, the Microbiometer is a fast and affordable way to do so.

5. Rapid wireless charging for long days 

12-hour days, lots of communication, research and note taking can take a toll on a grower’s phone. That’s why having a quick and easy way to charge up throughout the day is crucial. 

That’s where this Belkin charging stand comes in as the perfect gift. It offers up to 10 watts for Apple and Samsung so that you spend less time charging and more time tending to crops. 

6. A botanical illustration to dress up your wall

For a tasteful depiction of the beloved cannabis flower, these gorgeous prints from Goldleaf make a wonderful gift for anyone in the cannabis industry. 

Plus, all proceeds raised from these prints are donated to Project Sanctuary, an organization that helps military families and veterans returning from service. 

7. A garden gnome to watch over the crop

Help keep things lively in your grower’s work space. Whether they cultivate outdoors or in, a properly placed garden gnome will surely bring smiles. 

Gnomes are symbols of good luck and they are thought to provide protection. Who better to keep a close watch over a crop or home. There are plenty of gnomes to choose from–both big and small, so choose one that fits your grower’s personality.

8. Jeweler’s loupe to keep a close eye on the trichomes

After months of caring and nurturing their plants, one of the most important moments in a grower’s journey is deciding when it’s time to harvest. 

Growers listen to their plants and pay close attention to the trichomes, or resin glands on cannabis flowers. When they change from clear to milky, that’s when they know it’s time.

To monitor the trichomes, growers must be able to see them close up. This jeweler’s loupe has a handy LED light so they can see their handiwork day or night

9. Method 7 glasses for eye protection

Spending lots of time under grow lights can do serious damage to a grower’s eyes. Modern grow lights manipulate the natural light spectrum to mimic the sun’s rays, and too much exposure is not a good thing.

Every grower should protect their eyes while working in a grow room or light-assisted greenhouse. The most popular, high quality glasses in the industry are made by Method 7.

You’ll need to ask the grower what kind of lights they grow under because Method 7 makes glasses for all types including HPS, LED and Metal Halide.  

10. Airtight UV glass storage jars to keep their herb fresh

The freshness of cannabis diminishes rapidly with time, and the most harmful elements are oxygen and light. 

For a grower who smokes and wants a tasty, high-quality smoke each time, gift them a premium air-tight ultraviolet glass jar.This UV glass container from Masterdam will store and preserve their herb, increase its shelf life, and prolong its potency.

11. Smartphone camera lens for better quality grow photos and videos

One thing all growers have in common is pride in their work. Give them an opportunity and they’ll talk at length about their unique approach and how it results in the best cannabis possible. 

And they’re most likely to show you with a picture or video of their room. The issue is that if they don’t have a special filter on their phone, their shots will come out orange (if growing under HPS bulbs). 

This clip-on lens filter attaches to a phone and filters out the red-spectrum light to help the growers showcase their prized garden. 

12. A utility holster organizes necessities 

Growers have lots of tools and items they need within reach. It’s a hassle to pack your pockets before you step into the grow area and then clean them out each day. Instead,  this utility holster does a better job of keeping their things tidy and in one place. 

The holster easily clips on to waistbands, belts, or straps, and makes the perfect gift for someone needing a little bit more organization in their work space.

13. Hemp Coasters to bring their passion into their living space

These aren’t just any coasters. They’re made of hemp rope and are a subtle but distinct nod to the cannabis and hemp industry. These coasters are hand-made and can be found on Etsy.

Forget plastic, hemp is the promising crop towards increased sustainability. A simple, yet unique gift for any and all growers. 

14. Lava soap for clean and smooth hands

Anyone who has  worked with cannabis knows how sticky the flowers are. Even short tasks like pruning or deleafing result in sticky hands that are layered with resin from the plants.  

Regular old soap doesn’t cut it, which is why the perfect stocking stuffer for the growers in your life is Lava Soap.

This pumice soap cuts through all that resin and is a heavy-duty alternative to regular soap. Help a grower keep their hands clean and soft with this pumice soap, used by many since 1893.

Haus of Jane announces Women in Plant Medicine Virtual Summit! to be held on September 30, 2020. The online event brings together women working in the stigmatized plant medicine industry to build community, network for business and inspire political activism. Tickets are on sale now: http://hausofjane.com

“By bringing women together on a global level we have the opportunity to make our voices heard politically, find the support we need in growing our businesses and strengthen the women’s movement at home,” Kyra Reed, Co Founder, Haus of Jane. ‘The event will be packed with opportunities to network, make friends and build community.”

What: Haus of Jane is hosting women in a virtual environment that facilitates networking, education and engagement on a dynamic platform.
When: September 30, 2020 –10 am PT to 6 pm PT
Where: Online, sign up now: http://hausofjane.com

Guests will find a DJ on the Main Stage, Salons type group networking and over 30 presentations to learn about how women in plant medicine are advancing the industries in which they work.

“Whether you are new to plant medicine as a career and you’ve been leading the charge against prohibition for decades, you’ll find inspiration, new information and a community of like minded women to explore how plant medicine can heal the world,” added Reed.

Haus of Jane Co-Founder, Lisa Snyder, adds, “It is imperative as women that we take this opportunity to strategize and unify with an intentional desire to connect with like minded individuals who support global health and the well-being of all humans on this planet.”

Many well-respected industry leaders are showing resounding support for the Haus of Jane community including White Buffalo Spirit, MCS Accounting Services, Cannasite, Potency, ACS Laboratory, Nternal / Xternal, Clark Howell & Barbari.

“The Women In Plant Medicine Summit is produced and curated by women working in cannabis with the goal of creating a virtual conference that fosters conversation, establishes unity among women in the industry and informs with real, raw presentations on science, policy and what it means to be a woman working in stigmatized plant medicines,” explained Snyder. “Whether you’re new to plant medicine as a career or you’ve been leading the charge against prohibition for decades, you’ll find inspiration, new information and a community of like minded women to explore how plant medicine can heal the world.”

So many things have been turned upside down with this pandemic, and saying we live in interesting times would be an understatement. Industries and businesses are being demolished and altered in ways unheard of just a month ago, and a rare few are actually booming. 

For the cannabis industry, one of the biggest changes leading to a boom is that as a whole cannabis is now being considered an “essential” part of life nationwide. The level of legitimacy this brings to the industry would have normally taken another decade. 

Delivery services and curb side pick-up have been implemented across the country also erasing years of necessary effort overnight. But overall, the complete change in cannabis consumer behavior has been one of the most interesting developments to witness for many of us.

As reported by Vice, politics and current events are major sources of anxiety for many in the United States and this leads to an increase of unhealthy behaviors like drinking alcohol, smoking, or eating poorly to cope with what is termed as “headlines distress disorder”.

In times of great stress, the sale of alcoholic beverages has proven to surge without fail. With legal cannabis now implemented around the country, the same is now proving to be true. According to Headset, during this current Coronavirus crisis, US adult use cannabis markets show average daily sales at large increase by 10%.

Sue Bachorski, formerly with Constellation Brands for 30 years and currently with the House of Saka, explained that “historically, alcohol sales frequently rise during times of economic downturn, regional disasters, etc. There is no reason to believe that cannabis sales would be any different and there will likely be a prolonged upswing for the foreseeable future.”

The Numbers Say It All

As of April 2, 2020, Headset released data that shows how the landscape of preferred cannabis products and consumption methods has proven to alter completely.  In the analysis, Headset compares the average daily sales of each product category before the COVID-19 sales bump began (January 1st through March 6th) to the COVID-19 crisis time period (March 7th through March 31st).

Cannabis infused beverage sales have increased by 14% while edibles accounted for a 28% increase. With infused beverages previously only accounting for 1% of the market, this is a big jump for the category. The reasoning for this change in consumer sales makes sense considering the virus attacks your respiratory system, so people would rather eat or drink their cannabis instead of smoking or vaping it. Pre-rolls and topicals have actually fallen by 13%.

I reached out to some key players in these categories to find out why they feel these increases have occurred. Warren Bobrow, co-founder of cannabis infused beverage brand Klaus Apothicaire and a Vices writer for Forbes, told Green Market Report that he felt that “while being quarantined in our homes, it makes perfect sense to further expand our inner space with high quality cannabis beverages and edibles. Smokable products could prove tricky with this particular virus.”

Ben Larson, CEO of Vertosa, said that “in these uncertain and challenging times, it’s an encouraging silver lining to see cannabis consumers increasingly seeking out infused beverages. There are likely several factors affecting the recent rise in sales, but an important takeaway is that infused beverages are typically designed for individual consumption and can be consumed discreetly, which is ideal during social distancing. They are also an approachable, familiar way to consume cannabis for less experienced users and those looking to avoid smoking during this time.”

The Women Stepped Up Their Spending

Beyond the types of products surging, the Headset data showed that even gender sales show a change in behavior during this crisis. While both genders saw significant increases in cannabis spending, females had more than double the sales growth of males. As Headset previously reported, males make up roughly two thirds of cannabis spending on any given day. Therefore, it could be speculated that females were less likely to have cannabis products on hand and more likely to feel a sense of urgency to stock up.

Tracey Mason, CEO of House of Saka, explains that she believes females could be a major driver in these increased category surges because “there is a triangulation of needs that beverages and edibles meet specifically for the female consumer: They offer precise dosing which provides a safe and controlled means by which to experiment, they offer a subtle means of consumption which removes the stigma associated with smoking and vaping and they are multi-use which drives sociability and expands usage occasions. Safe, Subtle and Social, those are the benefits of infused beverages in a nutshell.”

It remains to be seen as to whether these changes will become market altering over the long term, or if it was truly just a panic surge with no real impact. But as far as the change in gender sales, if this pattern continues, brands will need to evolve their marketing campaigns to appeal more to women.  

Understandably, edible and beverage brands are predicting continued growth. “We’ve seen exponential growth in our edibles sales at Garden Society and expect that as these shelter in place orders remain in place, we will continue to see growth. We believe this will have an impact on the overall market and consumer trends over the next year,” said Karli Warner, co-founder of The Garden Society

Geoff Doran, founder and CEO of Van Doran Brands, stated that “right now we are watching this trend very closely as edible and infused beverage companies. We aren’t too surprised that there is a current spike with these categories. We think the current spike has a lot to do with the “newbies” that are bored at home and giving cannabis a shot because of easy access they have through delivery, and quite frankly because they have nothing else to do with their days. A lot of the new cannabis buyers tend to gravitate toward a method of consumption that is familiar to them, which is obviously through eating and drinking. We’re excited about this spike because we know people will realize that edibles and cannabis beverages are a great cannabis experience!”

Driven Deliveries Inc. (the “Company” or Driven) (OTC: DRVD), California’s fastest growing online cannabis retailer and direct-to-consumer delivery company announced today, that over the last 10 days the company has experienced record growth and demand with a greater than 100% increase in sales. Following California’s decision to deem Cannabis deliveries an “essential business,” Driven is increasing infrastructure to provide California customers safe access to legal cannabis through the government mandated quarantine.

“Driven Deliveries was founded on the bedrock principle of enabling universal access to cannabis to California’s population,” said Driven Deliveries’ CEO Christian Schenk. “Driven is the only service that provides deliveries to 92% of California’s population, giving millions of people access to on-demand legal cannabis from the security and safety of their own home during this very difficult time”.

Driven Deliveries’ proprietary logistics system, acquired from Budee Inc, designed to expand efficiently based on demand in a given area, performed flawlessly during the surge in demand. “Our major launch came earlier than expected,” said Sal Villanueva, President Driven Deliveries. “The operations team has done an amazing job integrating Driven’s 3 brands on a unified platform giving Driven the ability to rapidly support the additional demand,” he added.

The impact of coronavirus has required Driven to scale its driver network to meet the increase in demand. In an effort to comply with Government orders to stay home, Driven expects further growth as people continue to incorporate delivery services into their new routines.

Finally, Driven continues to innovate in ways to make delivery both easier and safer. Driven’s delivery system allows consumers to leverage electronic payment methods as well as cash, making it significantly more convenient than other options. In addition to the extra steps being taken to ensure safe deliveries through the use of protective disposable gloves and continuous sanitization, Driven is also exploring new ways that technology can be used for a contact free delivery while still meeting the ID verification requirements.

Driven Deliveries understands that anxiety and stress are increased around the country, and that both medical and recreational customers want access to cannabis without the risk of exposure associated with visiting a dispensary.

Xzibit is one celebrity that has a ton of knowledge and experience in the cannabis industry. He was a major driving force with the Cannabis Brand Brass Knuckles, previously valued at 170 million dollars.

Xzibit’s new premium brand consists of Vape Pens, Vape Carts, Hemp Pre-Rolls, and the industry’s first 7 gram premium flower pre- roll made with 1 gram of live resin infused rolling paper finished with a glass smoking tip, all packaged inside of a collectable glass hand grenade; a truly impressive product.

The 7 gram pre-roll will feature many of the industry’s top cannabis flower brands. The Napalm products will officially launch and be distributed in California, March 2020 by Greenwood and Co. in Chatsworth along with its sister brand “Just Mary”, a premium cannabis flower brand. Retailers and dispensaries lucky enough to get in on the launch of these brands can likely expect a personal delivery and visit from Xzibit himself.

“It’s been amazing working with this  team to build the “Napalm”  & “Just Mary” cannabis brands. I’d like to thank 14th Round and TouchStone in Santa Ana, and Greenwood & Company Distribution in Chatsworth for being great partners throughout this journey.  We are committed to excellence and look forward to creating innovative products to share with our cannabis community,”stated Xzibit.

As journalists, brand owners and industry professionals, daily we must interact and engage with communication specialists to accomplish a myriad of goals. Like anything, some individuals tend to be more efficient, trustworthy, effective and more of a pleasure to work with overall.

There is nothing more upsetting than wasting time and money on services that do not meet your company’s needs, especially if it can be avoided. So understanding who these people are can help us in our collective decision making when it comes time to scout talent or in hiring firms and consultants.

Over the last year and a half, our team at the Green Market Report has created a running list of the top communication professionals that we feel warrant recognition. After careful consideration among the GMR team, we have selected the top ten that we feel you and your company can engage with effectively. We feel comfortable recommending each person in this group for their work and accomplishments within their special areas of the industry for communications.

Each one of these individuals rank among the most knowledgeable, influential, helpful and professional to work with.

Daniel Yi, Chief Communications Officer at Shryne Group Inc.

Daniel is a seasoned communications executive with more than two decades of experience crafting narratives that connect with audiences.

In 2016, he joined a little known cannabis management firm called MedMen and helped the brand become one of the most recognized names in the industry, earning the company more than six billion earned media impressions in 2018.

As a former journalist, Daniel understands and believes in the power of narrative to change minds and hearts. In the span of a 10-year career at the Los Angeles Times, he covered several beats and later transitioned to marketing communications and public relations, helping organizations like the Port of Long Beach, the County of Los Angeles and Edison International connect with diverse audiences.

Today, Daniel is the chief communications officer of Shryne Group, a vertically integrated cannabis enterprise focused on California, the largest, most mature legal cannabis market in the world.

Rosie Mattio Founder & CEO of Mattio Communications

Rosie is the founder and CEO of MATTIO Communications, the preeminent cannabis marketing agency in the U. S. She helped usher in the New Cannabis Age, garnering global media coverage in mainstream publications for clients, including the first cannabis article ever published in Oprah Magazine.

Over the past year, her New York firm has grown alongside the industry, adding marketing and communications services for clients, including content, SEO, investor relations, event planning, and influencer marketing.

Today, Rosie is considered a market maker in the world of cannabis. She has been acknowledged in High Times Female 50, and Forbes Fifteen Powerful and Innovative Women In Cannabis. MATTIO Communications has been named in MG Magazines Top 50 Cannabis Employers and Green Entrepreneur’s Top 100 Cannabis Companies.  Ranked the #1 cannabis PR firm by Greenmarket Report, Rosie is a strategic powerhouse, industry connector and influencer. 

Jason Erkes, Chief Communications Officer at Cresco Labs 

After working with them as a senior consultant for three years, Jason joined the leadership of Cresco Labs as their Chief Communications Officer. Cresco Labs (CL:CSE), based in Chicago, is a leading U.S. cannabis company with experienced management, access to capital and a demonstrated growth strategy.

His roadmap for success: learn quickly, build bridges, know the market, be tenacious. He has been a journalist, political advisor, entrepreneur, Influencer, turnaround expert and philanthropist. Jason has been identified as a “rising star” as a Crain’s Chicago Business “40 under 40”, won Emmy Awards for excellence in journalism through his work at ABC and FOX News, received national political recognition as a recipient of the prestigious Reed Award and hobnobbed with a wide spectrum of characters, from Lady Gaga to the most powerful politicians.

Erkes has been featured in media outlets like Forbes and Entrepreneur as a marketing and communications expert. After selling the powerhouse sports and events company Chicago Sport and Social Club, where he built a network 100,000 members strong and worked with the nation’s top brands, Erkes began advising CEO’s, entrepreneurs and businesses in the emerging cannabis industry on how to build authoritative brands. 

Gia Moron, Founder and CEO of GVM Communications, Inc

Gia is the Founder and CEO of GVM Communications, Inc. a public relations, brand & business development consulting firm launched in 2012. She team of consultants & freelancers work with an array of clients in the Arts, Education, Financial Services, Diversity & Inclusion, Publishing, Sports & Entertainment, Technology, and Wellness.

In 2015, the firm expanded its services into the cannabis industry. Gia leverages her 25+ years of experience in corporate communications, her firm remains equally vested in diverse markets of business ranging from: (Non-Profits, privately owned to Publicly traded Fortune 500 companies. The firm has a client base ranges from small to mid-sized businesses, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, authors and celebrity clients). Prior to launching her firm, Gia was a Media Relations Officer in the Corporate Communications department for fifteen years at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

While at Goldman Sachs, Gia oversaw various business areas from Private Equity, Urban Investment, Investment Research and Technology to the firm’s organizational focus on Corporate Engagement, Diversity, Recruiting, Human Resources and Corporate Services. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Gia was Director of Promotions and Publicity for six years at The Fremantle Corporation, an international television distribution, and production company. 

Linda Marsicano, VP Corporate Communications at Green Thumb Industries

Linda Marsicano joined Green Thumb Industries in February 2018 as Vice President, Corporate Communications and manages all aspects of media and public relations. She has more than 20 years of experience in communications working for publicly traded companies, private entities and nonprofit organizations.

Her background includes leading external communications for Fortune 500 nuclear power company Exelon Corporation and serving as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Playboy Enterprises and Vice President of Public Relations for mortgage lender Guaranteed Rate. She has also overseen public relations for medical societies and not-for-profit professional associations. Linda has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Miami University in Ohio.

She serves on the advisory board of the Civic Leadership Foundation, an educational organization dedicated to preparing under-served young people for college, career and active citizenship. She lives in Chicago with her husband and 12-year-old twin daughters.

Alex Howe, Head Of Corporate Communications at Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc.

Howe has two decades of experience working in corporate strategy and communications for cannabis, consumer, technology, Fortune 50 and sports and entertainment companies and has helped launch dozens of companies and build brands across industries.

Howe is currently the Head of Corporate Communications for Harvest Health & Recreation Inc., a vertically-integrated cannabis company with one of the largest and deepest footprints in the U.S., where he leads communications and strategy focusing on patients, consumers, media, regulators, investors, local communities and partners.

In 2017 Howe co-founded and served as president of Rebel Coast, the world’s first commercially available cannabis-infused, alcohol-removed wine beverage currently sold throughout California.

Howe formerly served as president and co-founder of Powerplant Global Strategies, the first strategic partnerships, communications and investor relations firm exclusively focused on the legal cannabis industry. At Powerplant he worked closely with many of the best-known companies in the cannabis industry, including PAX, Arcview, Merida Capital Partners, I Heart Jane, THC Design and many others. In 2018, he was named one of Marijuana Venture magazine’s “40 Under 40.”

Prior to joining Powerplant, Howe was a director at fama, North America’s premier boutique PR firm for technology companies, where he launched startups and developed thought leadership campaigns for enterprise companies in the B2C and B2B spaces. Before fama, Alex was a vice president at Global Strategy Group in New York City, where he provided public affairs support, digital, traditional and crisis communications and produced award-winning campaigns for Google, Formula 1, UFC, Nestlé Waters, Time Warner, Inc. and the New York Road Runners.

Shawna Seldon Mcgregor, Founder & CEO of Maverick Public Relations 

Shawna Seldon McGregor is the founder of Maverick Public Relations, which was established in 2018 and quickly garnered recognition as one of the most effective cannabis PR agencies.

McGregor’s cannabis and hemp experience is unparalleled, working from the inception of adult-use in Colorado to bring brand messaging to the national stage and working closely with national and trade reporters, as well as infiltrating specific emerging markets. With two decades of experience in New York City and Denver, McGregor has deep experience representing a multitude of sectors including health & wellness, biotech, agribusiness, associations and media. Her mission is to provide big agency expertise with outstanding client service by seasoned and knowledgeable communications expert.

She’s passionate about good journalism and wants to see the Fourth Estate not just survive but thrive. She is hands-on, sincere, genuine and responsive, and oversees a diverse team based in metro Denver, California, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Lewis Goldberg, Managing Partner at KCSA Strategic Communications

Lewis is a Managing Partner at KCSA and oversees the firm’s public relations practice.For more than 20 years, Lewis has worked to implement eminence, thought leadership, and public affairs programs designed to build business and garner fairer valuations.

Lewis developed a campaign mentality working in national, state and local politics for U.S. President Bill Clinton, U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli and then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. He designs programs with a specific business objective in mind, a targeted timeframe, attention to maximizing limited resources and a measurable ROI.

In 2015 Lewis helped found KCSA’s cannabis practice and has become recognized as one of the most effective strategic thinkers in this growing field. He is the co-host of KCSA’s weekly podcast, The Green Rush, and speaks regularly at conferences on the use of strategic communications to achieve specific business objectives.

Evan Nison, Founder & CEO of Nison Co.

Evan Nison is the youngest member of the NORML Board of Directors and sits on the Board of Directors of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. He is the founder of the PR firm NisonCo, which connects leaders in the legal cannabis, medical marijuana, and hemp industries with influential journalists across the U.S. and world. As part of his mission to build socially driven businesses, he co-founded Whoopi & Maya, a women’s-focused cannabis brand with actress Whoopi Goldberg and fellow NORML board member Rick Cusick. He then went on to co-found Emerald Farm Tours, a Northern California-based cannabis tour company to give the public a transparent hands-on view of the cannabis industry from seed to sale, and Bloody Good Vape & Smoke, a smoke shop in New Jersey he founded with a victim of cannabis prohibition who was held in jail for a year awaiting trial.

Evan has been mentioned in news sources such as the NY Times, CNN, Politico, USA Today, NBC New York, Bloomberg TV, Forbes, and has been profiled in The Cannabist, Civilized, Ithaca Times, Home News Tribune, The Marijuana Times, and the Sun Times. He also received the 2011 NORML Student Activism Award and High Times Freedom Fighter Award for his advocacy. He also received one of the pens used to sign the New York 911 Good Samaritan Law and New York medical marijuana law for his involvement in the passage of both bills.

Heidi Haller Groshelle, Founder & CEO of Groshelle Communications

After four decades of technology public relations, which included launching consumer products like the first plasma TVs, the first mobile phone for kids, and the first flying car, Heidi tackled the cannabis industry in 2015. Heidi’s passion for the plant has allowed her business to thrive with a stellar client roster including PHILTER Labs, PLUS Products, PrestoDoctor, CannaBiz Connections, TraceTrust, and Solful Dispensary to name a few. 

In the past five years, Heidi has introduced the first cannabis-infused gum, rolled out the first line of doctor-designed and approved cannabis topicals, and launched dozens of cannabis brands onto the national stage. 

Heidi has earned numerous accolades for her work including the Hermes Award, Bulldog, and Communicator awards. Heidi’s unique approach to cannabis (and her stellar client roster) has given her a reputation as a leader in the cannabis market and more importantly as a champion of all women in the industry.

Tracey Mason is a 25–year veteran of the adult beverage industry with experience in nearly every facet. She has held executive–level marketing positions at some of the world’s largest beverage companies, including Diageo, where she worked her way up from sales management to Director of Commercial Innovation, and Fosters Wine Estates, where she held the position of Vice President of Marketing/Innovation until 2006, when she left to pursue her dream of running a small business. 

As Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Epic Wines, a mid–sized, California–based distributor of fine wines, Tracey honed her leadership and financial management skills while leading the company toward extraordinary growth. She left Epic in 2008 to take an equity position at ProVina Inc, a Silicon Valley startup focused on technology–based innovation in winemaking, and began consulting to a number of established and start–up companies, including Golden Star Tea and Clos de la Tech Winery.

In 2010, Tracey was drawn back into the corporate world to take the role of Executive Vice President of Global Marketing at Goelet Wines Estates (GWE). There, she championed the repositioning and renaissance of the iconic Clos Du Val Winery, solidifying her position as a brand renovation specialist.

Tracey left GWE in April 2013 and launched M3G, Inc. Today, M3G is leading brand marketing, PR, innovation and renovation projects for some of Northern California’s most renowned companies, including Valley of the Moon Winery, Silverado Vineyards, ZIATA Wines and others.

Title: Co-founder & CEO

Company: House of Saka, Inc.

Years at current company: 1.5

Green Market Report Executive Spotlight Q&A:

Most successful professional accomplishment before cannabis: President and Creative Director of M3G-Inc, My own consulting company.

Company Mission: To create the most luxurious and consistent female-centric cannabis-infused product experience ever offered.

Company’s most successful achievement: Acting as true innovators and trailblazers to bring our beautiful products to market in the manner in which we envisioned.

Has the company raised any capital (yes or no): Yes

Any plans on raising capital in the future? Yes, Series A pending, Q1 2019

Most important company 5 year goal: To be broadly acknowledged as the leading female-run company in cannabis in the US as determined by category leading brands, meaningful philanthropy, success-driven company culture, shareholder value and, of course, profit.

Today MTech Acquisition Corp. and MJ Freeway LLC announced the completion of their merger to form the Akerna Corp. MTech Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: MTEC), the first US-listed Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) focused on acquiring a business ancillary to the cannabis industry, and MJ Freeway, a leading seed-to-sale regulatory compliance technology provider and developer of the cannabis industry’s first enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, has now become the first compliance technology company in the cannabis space to be traded on Nasdaq. Jessica Billingsley also becomes the first female CEO from the cannabis industry to lead a company that will trade on the exchange.

Last Saturday, people all over the world came together to celebrate cannabis culture. In Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom thousands of people peacefully marched in the streets for their right to cannabis, and in South Africa they came together under a banner of love and mutual respect, enjoying fellowship with like-minds. In Los Angeles, I was at the BudTrader Ball.

The big dream used to be getting to Amsterdam for the cannabis cup, where shops like the Grasshopper and Bulldog were on the must visit list. Now, the reality of the situation is, if you want to attend a 4/20 event in a “legal” state, you just find the one closest to you and plan a vacation. As anyone who has ever been to Los Angeles and paid attention to their surroundings knows, there are many dispensaries in the area. The peeps at  BudTrader.com make it their job to let you know where these are at, if you are having difficulty spotting green crosses.

I fully understand that what is described in this article is not reality for everyone reading it. Get involved, vote, and hold politicians accountable. Cannabis policy has crossed the point of no return out of prohibition. In today’s green rush, many cannabis companies are expressing themselves and our culture through events such as those held on 4/20. They go solo, partner with like-minded brands, or reach out to the greater community outside of the cannabis space.

Each of these approaches have merit, and in their own way are impactful, based upon the goals of the company, and the people they serve. This is replicated myriad ways throughout the cannabis empire. In the City of Angels, epicenter of the cannabis industry, the professionals let their hair down for an interactive, art filled event.

The 2019 BudTrader Ball at Wisdome in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District “was an opportunity to meet other high-caliber cannabis industry business people, influencers, and investors in an environment that allowed us to celebrate the cannabis plant.” Said Tim McGraw, CEO of Canna-Hub.

It was an experience like no other I’ve had in the cannabis space to date. The art was exceptional, food delicious, music rocking, and cannabis plentiful. The people weren’t so bad either. I felt good to be in a proper space that was also used by the general public, not isolated from every living thing, and being able to partake in the herb without feeling out of place. It felt, normal.

***All photo credits belong to Michael Allen Howard of BudTrader.com except for the final photo which was provided by the author Ricardo Pereyda