Ayr Wellness Inc. announced the opening of Liberty Health Sciences (LHS) Port Richey, the Company’s 42nd operating dispensary in Florida.

The dispensary is located at 9314 US Highway 19, Port Richey within Pasco County, which is home to a population of 560,000 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The store brings LHS to the Gulf Coast city, which attracts visitors from throughout Florida and the U.S. for its lush landscapes and well-known 8,300-acre wilderness park.

The new location features LHS’s expanded selection of flower strains, in addition to the Company’s recently launched Origyn concentrates, Big Pete’s Cookies and Secret Orchard vape cartridges.

Jonathan Sandelman, CEO of Ayr, said, “We appreciate the wonderful reception that we’ve received from the people of Port Richey and look forward to introducing them to our high-quality offerings. We now have 42 stores open in the state, thanks to the hard work from our Florida team which continues to find excellent locations to plant our flag.”



The U.S. House approved the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act recently in a bipartisan 316-113 vote as part of the latest National Defense Authorization Act, a military spending bill. It’s the fifth time the legislation has been approved in the House as a standalone bill or an amendment as part of larger legislation. Since statewide cannabis reform has been enacted over the past four decades, cannabis businesses still are not fully tolerated, most evidently in federal restrictions, such as the way banking is restricted.

Representative Ed Perlmutter re-introduced the bill, as promised, saying that it would allow cannabis businesses to access the banking system—like any other industry—and would bring more money into the economy and offer the opportunity to create good-paying jobs. On September 21, the House Rules Committee approved the SAFE Banking Act as they sifted through over 800 amendments filed for the $778 billion FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to determine which ones will get a floor vote. As Representative Perlmutter sits in the Rules Committee, the move suggests he has influence.



Trulieve Cannabis Corp. announced the launch of a new line of high-quality cannabis concentrates made through hydrocarbon extraction. Live Resin, a high-terpene, single-source extract, is the first offering from Trulieve’s new hydrocarbon line.

Live Resin is created in Trulieve’s state-of-the-art hydrocarbon extraction lab using the Company’s proprietary blend of propane and butane on TruFlower that has been frozen immediately after harvest. The result is a strain-specific and full-spectrum concentrate that is exceptionally flavorful. It contains higher levels of cannabinoids and terpenes than other concentrates. Live Resin provides patients with a powerful and richly aromatic experience with a broader sensation of effects.

“We’ve spent the last year focused on developing products that highlight more than THC and CBD, creating terpene-heavy, full-spectrum, and single-source oil products including our TruWax concentrate and signature TruSpectrum cartridges,” said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers. “Cannabis is an incredible medicine not only because of the medical properties of cannabinoids like THC and CBD, but because of every element of the plant. Having an opportunity to utilize an industry-leading technology like hydrocarbon extraction will allow us to expand our comprehensive product catalog and continue bringing innovative, natural, and, more importantly, effective relief to our diverse range of patients across Florida.”

Hydrocarbon extraction uses solvents to gently process cannabis, allowing for the retention of high levels of the plant’s original flavor and terpene and cannabinoid profiles at a lower temperature. By protecting the delicate properties of the plant from high heat, the process creates a consumption experience most similar to smoking whole flower cannabis.

Trulieve’s first hydrocarbon extracted concentrates, Live Resin in the popular Member Berry and Orchard Nectar strains, are available in .5g sizes throughout Florida. All of the extracts in Trulieve’s product line will be strain-specific, ranging across Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid products.

For more information, or to order online, visit www.Trulieve.com.



By Vanessa Orr

Dr. Jeff Ritter, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Master of Science in Health Service Administration Programs (MSHSA) at Barry University, first became interested in a career in healthcare at a young age.

“As a child, I had a number of ailments that required clinical care, and I developed a great respect for the clinicians, physicians and nurses that treated me,” he explained. “That drove me to pursue a career in healthcare after college.”

After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Baruch College in New York City, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Long Island University, and a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Ritter served as a hospital administrator, and held executive positions in both the managed care and insurance industries. He also has more than 25 years of management consulting experience in the pharmaceutical, managed care, technology and business process industries.

“Around 2004, I got into teaching because I decided at a certain point that I wanted to be able to give something back; to provide students with the kind of direction and support that I had gotten in my career,” said Dr. Ritter.

At Barry University, he teaches health care strategy, marketing, leadership, managed care, and policy, and is also the coordinator of the internship program for graduate students.

Approximately 15 years ago, Dr. Ritter joined the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), where he served as a board member for the South Florida chapter and also led the student case competition for the MSHSA program for a number of years that was sponsored by ACHE.

“I joined because I thought it would be a good way to connect with local healthcare leaders; the networking events provide an opportunity to establish relationships with those in the same industry,” he explained. “It’s hard to say what aspect I find the most useful; I appreciate the educational programs and mentoring opportunities, and just being a part of the community.”

He also utilizes the things he learns through ACHE in his day-to-day job.

“I think that it’s very important to be able to share best practices with students, and to explain what it’s like for those in administration to manage teams and to be part of an organization,” he said of the opportunity to see how a range of healthcare leaders deal with various leadership and managerial challenges.

He added that he encourages students planning a career in healthcare to join ACHE as well.

“ACHE is a great resource, whether you’re looking for educational events, mentoring, internships or more,” he said. “I encourage students to join because it gives credibility to what they’re doing. it’s another step in the process toward success.”



By Chad Tingle

Video content marketing is a relatively new way for businesses to promote their products and services. By making videos, companies can curate shareable content on various social media platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter. As technology advances, it has become a method sought after by more companies due to its reach and returns.

The great thing about video content marketing is that it’s becoming easier to do. When done well, it can be a powerful tool for a brand to spread its message in a way that is easily accessible to a larger audience. But aside from the reach it provides, what else can it do?

1. Better Explanation

Videos provide better explanations and context than photos. Video content is a helpful tool for enticing potential buyers to buy a product by showing the items’ uses, importance, and relevance. At least 94 percent of marketers mentioned that using video content has helped increase user understanding of a product or service.

Most customers only buy products that they understand. It also adds to the buying possibilities if they can understand what the product does exactly. For example, companies that sell tech devices invest in videos to help sell new products to the market.

2. Return on Investment

ROI is possible for video content marketing, but it would still depend on several factors, such as the content strategy and the quality of videos. However, 83 percent of marketers still think video content gives them a good return on investment. Although producing video content is expensive, various options make it possible to create a good video without having to spend too much.

People can record high-quality videos on mobile phones. Before, without smartphones, people needed expensive cameras and luxurious setups. But now, with an entry-level phone and a skill for editing, everyone can create video content that can help a business sell. Keep in mind that spending less on producing video content means it’s easier to get a positive ROI.

3. Variety of Use

Video content is a versatile tool that provides marketers with options. It’s easy to find a method that fits your company’s marketing goals. Although YouTube is the most popular platform for creating videos, other social media platforms, such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, are also exciting contenders.

Live videos have grown in recent years, with industry giants like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch—offering ways for businesses to stream live content. Live videos are as effective as uploaded videos. Facebook claims that live streams get six times more interactions than regular videos.

4. People Are Drawn to Videos

People, by nature, are drawn to videos. As technology made it easier for businesses to record videos, it has also made it convenient to watch content. In 2017, people watched over a billion hours of videos every day on YouTube.

Meanwhile, Twitter revealed that there are two billion views on its platform daily. On top of that, tweets with embedded videos get ten times more engagement than those without. In effect, businesses that do not produce video content are missing out on attention online.

5. Videos Are SEO-Friendly

Video content ranks better in SEO. Uploading videos on video-sharing platforms while using target keywords can be an excellent way to get your business on the first page of Google. The search engine includes YouTube videos at the top of the page for most search terms.

Conclusion

Overall, video content marketing is the future of promoting products and services. Since it’s easier to produce videos today, most businesses result in creating high-quality content while maximizing what people need and expect from them. If your company doesn’t use video content as a marketing tool, then maybe it’s time to consider it.

Crown Street Films is a full-service production agency with locations in Miami and Los Angeles. We are dedicated to producing exceptional content that can be disseminated across any medium, platform, or network. Check out our services at crownstreetfilms.com and schedule an appointment today.

For more information, contact Chad Tingle at (305) 794-7201 or chad@crownstreetfilms.com.