MedMen Enterprises Inc., a premier cannabis retailer with operations across the United States, announced plans to sell its Florida assets to Florida-based private company Green Sentry Holdings LLC for $83 million. The cash deal includes the sale of substantially all of MedMen’s Florida-based assets, including its license, dispensaries, inventory and cultivation operations. Additionally, the Company agreed to license its trademarks in the state for a two-year period, subject to termination rights, for a quarterly revenue-based fee. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. The deal is expected to close in late April or early May 2022, pending the receipt of all required contractual consents and governmental approvals including the requisite change of ownership approval from the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use.

“As MedMen continues to transform its business model and position itself for future growth, our go-forward strategy is going to include an asset-light model that enables us to leverage the power and strength of the MedMen brand,” said Michael Serruya, MedMen’s Chairman and Interim CEO. “We feel confident this model will deliver strong financial results and opportunities for growth across many states and will continue to identify trademark licensing opportunities that will introduce the MedMen brand and retail experience to other markets across the United States and internationally.”



Trulieve Cannabis Corp. announced an exclusive partnership with multi-platinum-selling, GRAMMY® Award and Golden Globe® Award-nominated recording artist Wiz Khalifa’s brand, Khalifa Kush. Through the agreement, Trulieve becomes the exclusive producer, processor and retailer of Khalifa Kush branded products in Florida and other northeast markets, beginning this summer.

“We’re excited to partner with the undisputed leader in the Florida market,” said Wiz Khalifa. “Trulieve’s dedication to working with the community and creating an amazing customer experience perfectly lines up with our brand values, making them a great fit for our first expansion to the East Coast.”

Valda Coryat, Chief Marketing Officer of Trulieve, said, “Trulieve is committed to delivering a broad selection of the highest-quality cannabis brands to better serve our patient communities. Khalifa Kush is a respected brand known for top-tier genetics among cannabis connoisseurs. We look forward to becoming the exclusive home of the brand’s premium products in Florida and eventually in other markets.”



What benefits do you see for patients throughout Florida within this space?

Cannabis is medicine, and it’s all about providing communities with choices. Medical cannabis patients have the opportunity to choose between a variety of healthcare options beyond big pharma. Medical cannabis is positively changing people’s lives every day.

What motivates you to be a part of the cannabis Industry?

There are a combination of factors that motivated me to join the industry. For starters, I’m a true believer in the powers of the plant––It has changed my life for the better and I want others to feel the benefits and positive influences too.

Secondly, the cannabis industry is new and exciting, and it’s really inspiring for a creative and marketing professional to tap into such an evolving space. Lastly, I truly believe Florida has enormous potential to become one of the most important cannabis states in the United States. We have it all: the population, the weather, and the demographics.

What field are you in within the cannabis space?

I’m in the marketing and creative field within cannabis; I call it “the fun stuff”. At Fluent, I’m in charge of the branding, all the marketing initiatives, and all the creative strategy and development that comes with it. I’m really passionate about cannabis branding. I believe the industry is very young and there’s a lot of work to do on the branding and marketing side. Because the industry is so new, I’ve seen cannabis companies miss the mark with compelling branding and just recently we are starting to see strong and well-developed brands hitting the market. This trend is not going to stop anytime soon.

How can people in Florida benefit from the company you represent?

We are proud of being a patient-minded cannabis company that goes above and beyond to make cannabis patients feel supported and taken care of. We offer a wide range of high-quality cannabis products, but we take it up a notch by providing an outstanding customer experience too. Our dispensary team is the best and our online experience is just an extension of the quality service patients expect to get when they visit Fluent.

Getfluent.com is the place to go to start your cannabis journey with Fluent.

How did you get started within the cannabis industry?

Before joining the cannabis industry I worked as a creative developer for Legacy and Digital Media. A production company in Miami reached out to me to develop a Documentary Series about the cannabis industry in Florida. This was during 2017 and the MMTC that I was assigned to follow was Knox Medical, which later became Fluent Cannabis.

I fell in love with the industry during the production of the pilot episode. I started to advise the CEO on some ideas for marketing the company and, four years later, here I am as the Creative Director of Fluent.

Are you personally a MJ card holder?

Yes, I am.

Do you see Florida moving forward with recreational Marijuana/cannabis and how will that affect your business?

The simple answer is yes. I believe it’s not a matter of “if” anymore––It’s a matter of “when” and “how”. Whenever recreational cannabis laws are put in place, every player in the industry will be affected. In general, I think it will be great for the industry and patients/consumers, but I’m sure there will be winners and losers while this transition happens. I’m looking forward to continuing along the journey of adult-use policies in Florida. From a marketing and creative standpoint, I think the best is yet to come.



By Barbara R. Fallon

Yes, Florida cannabis construction is different and many of the initial license holders learned this truth the expensive way. Due to the diverse and intricate set of codes, Florida compliance regulations, and existing property conditions, it takes more than a tool belt to design and construct successful cannabis infrastructure in the unique Florida market.

Partnering with a Florida-based, statewide cannabis-experienced general contractor, such as S.R. Construction Service (SRCS), brings familiarity with all phases of large-scale indoor cultivation, processing, retail construction and a keen awareness of the many Department of Health (DOH) requirements. This knowledge and experience is vital to ensure your infrastructure plan is successfully executed delivering market share and ROI.

Having completed over 75+ retail dispensaries, offering 60-day retail fast track construction turn time options and finishing numerous indoor and outdoor cultivation facilities, SRCS clearly understands the challenges that medical cannabis cultivation, processing, distribution and retail present. The SRCS culture of ‘communication’ and ‘transparency’ provides synergy and balance to our client relationships, according to Ryan Seddon, Principal of SRCS.

Scalable Support and Resources

“Whether working with the new 2nd round of Florida MMTC licenses (which will be entering the FL market in 2023) or the current 22 existing Florida license holders, our knowledge of state-wide permitting, codes and total market compliance – from pre-planning through construction to final DOH inspection – enables us to sit at the table as a scalable 3rd party extension of your organization,” Seddon explained.

Early and consistent collaboration among the design and architectural team, contractor, and equipment vendors is key to avoid costly and time-consuming design alterations during construction. The SRCS team offers clients scalable support in all facets of design, compliance, permitting, estimating, supply chain and construction to support the critical speed to market priorities.

An OG Player with an Eye on Future Trends

“Our investment of time and resources in technology, continuing education along with participation in both national and local industry associations help keep SRCS at the forefront of the ever-changing and fast paced cannabis market,” Seddon explained.

Business Development Manager Eric Rogers added “We have been active in the Florida Canna Construction space since medical purpose legalization. This experience has resulted in our unique time-tested set of systems and controls focused on customer expectations and proven logistics planning for both industrial cultivation facilities and retail dispensaries. This practice mitigates supply chain delays, capex budget overruns and expedites speed to market.”

CRB Bankable

Furthermore, as a CRB bankable firm, SRCS market leadership offers a potent asset for clients facing enormous capital expenditures. Conflicting views of legality between federal and state regulations create critical yet often overlooked financial challenges for contractors in the medical cannabis industry.

The current conundrum of federal classification of marijuana sales and use as non-legal makes it difficult for companies conducting legitimate operations (in states where it is legal like Florida) to have secure financial interactions.

“As a CRB bankable partner we submit to stringent quarterly audits, record keeping and documentation of financials to avoid delays and costly fees or penalties while executing our plan and working through this challenge currently under debate and review while Congress considers the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking act,” Seddon said. “In an industry that is still evolving, we see this as a necessary customer service in relationship building,” he explained.

Building Relationships

“Our most valuable asset is the talented and experienced SRCS staff who contribute – both as individuals and team members – to the ultimate goal of a job well done,” he explained, “and that’s what brings our customers back, ” Seddon said.

SR Construction Services (SRCS) is a turnkey, division 1, vertically integrated, multi-licensed Florida contractor with years of active experience in the commercial retail and industrial cannabis market. Their diverse business model is focused on Industrial, Hospitality, Retail tenant improvement, Medical (including health facilities and dispensaries) and large-scale Commercial construction and renovations.

Whether new to the market or existing license holders, SRCS proven professionals with a reputation for safety and compliance are eager to partner on your next project. Contact us for a free consultation.

For more information, visit www.s-r-construction.com/industrial, call (561) 290-0402 or email info@S-R-Construction.com.



By Maureen Meehan

The 14th Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is happening on April 20 and April 21, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The world’s largest and most successful cannabis investing and finance event is already looking like it’s going be the best attended in terms of heavy hitters in cannabis investing, financing, analyzing and, yes, enjoying all that this booming industry has to offer.

At the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami you’ll hear from some of the top names in the industry including:

  • Boris Jordan, Executive Chairman, Curaleaf
  • Irwin Simon, CEO, Tilray
  • Whitney Beatty, CEO, Josephine & Billie’s
  • David Klein, CEO, Canopy Growth
  • Nancy Whiteman, Co-Founder & CEO, Wanna Brands
  • Zach George, CEO, Sundial

Check out the full list of speakers at www.bzcannabis.com.

Join us in Miami to enjoy exclusive opportunities for curated networking and unparalleled access to private deal flow at this extraordinary event hosted by the Detroit based with international outreach, Benzinga, the financial news and data company recently acquired at a $300 million valuation. Hear what executives of top-performing cannabis companies have to say about the booming industry and get priceless insights from the world’s leading cannabis investors, all in one place.

 Why Attend The 2022 Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference?

For starters, the upgraded version of the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is the biggest and best yet with a vast collection of traditional keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats, networking, company presentations and investor and celebrity appearances. And then there’s the venue, which has a huge exhibit floor providing enhanced industry networking opportunities.

“Adding an expo floor is extremely exciting for us. We were waiting for the right time to do this; now that we’ve had many years to curate the best of the best companies in the cannabis space, we feel confident that the offering will be like no other. This, on top of the already impressive speaker lineup and investment opportunities Benzinga always brings to the table,” said Patrick Lane, executive vice president of Partnerships at Benzinga.

Deals discussed and valuable information gleaned while hobnobbing with like-minded people in a large conference hall often prove to be game changers, say scores of attendees at Benzinga events.

“We’ve seen cannabis businesses raise tens of millions of dollars at our events and this year’s meeting will be even larger, with a record level of investment capital and top-notch operators,” said Chief Zinger Jason Raznick.

In addition to the roomy expo floor to give more visibility to the brands that are shaping the cannabis space, attendees can also peel off to private meeting areas, or hunker down in the comfortable chairs and listen to an interview or fireside chat. And then there’s the food, premium food options on hand for both days.

Benzinga Conferences: A Proven Model

After 13 extremely successful editions in Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, New York and Miami, the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference has grown by leaps and bounds – not just in attendance or venue size but in terms of guests, CEOs and influencers in the industry, whom you don’t want to miss meeting in person.

Looking forward to you joining us in Miami in April. Register at www.bzcannabis.com for the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference.