By Daniel Casciato

The Cultivar Collection is an artisan brand of small batch, top-shelf cannabis featuring unique genetics that are rich in potency and flavor. Grown and overseen by Trulieve’s Master Growers and its most Senior Cultivators, Cultivar Collection represents the elevation of craft cannabis.

According to Tyler Soreng, Cultivar Collection Brand Manager at Trulieve, the Cultivar family has decades of combined growing experience, much of which comes from before cannabis was mainstream.

“We care about our customers, the plants and the people who grow them,” explains Soreng. “We’re growing craft cannabis in a way that puts the needs of customers and their communities first.”

The genetics are sourced directly from legendary breeders. Trulieve’s dedicated team spends quality time with every plant. All flower in the Cultivar Collection is trimmed and jarred gently by expert hands–never a machine.

“Our rooms are small craft-style setups designed around individual cultivars so each can grow in the perfect environmental setting,” adds Soreng. “All of this, combined with our state-of-the-art LED lighting, allows all flower in the Cultivar Collection to not only achieve its full genetic potential, but thrive.”

Trulieve launched Cultivar Collection in 2020 because it strives to provide the best possible products to its customers. To do this with flower, the company knew it had to define a unique and unrelenting process in the pursuit of quality – one that empowered the men and women behind the plants to achieve this next level.

“It’s our process, and the passion we pour into it, that makes our product extraordinary,” says Soreng. “The greatest art in the world is not celebrated for the paint used, but for the genius and brushstroke of the artist. We’re constantly looking for additional ways to ensure every customer can find the relief they’re looking for.”

Cultivar Collection has a unique focus on the whole picture of beneficial cannabis chemistry. Soreng notes that they look at THC, TAC, terpene levels, and more for every product and every batch. This combined with Trulieve’s extremely high standards helps them to provide a level of consistency in potency and flavor that may not be found elsewhere.

“Cultivar Collection firmly stands behind the idea that wellness through cannabis is a deeply personal journey and are proud to have incredible genetics across indica, sativa, and hybrid cultivars in eighth and 1g pre-roll options,” he explains.

The effects of cannabis vary widely. Some people may feel very relaxed, while other users may report they feel dizzy or confused when trying cannabis. Being educated and gaining personal experience on proper dosing strategies can help limit these side effects.

Here are some descriptions for two of the collection’s best-sellers in Florida:

  • Rae Bae: Rae Bae is a unique indica that was created by crossing Double OG and Sour Diesel. The aroma of this exceptional cross has undertones of earth and spice but presents citrus and the gassy diesel notes known only to sours to your nose immediately. Don’t let the natural structure fool you, Rae Bae hits like a champ. If you have anxiety steer clear, Rae Bae can have very racy effects before the cerebral calmness and deep relaxation sets in.
  • Siberian Peach Cake: Siberian Peach Cake is a uniquely flavorful indica cultivar created from crossing a Black Russian female from Delicious Seeds with pollen from an exceptional Wedding Cake male known as Trophy Wife. As the name suggests, Siberian Peach Cake has rich fruity flavors on both the inhale and exhale that is sweet, cakey, and reminiscent of classic peach rings. While Siberian Peach Cake is an indica it tends to stray to the relaxing side over being an outright sedative. This can make this cultivar a powerful choice for those who look for options to switch their days from rushed to relaxed.

 

Follow @thecultivarcollection on Instagram for the latest news, updates and product drops!

 



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

Access to clean, safe, and lab tested medical cannabis products is a great advantage and positively impacting the way these patients live. Trulieve grows safe, high-quality medical cannabis and continually innovates to provide a wide variety of products to medical patients in Florida. This assortment of available products allows us to meet patients where they are. For instance, a preference in how to receive the benefits of cannabis – drops, capsules, edibles, flower, cremes – and in different levels of strength. This allows patients to replace narcotics and other prescription medications that may have harsh side effects versus the natural alternative of medical cannabis.

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

Multiple factors drive and motivate me to be a part of this industry, but first and foremost, witnessing first-hand the positive impact medical cannabis has on patients. Whatever ailment that is impacting their way of life, it’s an incredible feeling to help others and watch their progress.

What field are you in within the cannabis space?

Medical Education and Marketing which means I manage a team that educates physicians about the benefits of medical cannabis, how the various products impact a patient’s health and the latest information from the Department of Health.

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

Trulieve has more than 115 dispensaries in Florida, making it the largest and most accessible in the state. In addition, Trulieve patients in Florida can choose from the largest selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods.

How did you get started within the cannabis industry?

I first started in alternative medicine more than 12 years, because I had a passion for helping others and found the perfect opportunity for me. In 2016, I joined the business development team of another medical cannabis company and helped them grow before moving to Trulieve in 2018.

Are you personally a MJ card holder?
I am a medical marijuana card holder due to a few symptoms and conditions that I have. I mainly use cannabis for insomnia, anxiety, and stress.

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

I think adult use will happen one day. It is clearly something that Floridians want, as poll after poll shows that 70% of voters in the state would vote to allow it.

 

 

 



As written, legislation would federally legalize marijuana and promote social equity

By Vanessa Orr

On July 21, 2022, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) in Congress. This comprehensive legislation would remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and empower states to implement their own cannabis laws. HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and HSGAC Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) also cosponsored the legislation.

According to a press release by Sen. Booker’s office, the legalization bill, which incorporates feedback received from more than 1,800 comments submitted after the draft’s release, establishes a federal regulatory framework to protect public health and safety, prioritizes restorative and economic justice to help undo the decades of harm caused by the failed War on Drugs, ends discrimination in the provision of federal benefits on the basis of cannabis use, provides major investments for cannabis research, and strengthens worker protections.

By decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level, the CAOA also ensures that state-legal cannabis businesses or those in adjacent industries will no longer be denied access to bank accounts or financial services simply because of their ties to cannabis.

The bill contains a number of key provisions, including:

  • Requiring the attorney general to finalize a rule removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) within 180 days of enactment.
  • Imposing a 5 percent federal excise tax on small- to mid-sized cannabis producers, which would gradually increase to 12.5 percent after five years. The tax would start at 10 percent and increase to a maximum of 25 percent for large businesses.
  • Only those 21 and older would be allowed to purchase recreational marijuana products.
  • Expunging the records of people with low-level, federal cannabis convictions within one year of enactment, while allowing those currently incarcerated over marijuana to petition the courts for relief.
  • Separate Equitable Licensing Grant and Equitable Licensing Grant programs would provide funding for states and localities to promote participation in the industry by minority and low-income people.
  • The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) would update or issue new guidance clarifying to banks and credit unions that the policy change means that they can lawfully service legitimate cannabis businesses.
  • States could choose to continue prohibiting marijuana production and sales, but cannot prevent transportation of cannabis products between legal states through their jurisdiction.

To see the full bill as introduced, visit www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/caoa_final_introduction.pdf

Despite working across the aisle to create this bill, its passage hinges on reaching the 60-vote threshold needed to pass the measure through the Senate, and Republican senators are expected to oppose the measure to remove cannabis from the CSA. They may also take issue with imposing a federal tax on marijuana sales and automatic expungements for prior cannabis convictions. The bill may also be in danger if not all Democratic senators support the legislation.

The bill moved to a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on July 27, 2022, where lawmakers will continue to work on the bill with the goal of bringing it to the floor. If the broad-reaching CAOA doesn’t gain enough support for enactment, an alternative omnibus cannabis reform package has been discussed within both chambers that would consist of incremental marijuana reforms—such as cannabis banking protections—while still stopping short of removing cannabis from the CSA.

 



July 14, 2022 — Iter Investments, a venture capital firm that aims to deploy capital primarily in businesses operating in and around the burgeoning psychedelic industry, is pleased to announce the final closing of its successful round of funding on June 15.

When Iter Investments first launched the initial fund in April 2021, it targeted a $20 million raise. Due to increased investor interest, Iter Investments decided to let in additional capital and is closing Fund I with over $20 million committed.

Founded by the founding partner of one of the leading law firms in the psychedelic industry, in partnership with seasoned private equity investor Robert Velarde, the Iter Investments team consists of experts and professionals within the psychedelic space representing the end-to-end psychedelic value chain, enabling unparalleled investment opportunity sourcing, diligence and portfolio management.

“Our mission has been and continues to be aiding entrepreneurs as they build great companies that use medical and scientific research to reimagine the health care industry’s approach to the underserved mental and behavioral health sectors,” said Robinson. “It has been a very successful year launching our initial fund and we have built incredible partnerships along the way. We are closely watching the emerging trends and research surrounding the psychedelics industries and are excited for all that the industry has to offer.”

In launching Fund I, Iter Investments has established an active portfolio of 16 companies with special access to several new investments on the horizon. Iter Investments’ portfolio consists of companies across the entire value chain, including suppliers of psychedelic active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as Psygen; drug discovery and drug development companies, including Psilera, Beckley Psytech, Clairvoyant, Reset Pharma, Apex Labs, Wesana, Awakn Life Sciences, and Freedom Bio; clinics including Awakn Life Sciences and Wesana; and technology and other supporting infrastructure, such as Tripp, aNUma, and Fluence.

Iter Investments’ portfolio is also diversified across a wide range of compounds, including psilocybin, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, MDMA, LSD, ketamine, psychedelic analogues, and new chemical entities, as well as a wide range of indications, such as alcohol use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cancer-related distress, depression, anxiety, gambling addiction, and behavioral health conditions.

Recognizing gaps in the psychedelic industry, Iter Investments also launched its own company Nucleus, which is a holding company for various media, data, and technology assets, including Psychedelic Invest, Neuly, Matter Academy, Psyrise, and Particles.

The venture capital firm has also taken a particular interest in digital therapeutics for the mental health space. For example, Iter Investments was the lead investor in aNUma’s seed round. aNUma is developing digital group therapeutics combining virtual reality with the science of psychedelics, creating deeper human connections to address the global mental health crisis. Iter Investments believes digital therapeutics is an exciting and emerging space that has tremendous potential for its Fund.

Iter Investments has led several funding rounds and has a board seat on several of its portfolio companies. By taking board seats on several companies and deploying a diversified approach to its portfolio companies, the venture capital firm has been able to identify various synergies among its portfolio companies, proving Iter Investments to be a value-added investor for its portfolio companies.

“We have seen an incredible amount of investor interest over the past year, and combined with the continued progress in R&D and clinical trials, confirms our view of the great potential for the psychedelics industry,” said Velarde. “We’re looking forward to continuing to serve the funding gap between psychedelic drug research and mass commercialization while aiming to offer portfolio companies what we consider to be expert guidance to support their growth and success.”

This press release (i) is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or investment, and (ii) does not constitute tax, legal or investment advice.

About Iter Investments

Iter Investments is a newly started investment firm that will aim to primarily deploy capital in and around the burgeoning psychedelic industry. Iter Investments will seek to invest with the mission of re-imagining how the mental health and wellness industry delivers care. For more information, visit www.iterinvestments.com or email contact@iterinvestments.com.

 

About Nucleus:

Nucleus is an ecosystem of various media assets, data assets, and tools to help guide people on their mental health journey. Nucleus’ ecosystem consists of the following websites: Nucleus – a directory for finding clinics, clinicians, and retreats; Neuly – a data platform to assist companies and individuals looking for research, data, and analytics on the psychedelic industry; Psychedelic Invest – data and analytics for investors in the psychedelic space; Psyrise – a marketing agency for holistic wellness practitioners and life science organizations; Particles – a decentralized community building the future of well-being. For more information, visit withnucleus.com.



By Carol Newman

In a recent column we took the time to highlight an upcoming local conference: the Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference. At the conference, organizers took note that some participants only learned of the conference through this column. The conference was an overwhelming success and delivered so much valuable information from local and national experts surrounding medical marijuana research.

Since the Summer tends to be “conference season” and many are now getting more comfortable attending in-person and live events, perhaps this is a good time to highlight another upcoming conference. The inaugural Cannabis in Sports Conference will take place in Orlando at the Rosen Hotel from July 29-31, 2022. The conference organizers are Gene and Dana Jones, who have successfully hosted the Florida Industrial Hemp Conference and the Florida Medical Cannabis Conference & Exhibition over the past few years.

 

 

 

 

The Cannabis in Sports Conference has been designed to foster education and networking on the use of cannabis in sports in order to shed light on the proper use of cannabinoids as it relates to athletes. Conference-related topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Clinical Applications of Medical Cannabis
  • Phytocannabinoids, Endocannabinoids & Synthetic Cannabinoids Research
  • Dosing Considerations When Using Cannabis
  • Role of Cannabinoids in the management of pain, anxiety and sleep
  • Role of Endocannabinoid Function in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Contraindications & Drug Interactions
  • Cannabis Education & Provider Approaches
  • Cannabis in Sports Industry Trends
  • Drug Testing in Sports

The speakers include sports clinicians, sports scientists, coaches, lawyers, and many more! It is a major goal of the event to bring to light the many issues facing sports at all levels surrounding the cannabis space. How has it impacted Olympic and Paralympic athletes? James Gumbert, the most decorated coach in the history of USA Wheelchair Rugby – also known as ‘Murderball” highlights a panel discussion and will provide a perspective from athletes and coaches.

Another special feature will be the inclusion of Josiah Hesse, author of the best-selling book “Runners High: How a Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes Is Changing the Science of Sport.” Josiah Hesse is an author and journalist from Denver, Colorado, whose work has appeared in Vice, Esquire, Politico, and The Guardian.

Conference coordinating will also be shared by Dr. Jeff G. Konin, Clinical Professor in the Department of Athletic Training at Florida International University and the Director of the Global Initiative for Cannabinoid Research & Education. As an international consultant in the area of cannabis and sports performance, Dr. Konin will share his experiences in working with athletes, teams, and leagues as policies slowly loosen and social acceptance increases. What does this mean to performance? Dr. Konin will share some fascinating insights.

This conference should be of interest to anyone who has any interest in sports! You do not need to be a healthcare provider to benefit from the information that will be shared. Parents, coaches, teachers, and many others can take away nuggets of information and the most current trends regarding all forms of cannabis in the sports world at all ages and levels. This is something you don’t want to miss and it is in our own backyard!

You can register for this inaugural conference at cannabisinsportsconference.org.

 Dr. Jeff G. Konin is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Athletic Training in the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International University (FIU) where he directs the Global Initiative for Cannabinoid Research and Education. To learn more about FIU’s cannabinoid research and education initiative you can visit their website at https://go.fiu.edu/GlobalCannabis. Views represented in this column do not reflect that of Florida International University and are solely attributed to Dr. Jeff G. Konin.