• MÜV Fort Myers Beach – the first medical cannabis dispensary to open within the Fort Myers Beach community – is located at 11340 Summerlin Square Drive, situated off a busy thoroughfare that sees an average of 34,500 vehicles1 per day
  • The Fort Myers area is a popular tourist destination that boasts nearly 4.6 million annual visitors2
  • MÜV Fort Myers Beach and the Company’s nearby MÜV Fort Myers dispensary – located on Colonial Blvd – both offer unparalleled patient convenience with drive-through shopping and pickup

May 6, 2022 — Verano Holdings Corp. (CSE: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) (“Verano” or the “Company”), a leading multi-state cannabis company, today announced the opening of MÜV Fort Myers Beach, the Company’s 46th Florida location and 97th nationwide, on Friday, May 6. MÜV Fort Myers Beach, located at 11340 Summerlin Square Drive, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, local time.

MÜV is the first medical cannabis dispensary located in the Fort Myers Beach community within greater Fort Myers – an area that counts more than 86,000 residents3. With the opening of MÜV Fort Myers Beach, area medical cannabis patients will enjoy unparalleled convenience, as both MÜV Fort Myers Beach and MÜV Fort Myers (10993 Colonial Blvd) offer drive-through shopping and pick-up.

“Opening MÜV Fort Myers Beach adds another convenient location for our southwest Florida patients, complementing our existing area dispensaries in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Marco Island,” said John Tipton, President of Verano. “We look forward to continue serving our valued patients as the wonderful Fort Myers community and surrounding area continues to grow and prosper in the years ahead.”

As a demonstration of their commitment to provide a convenient and reliable experience for Florida patients, MÜV dispensaries feature online menus for effortless browsing of their extensive, award-winning product selection, including the Company’s signature Verano Reserve flower line. For additional convenience and accessibility, patients can choose to order ahead at muvfl.com for express in-store pickup.

MÜV offers one-on-one virtual and in-store consultations at no cost to the patient. MÜV’s comprehensive product selection includes edibles, chocolates and lozenges, flower, pre-rolls, an array of vaporizer pens, concentrates, metered-dose inhalers, topicals and oral sprays; along with patented encapsulation formulations in its EnCaps™ capsules, tinctures, 72-hour transdermal patches and transdermal gels.

For more information about the new MÜV Fort Myers Beach medical cannabis dispensary, visit muvfl.com.

About Verano

Verano is a leading, vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., devoted to the ongoing improvement of communal wellness by providing responsible access to regulated cannabis products. With a mission to address vital health and wellness needs, Verano produces a comprehensive suite of premium, innovative cannabis products sold under its trusted portfolio of consumer brands, including Verano™, Avexia™, Encore™, and MÜV™. Verano’s portfolio encompasses 15 U.S. states, with active operations in 13, including 12 production facilities comprising over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation capacity. Verano designs, builds, and operates dispensaries under retail brands including Zen Leaf™ and MÜV™, delivering a superior cannabis shopping experience in both medical and adult-use markets. Learn more at www.verano.com.

 



Trulieve Cannabis Corp. announced the opening of a new medical cannabis dispensary in Zephyrhills, Florida.

“Trulieve is excited to expand access to medical to more patients in Florida and build strong relationships in the Zephyrhills community,” said Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve. “We are driven by our commitment to providing tailored, high-quality patient care in a safe and comfortable environment.”

As the state’s leading medical cannabis provider, Trulieve’s retail employees are trained to provide personalized patient care and support individuals at every stage of their cannabis journey. Trulieve dispensaries throughout Florida offer on-site consultations to help patients obtain appropriate medical products and dosages to ensure optimal cannabis experiences.

Trulieve patients across Florida can choose from the largest selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods, including smokable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Patients have access to nationally-beloved brands such as Bellamy Brothers, Bhang, Binske, Blue River, Black Tuna, Love’s Oven, O.pen, and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.

 



Ayr Wellness announced it has expanded its extensive product portfolio available at Liberty Health Sciences (“Liberty”) dispensaries statewide with the addition of its, premium flower brand, Kynd.

Kynd’s artisanal whole flower is crafted in small batches under highly-trained and passionate specialists. All 45 Liberty dispensaries across Florida will initially carry the meticulously developed strains Blueberry Headband, Extraterrestrial Bananas, and True OG, with Purple Trainwreck, Polyjuice #4, and Lemon Haze following in the coming days and weeks. Kynd was previously only available in Nevada for discerning consumers.

“Kynd delivers world-class strains that are pure, potent, and consistent,” said Katie Sutton, vice president of retail at Ayr Wellness. “Florida patients deserve high-quality whole flower experiences and will have a variety of Kynd offerings ahead of the 4/20 holiday.”

For more information about Ayr Wellness or to locate your nearest dispensary, please visit ayrwellness.com.

 



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

We have a legal medical cannabis program here in Florida and that should be a benefit, but it is sadly cost prohibitive for most. Those who could benefit from cannabinoid therapeutics, plainly, can’t afford it. From the rampant stigma to the out-of-pocket costs, I would be hard pressed to call it a medical cannabis program. We have to see a physician (who may or may not know enough about the Endocannabinoid System or cannabis as medicine) and when we go to get our actual medication, we have to buy it with cash from non-medical professionals. Our dispensaries are retail stores run by some really awesome people, but they have no background or foundation in medical education that enables them to safely guide patients in this area. I joke and call our program a legal cartel, but how far off am I in reality?

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

I recognized a long time ago that our healthcare system was broken, and I have been trying to see how I could help make the most impact. Earth and entheogenic medicines are tools much like traditional western medicines, just misunderstood and misrepresented. It is time we move on from the prohibitionist thinking and fear-based healthcare. Profit over patient has been a long-used slogan to describe our modern system in the U.S. My motivation comes from breaking free from those lies and finding ways to return the autonomy of care to the patient. I focus on all patients but have a special place in my work for Veterans and do collaborate with vet organizations in advancing access, reducing costs, and removing barriers that prevent our military members from using these options in treatment.

After having to retire from the bedside after injury and burnout, I found my passion in legislative advocacy. I have been working toward a law degree, Juris Master, with a focus in Healthcare Regulation and am set to graduate later this year. As a Change Agent, it is my intention to help guide the regulatory framework to better serve our communities and improve the overall health outcomes of our country.

What field are you in within the cannabis space?

I am a disabled Veteran and Nurse with a focus in Legislative Advocacy and Healthcare Regulation. It is my hope to help change the legal landscape surrounding cannabis and other earth medicines through advocacy, regulation, policy, and education. Part of the nursing job is to educate the public on how to improve or maintain their health. While I do not provide direct patient education anymore, I do still educate. I have been advocating change from a top-down approach and do my best to educate our legislators and those in positions of power about the science supporting the use of earth and entheogenic medicines. Within the regulatory and legislative space, we have the opportunity to change the laws that govern the health of our country for the better.

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

I created NurseDebb, LLC (a veteran and woman owned business) to focus on legislation, advocacy, ethics, and policy development. I am a seasoned registered nurse and public health advocate who actively lobbies for change on federal and state levels surrounding earth and entheogenic medicines.

I am a passionate and driven advocate for earth and entheogenic medicines. The choice of treatment should be made between the provider and patient. I stay informed on relevant legislation, regulation, and evidenced-based research surrounding these alternative modalities.

How did you get started within the cannabis industry?

I was reintroduced to cannabis in my mid 30’s. Having been a D.A.R.E kid, I steered clear of all taboo and illegal substances. To have the literal veil lifted after 30 years of propaganda made me furious! I could not believe the LIES we were sold and how we had been manipulated into adapting these false values.

I was doing my undergrad at this time and had access to all the professional research databases, which I took full advantage of. I was also fortunate enough to live in the Northern Virginia area for over 20 years, with Washington D.C. sitting in my “backyard.” I attended my first lobbying event with VaNorml in January of 2019 to support the “Let Doctors Decide” legislation. This allowed the provider and patient to decide if cannabinoid therapeutics was right for them. We were successful in passing that bill, but the takeaway for me was how my visit changed the perspective of my local representative. He ended up voting yes to this legislation as a Republican. That was powerful to me and really called to me to continue to do advocacy work. In a way, you can say the bug bit me in Richmond.

Since then, I have met and connected with some amazing individuals. With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, I found that my expertise was sought after in the advocacy and legislative space. I found my niche. As part of the most trusted profession for 20 years running, nurses are poised to be at the forefront of this movement. We have the connection to our communities and have the ability to bridge the gap between professional and patient. It is an exciting time to be a nurse during this revolution in healthcare.

Are you personally a MJ card holder?

I am a medical marijuana card holder here in the state of Florida. I am exercising my right to choose what medicine works best for me. I was diagnosed with left temporal lobe epilepsy while on active duty, a diagnosis that subsequently ended my military career. For years I was on pharmaceuticals, and I was fortunate that they did their job and kept my epilepsy at bay. It wasn’t until I was seeking entrance into a Nurse Practitioner program that my eyes were really opened. Where pharmaceuticals did their job and kept me seizure free, I was unaware of the cognitive complications that arose from their use. I have taken pretty much all the different types of epileptic medications, the last being Phenobarbital. With the permission of my neurologist, I tapered off my pills and onto cannabis.

Things were going great, I was doing well in school, was a more attentive partner and mother, and I was losing weight! It wasn’t until I decided to taper back onto my meds in order to pass the drug test for that NP graduate school program, I was interested in that things changed. I had restarted my meds without telling my husband, who at one point came to me and asked me what I changed, and said I was acting “stupid.” It just so happens that I was experiencing some serious cognitive delays and was finding it difficult to put things into eloquent words. I had no idea that the medication I had been taking for years was causing such a brain fog, among other issues. I tapered back off the Phenobarbital for the last time in 2018 and haven’t looked back since.

I am transparent in my choice of medication and do my best to advocate for other patients who desires to utilize cannabinoid therapeutics. Moving forward, I would love to see home grow as an option for the patients of Florida.

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

I do see Florida eventually moving toward adult use. I do think this will take some time as change is needed in our legislature to secure those changes. Due to the nature of my business, I am excited to be part of this reality. I am looking forward to the day when we no longer criminalize, stigmatize, or continue to lie to the citizens of Florida about the benefits of using earth and entheogenic medicines. Much like the military, they are not for everyone, and that decision should be made between the provider and patient. Together they can decide whether or not these modalities are a fit in their healthcare plan.

To contact Deborah McCauley, email nursedeb@t3thys.com

 



By Jeff Greene

The Federal Farm Bill legalized hemp in 2018. It was a huge deal for those in the hemp space but most retailers, those not in the smoke shop world at least stayed oblivious. Creating products that are not the standard oils, creams and gummies was the logical next step in an industry that is expected to grow into the billions. However, large chain retailers are hesitant to accept any hemp products with any THC delta 9. Consumers are hesitant to try hemp products, especially those that have routine drug tests, are hesitant due to the trace amounts of THC delta 9. Lastly, Amazon remains bi-polar in their rules, allowing then not allowing, then allowing, and then allowing advertising, and then throttling it.

It’s time for the FDA to step up and give guidance on low dose cannabinoids and low-level THC products.

The FDA to its credit has been hesitant to pass rules without the science. And with a pandemic taking up most of the oxygen in the agency, the science has been slow. Our industry is also a bit bi-polar. We have GRAS (generally regarded as safe), fiber and cannabinoid products. Fiber is not being ingested so it is not subject to the same regulations as food. Alas, drug products, making medical claims, are facing their own challenges with an FDA that is racing to catch up with the science. And the traditional barriers to prevent new products in the building industry are slowly crumbling, with hemp-based wood and hemp-based insulation slowly gaining acceptance.

Smoke shops are tending toward the legal psychotropic products rather than the healthier wellness products. That tracks, but it has definitely slowed the additional products that are coming out.

Smoke shops have been hesitant to bring products that focus on the minor cannabinoids because it requires salespeople to actually educate their customers. For many smoke shops, getting their employees to do anything other than make change can be challenging (and sometimes that is a challenge).

Over the next few years, the industry will continue to go through a consolidation. The big CBD companies are getting gobbled up by publicly traded companies, out of necessity more than anything. Scale is expensive. Growing into a brand is expensive. Growing a category is very expensive. All of these things are required for a good portion of the hemp industry.

The transition from smoke shop products to consumer-packaged goods has begun. We are seeing better packaging, better advertising, better products. The farmers have been the hardest hit. For those large companies that didn’t find a publicly traded company, bankruptcy occurred, both in Kentucky and Colorado. And the farmers in those states were the victims of visions gone amiss.

Trying to create products with long term strategy on pricing and demand continues to prove challenging because of the wide swings in biomass prices and the lack of readily accepted distribution and retail. The expectation is that this is temporary, and prices will eventually normalize at a level that farmers can accept, and manufacturers can rely on. Regulators will start to allow low levels of THC in blood and urine tests so that the health benefits of hemp can be realized by pilots and truckers and the like. It’s insane that a pilot can go out and drink the night before a flight and not have any issues, but if he takes a full spectrum hemp product he can be fired. This also applies to the trucking industry. These are the rules that are changing the slowest because public safety is perceived to be endangered. I would argue that public safety is actually better if truckers can ease their back pain or pilots can relax and focus on his controls.

Being a pioneer in any industry is a challenge, nobody ever said it would be easy and no industry that I have been in has been as inclusive and entertaining. Public opinion has shifted substantially on cannabis and arguably even the higher doses of THC should be Federally legalized and regulated now that we have exceeded 25 states that have legalized it. This country was founded on states’ experimentation and once that can be studied, the best results from each state are adopted and a Federal regulation is born. This is the standard way to do things, but cannabis has never been standard. This is apparent from the 1930s when it was used as a tool for racism and protectionism. And throughout the 1960s and 1970s, when it was used as a tool for search and seizure. And even today, the industry struggles with communication with law enforcement because it is a perceived we vs them dynamic. In general, most good hemp and cannabis companies reach out to law enforcement early and often to avoid any misunderstandings.

Finally, products are getting better. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is becoming the baseline, and medical claims are not as prevalent in advertising because the industry is educating itself on what the FDA will allow and what it won’t. This does get more difficult due to the apparent civil war within the FDA, with one side feeling like the plant should have never been legalized and one side wanting to actually regulate it.

When will retailers and distributors catch up … when consumers demand it. Stress is at an all-time high in this country and the population is aging. Tobacco is killing them. There will come a time when truckers stand up to the Department of Transportation and demand change. Professional sports have already started changing and both the NFL and MLB have eliminated THC from their bevy of tests. If you are thinking about getting into the business, it’s not too late but it will be soon. Consolidation will increase the barrier to entry and costs will continue to rise due to inflation and the supply issues that are a reality due to the pandemic and will remain an issue for years. Hopefully, our Federal government will incentivize manufacturing not just in hemp but in every sector. If we have learned nothing from the last two years, it is obvious that we need to bring back American manufacturing.