Ruba Asmussen

Why are so many industry leaders bothered by pesticide contaminated products, but not by hemp-derived THC products? Both are produced by operators who work with the distinct understanding that their manufacturing methodologies could easily result in contaminated products. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself: How do hemp brands distinguish between naturally produced THC v. THC produced from CBD via chemical synthesis, when sourcing for their products? The honor system?! Oh, that’s right, I forgot. Everyone is just using mother liquor, right? Nothing to see here, just turning waste into gold for pennies. But any claim to this type of chromatography scale is too preposterous to entertain, even in hypothetical scenarios. The biomass and equipment scale needed to sustain hundreds of kilos of THC from CBD processing waste defies any reasonable or financial logic when it can be produced synthetically for much cheaper. But really, how do brands determine what methodology was used to produce their sourced THC, and does it result in a reliably safe ingredient? What’s actually in your product beyond the detected cannabinoids? Does anyone else find it disheartening that no one outside of analytical testing has an answer for this? And for all the hemp-derived THC CPG brands out there: Can anyone produce independent COAs that analyze foreign substances beyond basic environmental contamination controls? NMRs? Just one, even to confirm the process? Is it not extremely worrisome for consumers that these companies often have no idea about the true nature of the ingredients they’re selling? I know there are ethical cannabinoid manufacturers out there that truly care about active ingredient purity and safety. It’s amazing they’re still able to operate in this type of competitive landscape. But for every one of them, there’s one hundred backyard chemists trying to replicate Future4200 blog formulas. How does an industry address such supply chain naivety issues? It’s as if people don’t want to ask the question, let alone think about it. The fact that chemically synthesized compounds aren’t as inherently safe to manufacture as purified natural ones, especially in completely unregulated environments, upsets a lot of people in the industry. They see the word cannabinoid and automatically think natural and plant-based, when it’s anything but. I wish cannabinoid chemical synthesis was highly regulated so we could see safe, pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products responsibly available to the public. But that’s not the reality of the situation, and the don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy of ingredient sourcing is pushing the entire industry in the wrong direction. How long can this can go on without some serious product scrutiny and honest hemp industry introspection? If you find yourself upset by potential pesticide contamination but not this, where do you draw the boundaries of your acceptable product contamination limits?

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🚀 Attention Commercial Cultivators and Industry Investors! 🌿💼 Are you struggling in the pressure of saturated cannabis markets? In the article below, see how Advanced Nutrients US LLC transformed Flower of Life’s operations to compete in Michigan while increasing their profits. Facing challenges like low yields and market pressures, co-Owners and brothers, Devin and Donovan Murphy turned to Advanced Nutrients' innovative solutions. With our pH Perfect® Technology and specialized products like Bud Candy® and Voodoo Juice™, they saw immediate improvements. By addressing plant health from the root up with #science-backed cannabis nutrients and biostimulants, growing with Advanced Nutrients brought Flower of Life to the top of the market. Here’s just a glimpse of their impressive results: ✅ Increased yields from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per 1000W light.  ✅ Elevated terpene and cannabinoid levels – as high as 3.8% terpenes! ✅ Landed themselves in the top 5% pricing per pound in Michigan. Flower of Life’s cannabis now commands premium prices, ranking them among the TOP 5% producers by price in #Michigan. With distribution in over 100 #dispensaries, their reputation as industry leaders is solidified. Their success story highlights exactly how we empower commercial cultivators to elevate plant health, increasing profitability. 🌱💰 For CFOs navigating competitive markets, this turnaround is a prime example of how #strategicinvestments in cannabis-specific nutrient solutions can dramatically improve financial performance for commercial cultivators. Read the full article below to discover how #AdvancedNutrients innovative solutions can enhance your market standing. Just launched, Advanced Nutrients US LLC is searching for 17 elite #commercialcultivation facilities in the next 30 days to join us as exclusive National Strategic Partners for the #GrowroomShowroom Program. Partners will showcase their growroom, while unlocking unprecedented income streams through superior yields. 🤝Interested? Apply for your spot now: https://buff.ly/4eCRGRm #AdvancedNutrients #CommercialCultivation #Cultivation #CannabisCultivation #Cannabis #CannabisCultivators #TotalCostofOwnership #CannabisIndustry

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The rescheduling of cannabis will have a significant impact in the increase in #hiring and #salaries in the industry. Beyond the obvious implications for accessibility and research, this shift could catalyze a transformative wave in employment opportunities and hashtag #executive #compensation within the sector as companies will be able to deduct cost of executive hashtag #salaries and payroll from ordinary business expenses. At the heart of this potential change lies the elimination of a notorious obstacle: Section #280E of the Internal Revenue Code. This provision, originally intended to deter drug trafficking, has burdened cannabis businesses with exorbitant tax rates, significantly hampering profitability and scalability. By rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III, thereby acknowledging its potential medical benefits, the rationale for applying 280E would be significantly diminished or altogether eliminated. The removal of #280E would mark a paradigm shift for cannabis businesses, particularly in terms of finances. Currently, companies operating within the cannabis space face effective tax rates that far exceed those of most other industries. With the burden of #280E lifted, businesses would retain more of their earnings, enabling them to reinvest capital into expansion, innovation, and most importantly #talent. One of the most immediate effects of increased profitability would be the surge in hiring across various sectors of the cannabis industry. Freed from the shackles of punitive tax liabilities, companies would have the financial flexibility to expand their #workforce, creating a multitude of job opportunities ranging from cultivation and extraction to retail and distribution. Moreover, the ripple effects of this employment boom would extend beyond the industry itself, invigorating ancillary sectors such as real estate, construction, and hospitality. However, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the potential reclassification lies in its impact on hashtag #executivecompensation. Historically, the cannabis industry has struggled to attract top-tier talent from traditional corporate environments due in part to regulatory uncertainties and financial constraints imposed by 280E. With the removal of this impediment, cannabis companies would be empowered to offer more competitive compensation packages, not only to #recruit but also to #retain high-caliber executives with proven track records in areas such as finance, operations, and marketing. As the industry matures and consolidates, the demand for seasoned leadership capable of navigating complex regulatory landscapes and scaling operations efficiently will only intensify. Then executives possessing a blend of industry expertise and corporate acumen would command premium salaries and perks commensurate with their strategic value to the organization. See CannabizTeam.com for #jobopportunities #executivesearch #cannabisjobs

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We are thrilled to welcome Travis Higginbotham to the CannMed Innovation and Investment Summit. As legal cannabis cultivation proliferates globally, research into best practices has expanded greatly, leading to improved methods of cannabis horticulture. Travis joins our panel of expert cultivators and scientists to discuss the leading methods for increasing production and profitability. Panel discussion topics will include crop steering, cannabis lighting, optimal nutrients, and the role of genetics and breeding. Audience members are encouraged to participate in an open discussion where they can ask questions of the expert panel. Travis Higginbotham is a seasoned commercial cultivation specialist and innovative business owner with over ten years of experience in the horticultural industry. He recently founded Due Diligence Horticulture, LLC, a professional horticultural business consultancy that supports growers in all horticultural markets globally. This venture assists a diverse range of clients, from sophisticated growers looking to push the limits of plant growth with new varieties and technologies, to businesses needing asset revitalization and capital protection plans. The consultancy emphasizes process efficiency and innovation in plant science, partnering with universities and leading vendors to support long-term customer success.Before starting his own business, Higginbotham served as Vice President of a 230,000 sq. ft. cannabis greenhouse operation at StateHouse Holdings in California, managing all aspects of cultivation, postharvest processes, and bulk sales. Before this, he was VP of Sales and Business Development at The Hemp Mine, LLC, a vertically integrated producer of hemp genetics and products in the Southeast US.Earlier in his career, Higginbotham was the Director of Research and Development at Battlefield Farms Inc, a leading 1.8 million sq. ft. greenhouse operation. He successfully managed partnerships with 28 global floricultural breeding companies and advised major retailers on crop performance and product development across the US. Following his tenure at Battlefield, he became the Global Director of Horticulture Service for Fluence Bioengineering, where he developed technical support services and led a global team catering to top-tier cannabis customers in Canada, the US, Australia, and the EU.In addition to his horticultural consultancy, Higginbotham owns Unity Modern, LLC, a mid-century furniture refinishing and upholstery business based in San Francisco. He is also the co-inventor of two smart farming patents focusing on Photoperiod and Light Acclimation management. Higginbotham holds a BS in Horticulture from Clemson University and an MS in Horticulture from Virginia Tech University. www.cannmedevents.com #CM24, CannMed Events, Advanced Nutrients US LLC, BigMike Straumietis, Zachary Wise, Lasse Schulze, J. Mitchell Tipton

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Empowering Biotech Innovations at GPC Bio At GPC Bio, we don't just ask "What do you need?"—we ask "What do you do?" This unique approach allows us to tailor our scientific expertise and cutting-edge technology specifically to your goals in lab equipment or scaling-up. Why Choose Us? - Tailored Solutions: We dive deep into your processes, from fermentation to cell culture, to design and optimize your operations for scalability. - Expertise & Innovation: Our team of scientists and engineers doesn't just build pilot scale equipment; we design and optimize entire facilities. - Collaborative Approach: We believe in working hand-in-hand with you to enhance process efficiencies and achieve commercial success. Ready to Scale Up your lab ? Visit us at www.gpc-bio.com to learn how we can support your growth aspirations. #Biotech, #Innovation, #ScaleUp, #Fermentation, #CellCulture, #Biotechnology, #ScientificExcellence, #GPCBio, #LifeSciences, #ProcessOptimization, #faccne

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