It was in the stars, NY

It was in the stars, NY

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New York may have benefitted from seeking the insights of an astrologist before they decided to launch adult-use cannabis sales on Dec. 29.

Those who practice astrology tell us that when Mercury goes retrograde (backwards in orbit), we can expect confusion, delay and frustration.

Oh no, Empire State – not the best time to start a new venture!

While more than 500 customers visited the state's first legal store during the first few hours of launch, New York's legal program opened with more questions than answers.?

Keep scrolling to learn more about the hurdles facing New York's legal market, plus brand and product launches in the new year, dispensary owner John Mueller's unusual business strategy and more.

Death Row Records launches cannabis brand?

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Image: Death Row

Snoop Dogg has been rapping about “smokin’ indo” since 1993 and his latest endeavor in the cannabis space is a throwback to that West Coast nostalgia.?

Death Row Records, the iconic label he acquired last year that put him on a path to stardom some 30 years ago, released its first marijuana products last week under?Death Row Cannabis.?

Debuting in limited-edition commemorative metallic bags featuring a hooded prisoner in an electric chair smoking a joint, buyers in select California Cookies stores in Brentwood, San Bernardino and San Diego could purchase a selection of OG strains including Runtz, Strawberry Gary and Tropicana Cookies.??

The brand plans to expand product offerings to other California markets and states, according to a press release.?

More questions arise in wake of New York recreational sales launch?

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A DJ entertains customers awaiting their turn to make a purchase at Housing Works Cannabis Co. on the first day of adult-use sales in New York state. (Photo by Gary Gershoff, Wire Image)

More than 500 customers passed through Housing Works’ doors in a little less than four hours on the first day of recreational sales Dec. 29 in New York, a testament to the market’s multi-billion dollar potential and feverish consumer demand.?

However, one operational shop, a non-profit no less, was far below Gov. Kathy Hochul’s?promise of 20 operating stores?in New York before the start of 2023 – a missed goal that prompted some public snickering across the Hudson River in New Jersey, where sales?began at about 12 locations?on April 21, 2022.?

And with no clear word from the state as to when or where the next shops will open – and whether they will be delivery services or storefronts or whether they’ll be run by other nonprofits or individuals impacted by the war on drugs – New York’s legal program opened with more questions than answers.?

Our New York-based reporter Chris Roberts attended Day 1 sales,?detailing the highs and lows?of establishing a recreational cannabis market in the nation’s finance hub – and one of the?most robust illicit markets?in the country.?

Insights from Greenlight Dispensary CEO John Mueller?

John Mueller likes to describe Greenlight Dispensary as the biggest multistate operator in the marijuana space you’ve never heard of.?

And if you don’t live in?Arkansas,?Missouri,?South Dakota?or?West Virginia, he’s probably right.?

The Kansas City, Missouri-based company operates 24 dispensaries in those four states, with another eight retail locations under construction in so-called flyover states.?

Mueller sat down with?MJBizDaily?on two recent occasions for wide-ranging interviews in which he expounded on Greenlight’s contrarian business strategy, growth plans and expectations after another challenging year in the cannabis industry.?

Check out our Q&A?with the serial entrepreneur or listen how Mueller is executing his unusual strategy in this episode of "Seed to CEO":

C H E C K O U T

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Resources

J Christopher Stokes

Cannabis Industry Speaker/Consultant - Thought Leader

1 年

I give it one year, before their businesses fail.... WHY? The price of an 1/8th in NYC is 25$ The streets will control the prices, not the industry.

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