Category: Financial

Harborside, one of the most well-known and iconic cannabis dispensaries in the country, recently found itself on the wrong side of two U.S. Tax Court opinions that will reverberate through the entire cannabis industry. On Nov. 29, 2018, the tax court issued the first opinion regarding the Oakland-based retailer’s deduction…

Traditionally, on the day after the Super Bowl, much of the water cooler conversation — and online discussion — focuses on the commercials. But this year, people were talking about a public service announcement that didn’t even make it on air. My company, Acreage Holdings, attempted to buy time during…

With so many traditional financial services being unavailable for cannabis industry participants, it’s almost shocking to see a company that is willing to openly embrace entrepreneurs in this federally illegal space. But as the industry gains wider mainstream acceptance, financial institutions and investment firms are slowly opening their doors to…

In a cannabis grow, there are risks you simply cannot avoid. Thus, it is important for every grower to understand and engage in proper risk management, which is the process of identifying the risks you face, and developing a plan to survive them. One of the key pieces of that…

As California prepares to open its recreational cannabis market, savvy entrepreneurs and investors are studying the blueprint laid out in previous states to understand the potential for investment opportunities. In 2000, Colorado allowed marijuana use for debilitating medical conditions. Over the next decade, the law expanded, eventually allowing legal dispensaries…

Lately, I have had the pleasure of working with several innovative and rapidly growing companies that are poised to have a significant impact on the industry. One of the common components to their success has been the early development of a dynamic financial model that accurately reflects the key elements…

As an advocate for small business owners and a veteran of the finance industry, I have listened to hundreds of requests for capital from both cannabis-based businesses and business owners in other sectors. There are a few key mistakes I have seen business owners make time and time again that…

One of the biggest challenges for marijuana-related businesses is obtaining access to banking and other financial services. As long as marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, many banks, credit unions, lenders and other financial institutions will continue to remain wary of the industry, no matter how many states legalize…

As prospective cannabis entrepreneurs attempt to understand state and local regulations — while putting together business plans and marketing strategies — many attorneys across the country are scrambling to do the same. After all, the marijuana business and its complex regulations weren’t exactly taught at law school. After working at…

Most professional cannabis retailers know the struggles of collecting and making payments within the marijuana industry. For years, even in states where medical weed has long been legal, dispensaries and other marijuana-related businesses could hardly hope to have a bank account, let alone accept credit and debit payment cards. Visa…