With legal pot packaging piling up, some Saskatchewan cannabis retailers are making an effort to “go green” by introducing recycling bins designed for marijuana packaging in their stores.   “Some of the concerns I’ve heard from customers is mostly the footprint that we’re leaving with this packaging,” said Falon Rothe, associate manager at Tweed in Regina.   Most marijuana is sold in single-use plastic containers, each holding a specific amount set by federal guidelines.   With the industry’s rapid growth and the bulky packaging piling up, Tweed has partnered with U.S.-based TerraCycle to create a recycling program for these items.   “We care a lot about the environment, we care a lot about what our customers think, we care a lot about the consumer as well,” Rothe said.   The program accepts any and all cannabis packaging purchased from a licensed retailer, including tins, joint tubes, plastic caps and flexible plastic bags.   But it’s not just chain stores that are jumping on board, as Saskatoon’s Living Skies Cannabis started collecting containers last month.   “Just make sure you take all your goodies out of the container. You don’t have to rinse it out under water or anything, just give it a wipeout and come and drop it off in our TerraCycle recycling bin,” said store owner Cierra Sieben-Chuback.   “It’s just one of those things that need to be done to combat the waste and protect our planet.”   Once TerraCycle picks up the packaging, it’s melted down into plastic pellets and used as a material in items like park benches and playgrounds.  

The Green Organic Dutchman reported its year-end results late Tuesday with the company finally announcing revenue for the first time and its HemPoland subsidiary generating $1.9 million in the fourth quarter. The Toronto-based company said it ended the year with $263.5 million of cash and restricted cash as it continues to build out its two Canadian cultivation facilities in Hamilton and Valleyfield. Still, the results failed to impress investors who sent TGOD’s shares down more than 6 per cent in trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange late Wednesday. Canopy Growth signs another extraction agreement, this time with HollyWeed In a sign of anticipated demand for cannabis edible and extractable products here in Canada, Canopy Growth continues to bulk up its capacity to process dried cannabis into oil-based material after the company announced a multi-year deal with HollyWeed Manufacturing & Extracts. The two-year agreement will see Victoria-based HollyWeed process dried cannabis provided by Canopy Growth into high-quality oil and resin. Both companies expect the first shipment of product for extraction will occur in fall 2019. Canopy has entered similar extraction deals with other processors including MediPharm Labs and Valens GroWorks. Saskatchewan pot shops looking to recycle unused cannabis packaging Some Saskatchewan cannabis retailers are looking to tackle the issue of all this legal cannabis packaging piling up in landfills with a new recycling program. Global News reports that U.S.-based TerraCycle is creating a recycling program for these items where cannabis packaging purchased from a licensed retailer, including tins, joint tubes, plastic caps and flexible plastic bags can be accepted and turned into plastic pellets and used as a material in items like park benches and playgrounds. Israeli political party sees legalization-friendly platform result in surging polls A new Israeli political party is tapping into the country’s pot-friendly voters riding that support to a surge in polls ahead of Israel’s April 9 elections. The Zehut party – Hebrew for “identity” – espouses libertarian social and economic policies and has made legalizing cannabis a top priority. Moshe Feiglin, the party’s leader may emerge as a kingmaker in Israeli’s traditional coalition-based parliament, but some critics are raising concerns about the his previous support of ultra-nationalist and other extremist views. DAILY BUZZ US$77.1 million -  The amount of revenue U.S. cannabis operator Curaleaf generated in its fiscal 2018, according to its full-year results the company announced on Wednesday Cannabis Canada is BNN Bloomberg’s in-depth series exploring the stunning formaton of the entirely new – and controversial – Canadian recreational marijuana industry. Read more from the special series here and subscribe to our Cannabis Canada newsletter to have the latest marijuana news delivered directly to your inbox every day

Canada's legal cannabis industry is starting to come to grips with its waste problem: an avalanche of pot packaging that's good at meeting regulatory demands, but tricky to recycle. Federal cannabis regulations don't directly tell producers what materials to use in their packaging, but they do require marijuana containers be opaque or semitransparent, guard against contamination, keep cannabis bud dry, and keep children out. Those requirements make it hard to use biodegradable packaging options, according to Dan Sutton, chief executive officer of Tantalus Labs.

  "The first step is certainly nationwide recycling programs, which will make the waste cycle similar to beverage products we consume every day," he wrote by email. Cannabis industry colossus Canopy Growth Corp. is underwriting such a container recycling program through its Tweed retail brand. The program is administered by New Jersey-based company TerraCycle, and accepts containers collected by any licensed cannabis retailer in Canada, whether or not they're affiliated with Canopy Growth. Individual consumers can also mail used weed vessels directly to TerraCycle for recycling. Canada's cannabis containers tend to use what TerraCycle's director of brand partnerships, Gina Herrera, described as "complex plastics," which are harder to process than the polyethylene terephtalate and high-density polyethelene often used in consumer goods packaging. TerraCycle and its subcontractors will take those containers, clean them, and melt them down into plastic pellets, which can then be manufactured into new products. (Herrera gave the examples of picnic tables or park benches, which would usually be made of "virgin" plastic. TerraCycle can also process other materials used in Canadian cannabis packaging, such as metal and foil, she said.) "Essentially anything that comes in through TerraCycle, through the program, is always recycled and never landfilled," said Herrera. Although TerraCycle has started collecting cannabis containers at an Ontario facility, Herrera said the actual recycling process has yet to kick off. First, it will need to accumulate enough material to make the process economically feasible — between 10 and 40 tons of weed packaging, according to Herrera. High Tide Inc., which operates 10 Canna Cabana stores in Alberta, has signed up for TerraCycle's program and installed recycling bins in its stores. Spokesman Jason Kostiw said the company took interest in recycling containers after hearing "lots from customers about the sheer amount of packaging."  

  "So far, our stores have sent back 18 shipments to TerraCycle, which equals approximately 162 kilograms of recycled product," said Kostiw. "It's been a hugely successful campaign so far." Some of Canna Cabana's Alberta locations are still waiting for their provincial licence to sell cannabis, which have been placed on hold due to product shortages in that province. In the meantime, those stores are only selling cannabis accessories, such as vaporizers and pipes. "We're actually really surprised that even our accessory stores that don't sell cannabis, people will just go out of their way to return (empty packaging) to the store," he said. A smaller Alberta retailer-in-waiting has launched its own homegrown recycling program for cannabis containers. Lake City Cannabis in Chestermere, Alta., is also selling accessories while it awaits its provincial sales licence, and is offering a 10 per cent discount on accessories for shoppers who bring in used containers for recycling. Owner Ryan Roch likens his discounts-for-recycling campaign to the incentivizing deposit from returning a beer bottle, and said it's already drawing interest from customers. Roch plans to take the containers to the local recycling depot on his own, although he's not yet sure whether they'll accept them.

Canada's legal cannabis industry is starting to come to grips with its waste problem: an avalanche of pot packaging that's good at meeting regulatory demands, but tricky to recycle. Federal cannabis regulations don't directly tell producers what materials to use in their packaging, but they do require marijuana containers be opaque or semitransparent, guard against contamination, keep cannabis bud dry, and keep children out. Those requirements make it hard to use biodegradable packaging options, according to Dan Sutton, chief executive officer of Tantalus Labs.

  "The first step is certainly nationwide recycling programs, which will make the waste cycle similar to beverage products we consume every day," he wrote by email. Cannabis industry colossus Canopy Growth Corp. is underwriting such a container recycling program through its Tweed retail brand. The program is administered by New Jersey-based company TerraCycle, and accepts containers collected by any licensed cannabis retailer in Canada, whether or not they're affiliated with Canopy Growth. Individual consumers can also mail used weed vessels directly to TerraCycle for recycling. Canada's cannabis containers tend to use what TerraCycle's director of brand partnerships, Gina Herrera, described as "complex plastics," which are harder to process than the polyethylene terephtalate and high-density polyethelene often used in consumer goods packaging. TerraCycle and its subcontractors will take those containers, clean them, and melt them down into plastic pellets, which can then be manufactured into new products. (Herrera gave the examples of picnic tables or park benches, which would usually be made of "virgin" plastic. TerraCycle can also process other materials used in Canadian cannabis packaging, such as metal and foil, she said.) "Essentially anything that comes in through TerraCycle, through the program, is always recycled and never landfilled," said Herrera. Although TerraCycle has started collecting cannabis containers at an Ontario facility, Herrera said the actual recycling process has yet to kick off. First, it will need to accumulate enough material to make the process economically feasible — between 10 and 40 tons of weed packaging, according to Herrera. High Tide Inc., which operates 10 Canna Cabana stores in Alberta, has signed up for TerraCycle's program and installed recycling bins in its stores. Spokesman Jason Kostiw said the company took interest in recycling containers after hearing "lots from customers about the sheer amount of packaging."  

  "So far, our stores have sent back 18 shipments to TerraCycle, which equals approximately 162 kilograms of recycled product," said Kostiw. "It's been a hugely successful campaign so far." Some of Canna Cabana's Alberta locations are still waiting for their provincial licence to sell cannabis, which have been placed on hold due to product shortages in that province. In the meantime, those stores are only selling cannabis accessories, such as vaporizers and pipes. "We're actually really surprised that even our accessory stores that don't sell cannabis, people will just go out of their way to return (empty packaging) to the store," he said. A smaller Alberta retailer-in-waiting has launched its own homegrown recycling program for cannabis containers. Lake City Cannabis in Chestermere, Alta., is also selling accessories while it awaits its provincial sales licence, and is offering a 10 per cent discount on accessories for shoppers who bring in used containers for recycling. Owner Ryan Roch likens his discounts-for-recycling campaign to the incentivizing deposit from returning a beer bottle, and said it's already drawing interest from customers. Roch plans to take the containers to the local recycling depot on his own, although he's not yet sure whether they'll accept them.

Regina cannabis retailers are asking customers to return their pot packaging to them for recycling.   A federally regulated cannabis container can only hold a certain amount of pot – usually much smaller than the canister.   That container also comes in a separate box, leading to plenty of leftover packaging.   That’s why Regina marijuana shop Wiid Boutique asks for it back to send to a recycling company called TerraCycle.   “Their initiative is to recycle the plastic into little plastic pellets that can be molded into plastic benches and playgrounds,” said Caroline Green, a representative of the shop’s owners.   In three months, Wiid has collected 12 boxes full of cannabis packaging to send to TerraCycle, a program created alongside cannabis brand Tweed.   “Just doing our part to go green the best we can,” said Brett Lytle, manager of Tweed’s Regina store. “There’s a lot of [packaging] on cannabis and being able to help people in our community to be able to reduce that waste is just something we wanted to be involved in.”   The company doesn’t only take plastic. It will also take tins, lids, bags, and pre-rolled joint packaging.   Although the stores are happy to see so many containers being returned for recycling, they hope for a greener solution in the future like biodegradable packaging to reduce the environmental impact.   “Like hemp plastic or even reusing the stems or stocks of the cannabis plant to make more sustainable packaging,” said Green.   Five months into legalization, Green isn’t aware of any biodegradable containers as packaging is under strict regulations; however she is hopeful the industry will grow towards greener packages in the future.

As legal cannabis consumers become acquainted with each new producer and product to hit their shelves, how those offerings are presented is becoming a bit of a controversy. The result has been a mixed reaction, both proactive and reactive, with an array of producfts from leading producers such as Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), CannTrust Holdings Inc. (OTC:CNTTF) (TSX:TRST), Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY), and KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTC:KSHB). While Canada’s cannabis buyers have to wait until October 2019 for cannabis edibles to become legal, California’s market is already getting its packaging laws in order. Leading the way in California is Plus Products (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS), which now dominates the state’s edibles sector with 3 of the Top 5 cannabis products. As a market leader, the company is now being proactive in its move to roll out child-resistant (CR) tins across the state, well in advance of a January 2020 California deadline. In the Canadian market, the proposal for responsible packaging has been met with some resistance by producers—citing waste and other concerns. “Most cannabis consumers care very much about the environment and we’ve already gotten a lot of flak from the public,” said Allan Rewak, executive director of the Cannabis Council of Canada a group that represents licensed producers in an interview with Post Media. “You’re going to see plastic containers piled up outside stores with people putting (edibles) all in one container.” At the moment, the Canadian restrictions are primarily limiting to quantity per package. In California, the restrictions are focused on the appearance and function of the containers. According to the California Department of Public Health’s FAQ website: “Cannabis product packaging cannot resemble traditionally available food packages and must be tamper-evident, re-sealable if the product includes multiple servings, and child-resistant. In addition, packaging for edibles must be opaque. All manufactured products must be packaged according to regulatory standards before they are released to a distributor.” EMBRACING THE PACKAGING CHALLENGE In a release this week, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS) has gotten out ahead of the new law, announcing the redesign of its signature tins, to deliver its popular gummies in new CR packaging—in compliance approximately one full year ahead of the state’s deadline. “The convenience of our packaging is an important part of what has made PLUS successful. We are proud that we were able to keep the best elements of that experience while bringing to market a new tin that is child resistant, convenient, and still completely recyclable,” said Jake Heimark, CEO of Plus Products Inc. “We believe the top cannabis brands have a responsibility to lead the industry in a safe direction. We searched the globe for the best child resistant packaging and found it in these tins. It is difficult to achieve child resistance without compromising the portability and practicality of the consumer experience. We believe the tins we are launching this week are an elegant solution to a difficult problem, and are an important step in PLUS continuing to make cannabis safe and approachable.” The company’s new tins going forward are made of recyclable tinplate steel with a polypropylene insert, and are already available at select outlets in California. The tins are certified according to the Code of Federal Regulations 16 CFR § 1,700.20, and are opened with a press and twist method, similar to a prescription medicine bottle. It’s doubtful that the new packaging will impact the company’s sales, which lead the state according to BDS Analytics during Q4 2018. PLUS currently produces 3 of the top-5 best-selling branded products in all product categories including flower, vaporizers, edibles and topicals. PLUS “Uplift” and PLUS “Restore” remained the #1 and #2 best-selling SKUs. PLUS “CBD Relief” was the #5 best-selling SKU, and the top CBD-only SKU. CALIFORNIA LEADING THE PACK The importance of the edibles market cannot be stressed enough. In a recent BDS Analytics report, the research firm projected sales in the edibles market to surpass $4.1 billion by 2022. California is currently the largest and most important cannabis market in the world—larger even than the entire country of Canada. In comparison, Canada is only expected to yield $2.7 billion in 2019 legal sales, whereas California already hit $2.5 billion in sales in 2018, and is expected to grow rapidly. Over the course of its long history since legalizing medical marijuana, California has grown its product selection to more than 250 brands of edibles. While the California edibles market grew steadlily, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE:PLUS) managed to get itself to the top of the sector with its premiere cannabis gummies products. Since hitting the California scene ranked #43 in Q2 2017, less than two years later the company now has 3 of the best-selling branded products in all product categories, including flower, vaporizers, edibles and topicals—Over that time, Plus increased its market share 24x. Now the company’s best-selling SKUs are PLUS “Uplift” ranked #1, PLUS “Restore” ranked #2, and PLUS “CBD Relief” ranked #5 (which also took the top CBD-only spot, according to BDS analytics). The company has since grown its revenue to a $10 million run rate, with growth coming every month—and now it’s expanding its operations into more states. GROWING OUT ORGANICALLY Since launching in 2017, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE:PLUS) rapidly grew its presence in California from #43 to #1 ranking. By producing an array of products made with high-quality ingredients, PLUS has developed a brand, entirely produced in the Company’s dedicated 12,000-foot, food-safe cannabis manufacturing facility in Adelanto, California. PLUS products are now sold in over 200 licensed dispensaries as well as to delivery service customers, through a distribution partner. Backing the company is the successful hedge fund Tiger Global Management—known for turning small companies in rapidly growing industries into multi-billion-dollar businesses. Tiger was recently responsible for the build out of an e-cigarette product known as JUUL. Over 40 months under Tiger’s involvement, JUUL grew to the point where tobacco giant Altria paid $12.8 billion for a 35% interest in the company—giving JUUL a $38 billion value. Now the hope is that Tiger and PLUS can repeat this level of success through the PLUS brand story. Next up is a planned expansion from the current 12,000 sf manufacturing facility in Adelanto, CA to a 40,000 sq ft space. The Adelanto operation has an annual production capacity of $50 million. The expansion is set to boost Plus Products’ current production line capacity of two lines, with an additional three lines. EDIBLES AND PACKAGING DEVELOPMENTS Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) In the lead-up to the legalization of cannabis-infused edibles and beverages, Canopy Growth plans to release a wide range of products in various forms. These include non-caffeinated chocolate, five different kinds of beverages, and vape pens with new cartridge technology, all ready to roll once Health Canada formally legalizes them. Canopy is set to team up with recycling outfits such as TerraCycle to ensure that their packaging doesn’t end up in landfills. CannTrust Holdings Inc. (OTC:CNTTF) (TSX:TRST) Unhappy with the upcoming packaging regulations, CannTrust CEO Peter Aceto has voiced concern, stemming from feedback from clients. The main concern is that the edible legislation will bring with it a lot of packaging, which CannTrust would like to actively reduce. As it stands, Aceto has expressed that much of the existing container surface is used to host government excise stamps and warnings, which he’d like to see reduced, instead to be used more for CannTrust’s branding. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) Through a recent $419 million deal signed to acquire Hemp Hearts maker Manitoba Harvest, Tilray is looking to team up to launch CBD-infused products where permissible in the US. The acquisition helps to accelerate the pot grower’s entry into the US market, as Manitoba Harvest’s products are already on the shelves of retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Whole Foods, in both Canada and the US. Tilray is looking to leverage the food maker’s manufacturing facilities and supply chain that touches roughly 16,000 stores, where their products are already sold. Together, they’re looking to take advantage of the recent US farm bill that legalized hemp-derived CBD products. KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTC:KSHB) Unlike most major names related to the cannabis industry, KushCo Holdings entered through the niche of packaging and being in compliance with each jurisdiction. The packaging solutions specialists provide an unglamorous but important service to the cannabis industry. Since entering the market, however, KushCo has since expanded into the sector to create a one-stop shop for cannabis products. The company has secured long-term supply arrangements with three large companies, expected to be worth $75 million. Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this article is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. Baystreet.ca has been paid a fee of twenty thousand dollars by PLUS Products for advertising. Baystreet.ca also holds shares in PLUS Products. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this article as the basis for any investment decision. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in this article is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

 

 

As legal cannabis consumers become acquainted with each new producer and product to hit their shelves, how those offerings are presented is becoming a bit of a controversy. The result has been a mixed reaction, both proactive and reactive, with an array of producfts from leading producers such as Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), CannTrust Holdings Inc. (OTC:CNTTF) (TSX:TRST), Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY), and KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTC:KSHB). While Canada’s cannabis buyers have to wait until October 2019 for cannabis edibles to become legal, California’s market is already getting its packaging laws in order. Leading the way in California is Plus Products (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS), which now dominates the state’s edibles sector with 3 of the Top 5 cannabis products. As a market leader, the company is now being proactive in its move to roll out child-resistant (CR) tins across the state, well in advance of a January 2020 California deadline. In the Canadian market, the proposal for responsible packaging has been met with some resistance by producers—citing waste and other concerns. “Most cannabis consumers care very much about the environment and we’ve already gotten a lot of flak from the public,” said Allan Rewak, executive director of the Cannabis Council of Canada a group that represents licensed producers in an interview with Post Media. “You’re going to see plastic containers piled up outside stores with people putting (edibles) all in one container.” At the moment, the Canadian restrictions are primarily limiting to quantity per package. In California, the restrictions are focused on the appearance and function of the containers. According to the California Department of Public Health’s FAQ website: “Cannabis product packaging cannot resemble traditionally available food packages and must be tamper-evident, re-sealable if the product includes multiple servings, and child-resistant. In addition, packaging for edibles must be opaque. All manufactured products must be packaged according to regulatory standards before they are released to a distributor.” EMBRACING THE PACKAGING CHALLENGE In a release this week, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE: PLUS) has gotten out ahead of the new law, announcing the redesign of its signature tins, to deliver its popular gummies in new CR packaging—in compliance approximately one full year ahead of the state’s deadline. “The convenience of our packaging is an important part of what has made PLUS successful. We are proud that we were able to keep the best elements of that experience while bringing to market a new tin that is child resistant, convenient, and still completely recyclable,” said Jake Heimark, CEO of Plus Products Inc. “We believe the top cannabis brands have a responsibility to lead the industry in a safe direction. We searched the globe for the best child resistant packaging and found it in these tins. It is difficult to achieve child resistance without compromising the portability and practicality of the consumer experience. We believe the tins we are launching this week are an elegant solution to a difficult problem, and are an important step in PLUS continuing to make cannabis safe and approachable.”   The company’s new tins going forward are made of recyclable tinplate steel with a polypropylene insert, and are already available at select outlets in California. The tins are certified according to the Code of Federal Regulations 16 CFR § 1,700.20, and are opened with a press and twist method, similar to a prescription medicine bottle. It’s doubtful that the new packaging will impact the company’s sales, which lead the state according to BDS Analytics during Q4 2018. PLUS currently produces 3 of the top-5 best-selling branded products in all product categories including flower, vaporizers, edibles and topicals. PLUS “Uplift” and PLUS “Restore” remained the #1 and #2 best-selling SKUs. PLUS “CBD Relief” was the #5 best-selling SKU, and the top CBD-only SKU. CALIFORNIA LEADING THE PACK The importance of the edibles market cannot be stressed enough. In a recent BDS Analytics report, the research firm projected sales in the edibles market to surpass $4.1 billion by 2022. California is currently the largest and most important cannabis market in the world—larger even than the entire country of Canada. In comparison, Canada is only expected to yield $2.7 billion in 2019 legal sales, whereas California already hit $2.5 billion in sales in 2018, and is expected to grow rapidly. Over the course of its long history since legalizing medical marijuana, California has grown its product selection to more than 250 brands of edibles. While the California edibles market grew steadlily, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE:PLUS) managed to get itself to the top of the sector with its premiere cannabis gummies products. Since hitting the California scene ranked #43 in Q2 2017, less than two years later the company now has 3 of the best-selling branded products in all product categories, including flower, vaporizers, edibles and topicals—Over that time, Plus increased its market share 24x. Now the company’s best-selling SKUs are PLUS “Uplift” ranked #1, PLUS “Restore” ranked #2, and PLUS “CBD Relief” ranked #5 (which also took the top CBD-only spot, according to BDS analytics). The company has since grown its revenue to a $10 million run rate, with growth coming every month—and now it’s expanding its operations into more states. GROWING OUT ORGANICALLY Since launching in 2017, Plus Products Inc. (OTC:PLSPF) (CSE:PLUS) rapidly grew its presence in California from #43 to #1 ranking. By producing an array of products made with high-quality ingredients, PLUS has developed a brand, entirely produced in the Company’s dedicated 12,000-foot, food-safe cannabis manufacturing facility in Adelanto, California. PLUS products are now sold in over 200 licensed dispensaries as well as to delivery service customers, through a distribution partner.   Backing the company is the successful hedge fund Tiger Global Management—known for turning small companies in rapidly growing industries into multi-billion-dollar businesses. Tiger was recently responsible for the build out of an e-cigarette product known as JUUL. Over 40 months under Tiger’s involvement, JUUL grew to the point where tobacco giant Altria paid $12.8 billion for a 35% interest in the company—giving JUUL a $38 billion value. Now the hope is that Tiger and PLUS can repeat this level of success through the PLUS brand story. Next up is a planned expansion from the current 12,000 sf manufacturing facility in Adelanto, CA to a 40,000 sq ft space. The Adelanto operation has an annual production capacity of $50 million. The expansion is set to boost Plus Products’ current production line capacity of two lines, with an additional three lines. EDIBLES AND PACKAGING DEVELOPMENTS Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) In the lead-up to the legalization of cannabis-infused edibles and beverages, Canopy Growth plans to release a wide range of products in various forms. These include non-caffeinated chocolate, five different kinds of beverages, and vape pens with new cartridge technology, all ready to roll once Health Canada formally legalizes them. Canopy is set to team up with recycling outfits such as TerraCycle to ensure that their packaging doesn’t end up in landfills. CannTrust Holdings Inc. (OTC:CNTTF) (TSX:TRST) Unhappy with the upcoming packaging regulations, CannTrust CEO Peter Aceto has voiced concern, stemming from feedback from clients. The main concern is that the edible legislation will bring with it a lot of packaging, which CannTrust would like to actively reduce. As it stands, Aceto has expressed that much of the existing container surface is used to host government excise stamps and warnings, which he’d like to see reduced, instead to be used more for CannTrust’s branding. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) Through a recent $419 million deal signed to acquire Hemp Hearts maker Manitoba Harvest, Tilray is looking to team up to launch CBD-infused products where permissible in the US. The acquisition helps to accelerate the pot grower’s entry into the US market, as Manitoba Harvest’s products are already on the shelves of retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Whole Foods, in both Canada and the US. Tilray is looking to leverage the food maker’s manufacturing facilities and supply chain that touches roughly 16,000 stores, where their products are already sold. Together, they’re looking to take advantage of the recent US farm bill that legalized hemp-derived CBD products. KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTC:KSHB) Unlike most major names related to the cannabis industry, KushCo Holdings entered through the niche of packaging and being in compliance with each jurisdiction. The packaging solutions specialists provide an unglamorous but important service to the cannabis industry. Since entering the market, however, KushCo has since expanded into the sector to create a one-stop shop for cannabis products. The company has secured long-term supply arrangements with three large companies, expected to be worth $75 million.

A packet of pot and a discounted Canadian barrel of oil are around the same price, laments columnist Chris Nelson.Ryan

Excessive packaging now plaguing legal pot could make cannabis edibles harder to swallow, say industry players.

Ottawa’s proposal to limit a legally maximum 10 mg dose of THC to a single package is wasteful and bad optics for a product rooted in environmental awareness, say some producers who want the federal government to relax that guideline. “Most cannabis consumers care very much about the environment and we’ve already gotten a lot of flak from the public,” said Allan Rewak, executive director of the Cannabis Council of Canada which represents licensed producers. “You’re going to see plastic containers piled up outside stores with people putting (edibles) all in one container.” A frequent knock on legal cannabis retailing is the often multi-layered packaging that involves paper, cardboard and different forms of plastic for even the smallest quantity of bud. Many in the industry expect edibles and other derivatives to become hugely popular once and even eclipse smokeable products after they’re legalized in October. Rewak said he appreciates the fact some of that packaging is meant to render legal cannabis child-proof and he’s not opposed to the 10-mg limit for THC in single doses. But he says more of those 10-mg doses should be allowed in each package. “Can you imagine the amount of waste it will generate? We should be able to have 10 doses in child-proof containers,” said Rewak, adding Ottawa is dumping the waste issue on the provinces and local governments. Awareness of wasteful packaging has even been exploited by black market dealers, including one in Calgary who sells his product in glass mason jars that can be refilled or recycled. Peter Aceto said his company is hearing the concerns from clients. “The edible legislation does imply a lot of packaging but we would like less of it — our patients and customers would like less packaging,” said Aceto, CEO of licensed cannabis producer and retailer CannTrust. Much of the existing container surface is used to host government excise stamps and warnings, space Aceto said he’d like to see reduced, instead to be used more for CannTrust’s branding. Some companies, including producer Canopy Growth, have teamed up with such recycling outfits as TerraCycle to ensure their packaging doesn’t end up in landfills. “It’s on us as producers to deal with the problem and it’s a choice of our business, it’s not baked into the regulations,” said Canopy Growth spokesman Jordan Sinclair. Alberta-based cannabis retailer Canna Cabana said it’s launched an effort to collect any of the Health Canada-sanctioned package, at no charge, to have it reduced to pellets for re-purposing. “Excessive packaging has been a recurring theme in the media and feedback from customers,” said a company press release. Cannabis industry players say the issue is one they’re putting forth during a 60-day consultation process in response to Health Canada’s draft regulations on edibles and derivatives, which ends Feb. 20. A spokeswoman for Health Canada said since that consultation is still ongoing, it’s too early to say how the government might respond the industry’s concerns. But she pointed to a ministry website which detailed how proposed packaging requirements ensure their contents are safe overall and less attractive to youth. It estimates meeting regulations on packaging, labelling and record-keeping would cost industry players $5.8 million a year. “In contrast, the public health and public safety benefits resulting from the current proposal are considerable, even if they cannot be quantified,” it states. “It is expected that these benefits would outweigh the costs.” The cannabis council’s Rewak said he’s not optimistic about the chances of changing Ottawa’s mind. “The truth is, regulations don’t change that much during consultations,” he said.