Spotlight - Michigan Cannabis Expo - February 2020

Back for the second year in a row, Cannabis Industrial Marketplace is primed to help nurture more relationships in the Michigan cannabusiness market by bringing exhibitors and attendees together at the 2nd Annual Business of Cannabis Michigan Expo at the Frankenmuth Credit Union Event Center, located at 11600 N. Beyer Rd. in Birch Run, Mich. on March 18th and 19th. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the expo floor starting at 10 a.m. each day. With a wide array of regional and nationwide exhibitors to discover and network with, the full spectrum of cannabusiness products and services will be at their fingertips. From the best grow lights and compliant packaging to legal services, exhibitors offer expert advice and quality products to help make attendees’ cannabusinesses successful. 

“Our expos are designed to focus on the business side of the emerging cannabis industry,” said Jen Wynn, vice president of expositions for Cannabis Industrial Marketplace. “Our goal is to help connect buyers and sellers in any aspect of the business, while providing education to entrepreneurs preparing to enter this market. To shift focus from the everyday hobbyist, we chose to plan our events on weekdays to align with our model, the business of cannabis,” Wynn said. 

While each expo takes place in a specific city or region, Cannabis Industrial Marketplace does not limit its exhibitors geographically.  

“We get exhibitors from all over the country, from legal market experts to people in adjacent businesses that have the expertise to build or renovate whatever a new business might need,” Wynn explained. 

Featured Exhibitors:

Anion - Cannabis extraction equipment, Booth 333.
The Bud Builders -  business consultation, operations management, and more, Booth 161.
Cannabis Promotions - custom branded cannabis and smoke-related items, Booth 414.
GrowMaster - specialty commercial cooling, Booth 436.
Marijuana Security Operations - private security and logistics firm, Booth 311.
Medical Mary - pharmacist-formulated CBD products, Booth 302.
Strain App - a white-labeled branded mobile APP for Android and iOS for Cannabis dispensaries, Booth 155.
Sun Valley Health - provides certification with a strong emphasis on professionalism and exceptional medical care, Booth 139.
Aljan Packaging - price-conscious packaging solutions and printing, Booth 335.
Access Point ATM - flexibility with ATM surcharges and revenue, Booth 316.
Employer Solutions Staffing Group - helps lower employee costs, Booth 401.
Executive Funding Financial - a change to traditional financing options, Booth 318.
FabricAir - engineering smart air solutions since 1973, Booth 243.
MSW Plastics - leading plastic extrusion company, Booth 306.
Package Works - delivering “The Best Folder Experience,” Booth 169.
Shelving Inc. - quality storage products since 1960, Booth 163.
Umbo Computer Vision - smart security products, Booth 311.

With the ability to make deals right on the expo floor, these opportunities have been shown to extend to exhibitors as well.   

Success Stories

DizPot, a sponsor of the expo in Phoenix (Feb. 13-14, 2020), has exhibited at five previous Cannabis Industrial Marketplace B2B events in Birch Run, MI, Chicago; St. Louis; Tulsa, Okla.; and Miami, Fla. Thrilled with their success, DizPot committed to exhibiting future cannabis industry B2B events in 2020. 

“This was our second [Cannabis Industrial Marketplace] event. Two times in a row, the organization has really provided a positive environment for us,” John Hartsell with Dizpot said of the Tulsa expo. “Everybody we’ve talked to, or are really close to, are qualified buyers of what we sell, which is packaging specific to the cannabis industry,” he added. 

Capturing several key accounts like Dizpot, Cannabis Industrial Marketplace’s expos have a selection of top-tier exhibitors that will be present at multiple expos. 

“Harvest 360 has booked over $500K of contracts arising directly from our participation in these events, making it the single most significant marketing effort of our organization in 2019,” Executive Vice President of Harvest 360 Technologies Joshua Alper said. 
And exhibitors are seeing value in more than just the sales numbers; they are seeing value in the relationship building within the cannabusiness industry as well.  

“From that first show in Michigan in Feb. 2019, and continuing through shows in Chicago and Miami, the [Cannabis Industrial Marketplace] Expos have become one of the best [ways] for us to engage clients in the Medical and Adult-Use markets,” Apler said. 

Not only does the Michigan expo lineup promise countless sales opportunities for exhibitors to take advantage of, but educational opportunities for attendees with full-access tickets and exhibitors alike. 

With seminars beginning at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the event center, overlooking the expo floor, attendees with full access tickets can hear from industry leaders throughout the two-day summit. Seminar highlights include speaker Mike Lee with Northern Weathermakers HVAC presenting “Creating a Climate for Success” and “Leveraging Technology in Emerging Cannabis Markets” with speaker Joshua Alper. 

And it does not end there.  


Networking Mixer

Attendees with full-access tickets and exhibitors alike will get the chance to mingle during the networking mixer from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. on March 18th. Located on the second floor of the event center and overlooking the expo floor, continue to nurture those newly-formed business relationships in a more relaxed environment following a busy day in seminars and on the expo floor. 


The Next Great Canna Idea

Have the next bright idea for the cannabis industry? Submit it and get the chance to win a free patent from Block 45 Legal. 

Attendees are highly encouraged to participate in the “Next Great Canna Idea” event sponsored by Block 45 Legal and Harvest 360 Technologies. Founder of Block 45 Legal Clement Hayes will be available to discuss ideas and the event. Those looking to participate can submit their ideas on-site at the Michigan Expo or online at https://cannaimp.com/the-next-great-canna-idea-registration-form/. The winner will be announced at the ChiCannabisExpo on May 22nd.

Sex Fiends: Past Marijuana Myths Utilized in Digital Advertising

SEX FIENDS:

Past Marijuana Myths Utilized in Digital Advertising

Mary (with Ralph in the living room), puts out the reefer she’s holding, and holds her head.

Ralph: “How do you feel, Mary?”

He puts his arm around her.  Mary pushes him away.

Ralph (persistently): “Oh Mary.”

He forces himself on her, but she struggles.

Mary (trying to get away): “No.  No!  No, stop it!  Stop!  Stop!”

Ralph is practically on top of her, holding her down.

Mary (trying harder to get away): “No!  Leave me alone!  Leave me alone!”

She struggles, but Ralph won’t stop.

Mary (struggling): “No!  Leave me alone!”

Ralph (forcing her): “It’s all right, Mary!”

Ralph continues to forcefully hold Mary as she struggles.  He begins to unzip her dress...

The horrific scene above is from none other than the infamous anti-marijuana propaganda film known as ‘Reefer Madness’.  Young Ralph, a pot smoker, can not help but succumb to weed filled lust and throws himself at Mary in what is essentially attempted rape, which ultimately ends in her death.  A tale to scare young Americans and keep them from the dangers of cannabis.  An outdated mentality, destined for the grave.  Unless you are a digital marketer.

Marjuana products, having recently entered the domain of the general public via adult-use legalization, can now be advertised in many of the same places as house hold brands.  Residents of Michigan with a keen eye and knowledge of the industry have already noticed billboards along busy highways, subtly releasing to the world brand imagery, and with it, recognition.  Meanwhile those with one hand on their mouse, so to speak, may have noticed digital advertising on popular free porn websites.  Cannabis, bursting onto the pop-up ad scene.  Pun intended.   

‘Reefer Madness’ linked sex with marijuana use in an effort to smear the harmless plant.

Traffic Junky, an online marketing firm most widely known for PornHub, is the parent company of an entire umbrella of such sites.  Other digital properties in the same group include YouPorn, X Tube, Spank Wire, Red Tube, Tube 8, Keez Movies, Gay Tube, and Extreme Tube (which warns that viewer discretion is advised and whose logo includes a blood splatter).    While all are free to frequent whatever parts of the internet they wish, seeing marijuana products such as GPI’s Northstar on these particular websites sparks memories of old propaganda films, of Ralph and Mary, complete with blood splatter.

The anti-pot mentality lies in the methods.  According to Traffic Junky, underneath the heading ‘Reach your targeted audience!’, advertising with their firm will “Deliver your ads to the right audience with our advanced ad serving and auto-optimization technology.  Our team of specialists focus all of their efforts on identifying the traffic that actually converts for your business.”  Brands advertising on this medium are basically running on the idea that porn sites are the best place to target marijuana smokers.  Because, you know, reefer heads are all sex fiends with no self control.

Target marketing marijuana smokers via porn sites shows just how out of touch these businesses are with the real cannabis community.

John Sinclair - Free the Weed #105 - February 2020

Highest greetings from the former Motor City, where I’m completing my recovery from a broken right shoulder bone that shattered three months ago when my walker collapsed and I hit the sidewalk square on my shoulder. I couldn’t use my right arm for about two months and thus couldn’t write my last three columns, so it’s good to return to form again.

The longer I stay here in Detroit, the more I’m convinced that this is the worst governed municipality in America, where the goofy City Council has just postponed for another two months the institution of recreational marijuana sales in the city.

Three years ago citizens of Detroit, long on record in favor of marijuana use and availability for all persons of age, enjoyed a total of 282 marijuana dispensaries established by citizens within the city limits, all operating under the medical marijuana statutes but quite frankly, in some cases, reputedly making the sacrament available to smokers whether they were licensed or not. 

These dispensaries were shut down by the City some two years ago and have been refused the opportunity to reopen even under the new recreational legalization scheme which is still a long way from actually being instituted in practice. 

I cite this mess here almost every month, and pointed commentary on this incomprehensible situation is regularly produced by columnist Larry Gabriel in the Detroit Metro Times, whose latest contribution is perfectly right on as usual:

“Last week we lost another battle in the war on drugs here in Detroit. City Council extended the city’s option to not allow recreational marijuana sales until at least March 31. About the same time, Detroit Police Chief James Craig announced a crackdown on illegal marijuana sales. Functionally, it looks like this: we’re not going to allow legal stores where it can be sold, and police are going to crack down on illegal sales because they’re violent. That’s always been the squeeze on marijuana. Criminalize it, and fight the new criminals that have been created.”

My astute colleague Rick Thompson expands on Gabriel’s report in an editorial for the Compassion Chronicles titled “Reefer Madness Rages in Michigan” where he cites Craig for continuing to refer to cannabis as “dope” and for claiming that “60% of the recent shootings and homicides in the city involved black market marijuana sales,” or what he calls “dial-a-dope” schemes. Rather than move swiftly to put into place new and intelligent marijuana laws, the City continues to postpone the ultimate day of reckoning for marijuana smokers in Detroit as long as they can possibly get away with it.

Thompson also turns the spotlight on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which created a series of six videos that debuted last December and “depicted a modern cannabis user faced with himself from ten years in the future. The future self berated the current self for using cannabis and warned that weight problems, educational opportunities lost and no job/money/friends would be the consequence of continued cannabis use.” 

The HHS commercial is like an update of the classic anti-marijuana film called Reefer Madness and is wholly unbelievable as an infomercial, let alone as an official production of the State of Michigan. Its appearance is an entirely predictable example of what the state intends to do with the tax money raised by Michigan’s marijuana sales system.

“The tropes cited in the videos about poor health, laziness and lack of friends are leftovers from the 1980’s War on Drugs mentality,’ Thompson charges, adding that HHS cited a long-debunked study indicating IQ points are lost by youthful cannabis users. What a bunch of antiquated horseshit!

Thompson also charges former Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley, now working as a representative of the Small Business Association (SBA), with the same strain of idiocy for claiming that every transaction taking place between a registered, licensed cannabis industry company and a financial institution was “money laundering.” 

Thompson maintains that Calley seems to discourage the entirety of the industry and further extends the stigma of illegality to all ancillary industries who support Michigan’s emergent medical and adult-use cannabis programs. “Calley’s message came across as, regardless of state licensing, Michigan’s cannabis businesses are all criminals and they deserve to get whatever the feds do to them.”

Rick concludes that “It seems that the purging of anti-cannabis personalities from Michigan’s governmental apparatus is an incomplete action.” True dat!

But it’s not only city and state authorities who are resisting and refusing properly to implement and administer the new marijuana laws. Hidebound federal jurists like U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney of the Western District of Michigan, for instance, recently sentenced Lansing cannabis entrepreneur Danny Trevino, 47, to nearly 16 years in federal prison.
In a story for MILive, John Agar reports that “Trevino had operated Hydroworld dispensaries in Grand Rapids, Flint, Jackson, Lansing and elsewhere since 2010” and was convicted by a federal jury of 10 felony charges, including conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess marijuana and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Further, Agar says, Trevino “was not allowed to use the state’s medical-marijuana law as a defense to the federal charges.”

Agar says that “Trevino’s businesses were raided 16 times between 2010 and 2016. He fought forfeitures of funds seized by police that were ultimately returned by state courts. He provided the state with store records and tax records that showed his businesses brought in nearly $3 million.”
”I fully recognize that the landscape has changed in many states in this country,” Judge Maloney said. “The fact is, marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel McGraw called Trevino “defiant, unrepentant and undeterred from committing the current federal crimes,” Agar disclosed.

Judge Maloney ordered Trevino to serve four years on supervised release once his prison term ends. He also fined Trevino $11,000.

In today’s world where our insane clown posse of a government has dismantled tons of progressive legislation enacted by its predecessors and driven our country back into its darker ages under the cockamamie slogan “Make America Great Again,” the War On Drugs is painfully congruent with the Rumpian way of life and—despite the government’s fierce resistance to the winds of change—it’s a beautiful thing to watch this depraved war start to gradually fade into the past.

But we’re a long way from safety, no matter how eloquently nor how often we may vote for legalization and wish for proper distribution channels that will preserve the networks we have established through long hard years of underground activity, consistently risking arrest, imprisonment, seizure of personal assets and intense social stigma resulting in loss of jobs, lodgings and personal feedoms.

The War On Drugs was a beautiful thing for the forces of American law and order committed to preserving the Christian dogma and its central place in our carefully constructed legal system. Since there was never any scientific, logical or legal basis for the marijuana laws and the insane enforcement culture they generated, the only explanation for this prolonged exercise in social disorder was that the authorities considered drug use a sin and massed up their resistance in the form of prison sentences and daily harassment and persecution of non-believers in the pseudo-Christian dogma.

I mean, Jesus Christ, where does it say that marijuana is bad? Anywhere? All real potheads know that Jesus was a pothead himself, or if not, had no problem with other people smoking the herb. They been smoking weed and hashish in the Middle East since time immemorial, and never in all of history has even one death been ascribed to marijuana smoking. The only crime associated with marijuana use is the warped value system that puts smokers in prison and takes their stuff away under penalty of imprisonment.

Keep on fighting these perverts until total victory in the War On Drugs is ours. Free The Weed!

—Detroit
January 27-29, 2020

© 2020 John Sinclair. All Rights Reserved

Herbert Huncke's America - Edited By Jerome Poynton Literary Executor - Ed Leary (1939-1944) Part 2 - February 2020

ED LEARY (1939-1944) PART 2

Continuing from the January 2020 MM Report...

There was a certain evilness about him which appealed to me, although much later I came to realize the evilness I saw—and this was true in Eddie’s case particularly—was mostly projection on my part.

Oddly enough Eddie recognized this much sooner than I did—allowing me to relax—and to display what could be called a voraciousness and lack of inhibition with him I have never attained before or since with anyone else.

We met Hugh on time and he asked to come along with us—he said he had never tried stuff and wanted to—he’d heard so much about it he wanted to find out if it was as great as everyone said. The three of us went up to the room and turned on. It didn’t take much to get us high—neither Eddie or me had used for quite some time and it was Hugh’s first experience.

We all three got really stoned and sat around talking or simply going on the nod until the early hours of the morning—finally dropping off to sleep— awakening much later in the day. We all three felt fairly good although somewhat sluggish. Hugh lit up a couple of sticks of pot before cutting out —leaving us feeling good and a bit high. After Hugh left, Eddie and I split what was left of the stuff.

Eddie was an entirely new type of person to me. I had never known anyone like him nor for that matter have I since met anyone his equal in independence and scheming know-how. He wasn’t vicious or cruel in any sense—yet at the same time he was completely devoid of sentiment.

He spoke in detail of his past life but never once mentioned having any feeling of love for anyone he had known and spoke of his family in an offhand, detached manner.

He had lived with several women but seemingly missed none of them and spoke of having left each one in the way one might speak of discarding an old suit or piece of clothing one has become weary of.

Yet —and this is what attracted me particularly—there was a certain warmth and immediate concern for—in this instance—my feelings permeating his conversation and dealing with me not only at the time, but for as long as we were closely associated.

There were very pronounced homosexual characteristics in his personality—he permitted himself indulgence in this with me—so that in a sense strong feelings of love existed between us although he carefully avoided its becoming obvious to any of our mutual acquaintances—as well as refusing to acknowledge it even when we were alone in words—only in physical fact.

He did say at one time that I was the only male he had ever allowed himself such complete freedom with.

During our discussion prior to going downstairs for breakfast—we decided it would be great to try to score again later in the evening. We had talked about the money situation and Eddie had come up with a plan.

Shortly before we had been sent over to the Island there had been a big drive on against the junk pushers in San Juan Hill—a notorious cesspool of crime and corruption of all kinds where—if one was at all known—one could cop anything from ordinary sleeping pills to opium—and which had finally been cleaned up.

For a long time the police had been unable to move in on the district. It was actually a little world—set apart—controlled entirely by the underworld element. Just how they’d accomplished cleaning it up was a mystery, but clean it up they did along with the Lower East Side, Broadway, and various other spots. A panic was on among the junkies. There were still a few people able to connect—but on the whole, conditions were bad. A little of this I already knew but Eddie was well informed about the details. He spoke of having run into a Broadway whore he knew who had told him that most of the girls were finding the going rough—unable to score regularly—and were willing to pay almost any amount of money to make a steady connection.

Eddie explained that he knew of several doctors in Brooklyn who—if given the right approach—would write prescriptions for five grains of morphine. He had it figured between the two of us we could score enough from these doctors to keep ourselves supplied—the rest we could sell to the girls along Broadway. He said, “We’ll pick up about five customers—steady and dependable—and promise to keep them supplied regularly.”

The plan struck me as excellent, although I had some doubts about my ability to convince the doctors to write. Eddie told me not to worry—he would tell me exactly what to say—and with my appearance I would have no trouble at all.

This wasn’t exactly an original plan with Eddie. He told me he knew a couple of people who were keeping up habits making croakers. In fact, later it became so common that the government men began cracking down on the doctors—taking a number of them to court for writing illicit prescriptions—all of them losing their license to practice medicine—and many ending up serving time.

We got into the racket at the right time and had nearly a two-year run before getting into trouble.

We spent the remainder of the day wandering around Times Square— Eddie introduced me to a couple of whores he knew who said they were willing to do business with us if we could promise a steady thing.

They weren’t particularly interested in morphine—since they had heroin habits— but they figured the situation had reached the point where as long as they could depend on at least a daily meet, that in the long run they’d be better off making the switch.

We did a lot of window shopping. In those days I was still clothes-conscious—picking out shirts—suits—shoes—and all kinds of haberdashery. Eddie considered himself a sharp dresser and he was.

Late in the evening we cut into Hugh and picked up two more caps.

He told us his man was hot and didn’t like doing business in such small amounts. He told us his man was trying to get rid of what he had left in one drop—about an ounce—so unless we wanted to take the whole thing we had better look for someone else.

We explained we had other plans.

Hugh half-wanted to come along with us but we said we had business to discuss and we’d pick up some other time. The two of us returned to the room—got straight—Eddie then proceeding to instruct me in how to go about scoring with a doctor.

Actually the routine was fairly simple. My approach consisted of telling the doctor—with lowered eyes, hesitant speech, and seeming humiliation—that I was a drug addict—having picked up the habit while visiting in Florida with my people. We had traveled through the Everglades, and I had picked up a severe colitis condition accompanied by amoebic dysentery—the doctors giving me morphine to ease the pain. This was the general outline of the story, except that I also explained that the doctor who’d treated me since I returned to New York had recently passed on and that I didn’t like or feel comfortable with the man who had taken over the practice. It worked, and the next day in Brooklyn the first doctor Eddie recommended wrote for five grains of morphine without giving me any trouble. Eddie had waited down the block for me, and as soon as I came out, he went in. His story was considerably different from mine—having mostly to do with his accident in the car barn and his leg not having healed properly.

The same day we each made three doctors.

One of them we simply hit on by chance passing his office—deciding to go in and try him. The other two—Eddie said—had been recommended by some guy he had met in jail.

Getting the prescriptions filled was no problem since they were legitimate—a doctor had written them.

We received vials— government sealed—with twenty quarter-grain tablets for each script— giving us a total of thirty grains of morphine at the end of our afternoon’s work. The prescriptions had cost around three dollars apiece—and getting them filled averaged one dollar and a half to a dollar seventy-five. Our cash outlay amounted to almost twenty-five dollars, plus personal expenses— which came to roughly five or six dollars. That evening the two girls— along with a friend of theirs—bought all but three grains—at one dollar a quarter grain. Morphine sold or purchased on the street cost four dollars per grain.

We were moderately successful and soon did a steady business—with four, occasionally five, regular customers—Broadway whores—with a net profit of about one hundred dollars a day.

The story will continue in the March 2020 MM Report!

Elizabeth Hollin's Within the Mind of a Budtender - February 2020

Cannabis, the pain reliever, the inflammation reducer…the love drug?

All across the world, there are stories from a wide-range of individuals claiming the aphrodisiac powers that cannabis can possess. Have you experienced similar situations?

Those bursts of euphoria and genuine relaxed happiness to help lift the weight of the world off of your shoulders? I know I have.

Though the few studies that have been done in regards to researching the correlation can be opposing in result, it’s a common consensus that more research should be performed because the possibilities are there. Studies have shown an increase in sexual frequency reported in cannabis users, a potential slight testosterone boost, and of course, the mood enhancing capabilities of the plant. Luckily, with the expanding regulation surrounding cannabis, new research will soon be abundant. 

For those of us looking for that instantaneous euphoria before enjoying that special moment with our special someone, here are a few strains that claim to be the best when it comes to their love-boosting properties:

1- Trainwreck…Don’t worry, your experience shouldn’t take after the name. Rather, you’ll feel bursts of euphoria and happiness, feelings to help put your mind in the perfect state to play, with the sativa-sided energy that you’ll need to keep you going…and going…and going.

2- Granddaddy Purple…Our first example was a sativa-dominant, and naturally some individuals don’t prefer those heady effects. With Granddaddy Purple, you don’t have to worry about your sativa fears, but rather sink back into pockets of euphoria and full-body relaxation to take your time to the next level of intimacy. Get ready to cuddle after. 

3- AC/DC…Stop running from lower THC levels. Though this strain has higher CBD levels and lower THC levels than other strains, this helps ensure users still receive a light sativa-like high, with its energy and bursts of happiness, as well as the chance to forget about their daily aches and pains for a few blissful moments in time. 

4- Atomic Northern Lights…This strain has story lists as long as its name. Sadly, it’s not one that I’ve gotten to personally try yet. Claims of a strong sense of arousal, deep euphoria, relaxation, and overall happiness put this as my Number 1 need-to-try strain. This cross of Thai Haze and Afghani is bound to take you for a wild ride, and keep you coming back for more.

5- Grateful Breath…Another strain that I don’t believe I’ve gotten to personally try, reviews speak of its ability to heighten nearly every sensation. I can only imagine how that could turn up the heat, not to mention, the buds are beautiful. 

A personal favorite of mine recently has been Strawberry Guava #3. Nearly alcoholically fruity, it had a creeping full-body relaxation with a lovely splash of euphoria.

These days, it’s not just smoking that you would have to rely on to benefit from these experiences. Not all of us need to light up to enjoy the same feelings. 

Add a little bit of Foria’s CBD Awakening lubricant to help enhance your intimate moments. A bit of a gentle tingling heat, with a mild time-enhancing quality, with the ability to last all evening, this would make an excellent little adult-friendly bedside table addition. Or maybe enjoy just letting a few small pieces of a Kiva Blackberry Dark Chocolate Bar melt in your mouth. The delicious taste of berry with the richness of the chocolate is bound to have you feeling a little warm and fuzzy inside. 

There are so many ways to take that extra step up, and spice up your personal time. If you’re curious about the options out there, speak with your trusted budtender about their offers and what could work for you. 

Don’t settle for a vanilla Valentine’s Day this year. Pick up a little something for you and your partner to enjoy on an extra special night-in, and don’t be too hard on yourself when you sleep through the next morning’s alarm.