{"id":5037,"date":"2021-03-19T00:18:13","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T04:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/?p=5037"},"modified":"2023-12-20T02:53:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T07:53:23","slug":"cannabis-wild-west-meets-wall-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/2021\/03\/19\/cannabis-wild-west-meets-wall-street\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis: Wild West meets Wall Street"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5211 alignright size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-and-sign-v3-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-and-sign-v3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-and-sign-v3-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-and-sign-v3.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>You might smirk when the word cannabis is mentioned.\u00a0 It may conjure up visions of tie-dyed hippies road-tripping in a van across the country.\u00a0 But <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">have you looked under the hood of the cannabis industry?<\/span>\u00a0 Do you know what is happening right under your nose (pun intended)?<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t your parent\u2019s cannabis industry. \u00a0This isn\u2019t Cheech &amp; Chong. \u00a0The industry is far more advanced and sophisticated than one might know, yet messy and immature.\u00a0 Regulatory and financial challenges abound.\u00a0 The industry is changing rapidly and in the midst of exploding.<\/p>\n<h3>First, the basics<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Cannabis is derived from the <em>cannabis sativa <\/em>plant.<\/li>\n<li>It <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">became illegal in the US in 1937<\/span> when President Roosevelt signed the Marijuana Tax Act.<\/li>\n<li><em>Cannabis sativa<\/em> contains over 100 \u201ccannabinoids,\u201d or chemical compounds found only in the cannabis plant.\n<ul>\n<li>Tetrahydrocannabinol, or <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">THC, is the psychoactive ingredient that gets you high<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>CBD is another one of those cannabinoids, with no hallucinogenic properties. Also called industrial hemp, CBD will not get you high because if it is properly purified, it contains only minute levels of THC (&lt; .3%). <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CBD is used for pain management<\/span>, or relaxation.<\/li>\n<li>To be clear, cannabis and CBD are different, although both are derived from the same cannabis plant.<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5214 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/How-does-CBD-work-in-the-body-1024x640-1-e1616122760663.jpg\" alt=\"How does CBD work in the body\" width=\"600\" height=\"375\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Cannabis remains <u>federally illegal and classified as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/article\/csa-schedule-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Class 1 Controlled Substance<\/a>, the same classification as heroin, cocaine and LSD<\/u>. While many states have varying degrees of cannabis legalization, it remains illegal at the federal level.<\/li>\n<li>CBD was federally legalized in the US in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/farmbill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2018 Farm Bill<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Banking and financial services are hard to come by<\/span>. Because cannabis (not CBD) remains federally illegal and most banks hold federal charters, banks risk fines, regulatory actions or loss of charter if they provide services to Marijuana Related Businesses (\u201cMRB\u2019s\u201d).<\/li>\n<li>Regulatory inconsistencies complicate the industry.\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">New yet cautious optimism<\/span> exists that the new heavily-Democratic administration will clarify and ease cannabis restrictions.<\/li>\n<li>There is a vast <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ecosystem<\/span> of cannabis players: growers, wholesalers, retailers, consulting &amp; other professional services, biotech\/pharma, investments\/M&amp;A, physical security, real estate, software\/media, miscellaneous ancillary (testing labs, packaging, labeling, branding, recruitment), and more.<\/li>\n<li>It is a highly fragmented and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">chaotic market<\/span> (wild, wild West).<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Capital is flooding the market<\/span>. Wall Street has arrived at the party, and the Big Corporates in pharma, alcohol and tobacco industries are dabbling and stand ready to pounce, defend and mark their territory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Perceptions are changing<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Public support<\/span> for cannabis legalization has never been higher.\u00a0 In a <a href=\"https:\/\/thegreenfund.com\/is-weed-legal-in-the-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pew Research poll<\/a> conducted late 2018, 62% of the US population was in favor of legalizing cannabis at the federal level.\u00a0 In a separate Gallup poll, 68% of the US population was in favor of legalizing cannabis. Either way, the times they are a-changing.<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5152 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-public-opinion-graph-e1616098757598.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"375\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Voter approval is sweeping nation regarding legalization, albeit at varying levels.\u00a0 100% of cannabis ballot initiatives passed in the Nov 2020 election.<\/li>\n<li>An estimated <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">38.4 million U.S. adults consume cannabis<\/span> at least once annually, from either a legal or illegal source.\u00a0 36% of cannabis consumers report using cannabis daily, and 59% use cannabis at least once a week.<\/li>\n<li>Cannabis was classified as an \u201c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">essential business<\/span>\u201d by most states during the pandemic, allowing continued albeit altered operations. Cannabis sales flourished.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Regulatory challenges<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Legalization varies by state<\/span> and by classification, stymying industry efficiency.<\/li>\n<li>State legalization classifications include adult\/recreational use, medicinal, and criminalized vs decriminalized.\n<ul>\n<li>15 states, 2 territories and DC have legalized <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">adult use<\/span> cannabis. CO and WA were the first states to do so in 2012.<\/li>\n<li>37 states have <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">medical<\/span> marijuana approval.<\/li>\n<li>27 states and DC have <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">decriminalized<\/span> small amounts of cannabis: small, personal consumption amounts are a civil or local infraction, not a state crime or are classified as lowest misdemeanor.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/newfrontierdata.com\/2020-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">71% of Americans<\/a> now live in a state with either legal adult-use or medical-use cannabis.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5114 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-state-legalization-map-e1616109366992.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"599\" height=\"330\" \/><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Several legislative bills have been introduced \u2013 and partially passed &#8211; to ease cannabis restrictions, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/thegreenfund.com\/is-weed-legal-in-the-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SAFE Banking Act, STATES Act, MORE Act.<\/a>\u00a0 But none have made it through the Senate.\u00a0 The <a href=\"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/cannabis-and-its-evolution\/cole-memorandum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cole Memorandums<\/a> were instated during the Obama administration but rescinded during the Trump administration.\n<ul>\n<li>Passage of these bills, or derivations thereof, are more likely than ever under the current political administration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Multiple regulatory bodies<\/span> govern MRB operators and financial services. Regulation varies depending where in the cannabis ecosystem the MRB operates.\n<ul>\n<li>Non-bank regulators include DEA and FDA.<\/li>\n<li>Financial service regulators include OCC, FinCEN (part of Bank Secrecy Act of 1970), NCUA, FDIC, state banking regulators, to name a few.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Financial challenges<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The cannabis industry is largely <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">a cash business<\/span> because access to banking, insurance and other typical business services are hard to get, sometimes impossible. Holding and transporting large amounts of cash make MRBs a target for criminals, employee theft and inefficient financial operations.<\/li>\n<li>MRBs are hindered by <a href=\"https:\/\/info.enjoywurk.com\/cannabis-resource-center\/280e-tax-deductions-compliance-strategy-explained\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS tax code 280E<\/a>, which states that &#8220;no deduction or credit shall be allowed in running a business that consists of trafficking a controlled substance.&#8221; Expense <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">deductions are not allowed for MRBs<\/span>, like they are for most businesses.\n<ul>\n<li>Congress enacted 280E in 1982 as a result of a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/info.enjoywurk.com\/cannabis-resource-center\/280e-tax-deductions-compliance-strategy-explained\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cocaine trafficking case<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Inflates MRB\u2019s taxable income, taxes payable.<\/li>\n<li>280E impacts retail operations most but also cultivation\/growers, processors, infusers and extraction MRBs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5110 alignnone size-medium\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IRS-image-1-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IRS-image-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IRS-image-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IRS-image-1-480x481.jpg 480w, https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IRS-image-1.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">No federal bankruptcy protection<\/span> for any \u201cplant-touching\u201d cannabis debtor, however hemp businesses have bankruptcy protections.<\/li>\n<li>Banking and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">financial services are missing out<\/span> on revenue opportunities, and mired by regulatory complexities and inconsistencies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cannabis capital markets<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Yes &#8211; <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">cannabis capital markets exist<\/span>.\u00a0 Pot stocks exist.\u00a0 Cannabis M&amp;A exists.\u00a0 Cannabis SPACs exist.<\/li>\n<li>US cannabis companies <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can\u2019t list on American stock exchanges<\/span> such as NYSE or NASDAQ due to cannabis\u2019s federally illegal status. Instead, they often <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">list in other countries<\/span>, where cannabis is federally legal, with Canada being one of the most prevalent and a convenient geographic neighbor to the US.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2019 and early 2020 proved challenging and volatile<\/span> given overly optimistic projections that didn&#8217;t materialize.\u00a0 Late 2020, however, was different.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crbmonitor.com\/resources\/cannabis-linked-securities-q4-2020-update?utm_campaign=TF+%257C+Cannabis-Linked+Update+Boost+%257C+Website+Visits+%257C+Prospecting&amp;utm_source=linkedin&amp;utm_medium=paid&amp;hsa_acc=506659471&amp;hsa_cam=607406704&amp;hsa_grp=174769704&amp;hsa_ad=124995224&amp;hsa_net=linkedin&amp;hsa_ver=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Election-related tailwinds<\/a> provided motivation investors needed to engage once again. Cannabis-related equities surged, first in anticipation of the November elections, then immediately after, as MRBs celebrated:\n<ol>\n<li>\u00a0An expansion of legalized rec-use, and<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Election of a new, more cannabis-friendly administration, and<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove increased consumption and continues to pressure state governments to find new sources of revenue.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5157 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-MA-activity-US-vs-others.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"609\" height=\"465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-MA-activity-US-vs-others.jpg 609w, https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-MA-activity-US-vs-others-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-MA-activity-US-vs-others-480x367.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 609px) 100vw, 609px\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>One estimate suggests there is more than <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.website-files.com\/5da7e7a83e54881821d857c6\/60183364dbc2aa9a65ff4e1c_US%20Cannabis%20Outlook%20(Final%20Version%20Edited%201.18.21)%5B3%5D.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$1.3B in SPAC money<\/a> to be deployed in the cannabis space in 2021 with more than $900M needing to be put to work in 1H21.<\/li>\n<li>The <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">most active sector<\/span> within the cannabis ecosystem for capital markets activity is the cultivation\/grower sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Opportunity awaits<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Cannabis industry poised to be the largest creator of jobs over the next decade, a workforce mobilization not seen since WWII.\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/industry\/243700-marijuana-jobs-how-many-in-america\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The US added 77,300 full-time jobs<\/a> in the cannabis industry in 2020, despite the pandemic. This represents a 32% YoY job growth, which is astounding considering 2020 was the worst year for US economic growth since World War II.<\/li>\n<li>In 2020, there were more legal cannabis industry employees in the US than electricians, EMTs and paramedics, and dentists (more than twice as many).<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5166 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cannabis-job-growth-US-e1616099138337.jpg\" alt=\"Cannabis job growth US\" width=\"600\" height=\"484\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The US legal cannabis industry reached nearly $23B sales in 2020 and is projected to grow at a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CAGR of 18.1%<\/span> over the next 5 years.<\/li>\n<li>Illegal cannabis sales continue to heavily <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">outweigh legalized cannabis sales<\/span> but the gap is narrowing.<\/li>\n<li>Recognition and acceptance of cannabis\u2019s medicinal qualities is growing.\u00a0 Some industry experts project <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.website-files.com\/5da7e7a83e54881821d857c6\/60183364dbc2aa9a65ff4e1c_US%20Cannabis%20Outlook%20(Final%20Version%20Edited%201.18.21)%5B3%5D.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">all 50 states will approve medical marijuana<\/a> by 2025.\u00a0 Will cannabis be a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">healthcare disruptor?<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Legalization at the state level will continue. Legalization at the federal level seems <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">more possible than ever<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>Municipalities are eager (desperate?) for the tax revenue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The industry is growing up, getting sophisticated. \u00a0Capital is flooding the industry. \u00a0It will continue to evolve and mature over the next 5-10 years.\u00a0 In the meantime a great deal of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">unsettledness, opportunity, carnage and prosperity awaits<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>Buckle up.\u00a0 A wild ride lies ahead.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Sources:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><em>New Frontier Data &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/newfrontierdata.com\/2020-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cannabis Legalization Across the US<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Green Entrepreneur<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>CRB Monitor &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crbmonitor.com\/resources\/cannabis-linked-securities-q4-2020-update?utm_campaign=TF+%257C+Cannabis-Linked+Update+Boost+%257C+Website+Visits+%257C+Prospecting&amp;utm_source=linkedin&amp;utm_medium=paid&amp;hsa_acc=506659471&amp;hsa_cam=607406704&amp;hsa_grp=174769704&amp;hsa_ad=124995224&amp;hsa_net=linkedin&amp;hsa_ver=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Capital markets summary<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Drugs.com &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/article\/csa-schedule-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">List of Schedule 1 Drugs<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The Green Fund &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/thegreenfund.com\/is-weed-legal-in-the-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pew Research Poll and Gallup Poll<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>National Association of State Legislatures &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncsl.org\/research\/civil-and-criminal-justice\/marijuana-overview.aspx#1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">State Cannabis Programs<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>USDA &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/farmbill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2018 Farm Bill<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Wurk &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/info.enjoywurk.com\/cannabis-resource-center\/280e-tax-deductions-compliance-strategy-explained\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">History and challenges of IRS tax code 280E<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Viridian Capital\u00a0 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.website-files.com\/5da7e7a83e54881821d857c6\/60183364dbc2aa9a65ff4e1c_US%20Cannabis%20Outlook%20(Final%20Version%20Edited%201.18.21)%5B3%5D.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cannabis Industry Report:\u00a0 The Time is Now For US Cannabis<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Weedmaps &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/cannabis-and-its-evolution\/cole-memorandum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cole Memorandum history<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>ReportLinker &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/news-release\/2021\/02\/26\/2183314\/0\/en\/The-Cannabis-Market-is-USD-22-9-billion-in-2020-and-is-projected-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-18-1-during-the-forecast-period-2021-2026.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Projected Cannabis CAGR<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Leafly:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/leafly-images.imgix.net\/Leafly-2020-Jobs-Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leafly Annual Jobs Report<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The cannabis industry is growing up, getting sophisticated. Perceptions are changing, but regulations are inconsistent. The smart money has arrived.<br \/>\nHere are the regulatory, financial, and investment challenges, as well as the opportunities, driving this rapidly evolving market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,11,13],"tags":[153,151,152,154,19,103],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5037"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5037"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13178,"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5037\/revisions\/13178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navesinkinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}