Month: September 2022

Leave it to California to be leading the ‘clean weed’ movement. 

From flower goods to concentrates, vapes to edibles, a rising number of consumers are seeking out solventless goods as a part of the popular non-toxic lifestyle culture.

Popularized by Goop and fueled by an increase in knowledge and awareness of the toxic effects solvents and chemical-based goods can cause - consumers are more in tune than ever with what they put into their bodies. 

Even for weed, it doesn’t matter how good it might make you feel - it’s going to be solventless or nothing for this quickly growing community of clean-living consumers. 

So, as a pre-roll, oil, flower, or edible manufacturer in California or aspiring cannapreneur, is it time to shift your gears towards live rosin and solventless goods? Keep reading for all the facts and figures, you’re going to want to consider while you make future plans for sustainable growth.

The Solventless and Rosin Definition

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘don’t panic it’s organic’ but the truth is not all cannabis products are strictly au naturel. In fact, some oils and concentrates that claim they’re the ‘purest’ form of the plant are processed with not-so-pure materials like butane and ethanol to reach their final form. 

As consumers become more knowledgeable about cannabis, in general, they’re learning more about these extraction processes and choosing to go ‘clean’ with their routines. As shown by the rise in popularity for solventless rosin, and other consumable goods too (we’ll get to that next!). 

So, before moving on to solventless cannabis market share - what is the true rosin definition? Rosin is the generalized term that’s given to a solventless extract. Meaning, the oil from the plant is extracted naturally and without the use of ‘solvents’ which include butane, CO2, ethanol, or propane for varying types of extraction methods. 

Instead, solventless oil extraction often uses - 

• Water
• Ice
• Heat
• Very high pressures

First, manufacturers source whole plant fresh frozen flower from a reputable cultivator (not all fresh frozen cultivators are the same - some don’t know how to grow fresh frozen resulting in low yields and heavy metals).  Second, you wash the fresh frozen flower in an ice bath at sub 32 degrees to freeze the trichomes on the plant (trichomes are just a fancy word for the crystals that you see on the buds), then agitate the plant to separate the trichomes from the plant.  

Third, you collect the trichomes with different micron filters.  Fourth, freeze dry the trichomes to remove any moisture.  This is what people usually call "ice water hash."  And fifth, you press the ice water hash using heat and pressure.  When you press the trichomes, it’s like smashing grapes, the cannabis oil oozes out, and that’s what we call "live rosin." This is a great method to isolate the trichomes of the plant and its beneficial compounds, without the need for solvents.

Last but not least, and speaking of terminology - you may also hear rosin referred to as solventless hash or solventless live rosin. The ‘live’ refers to the act of using frozen (and fresh) flower, which captures the plant’s expressions at the peak of ‘freshness’.

Now that you know more about the process of making solventless extracts, let’s take a look at current California cannabis trends that shows an increase in demand. 

California Cannabis Trends - Rise of Rosin

So, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk rosin as it relates to cannabis sales in California and across the US. As of late, retailers have seen an uptick in solventless extract sales and an increasing number of edible manufacturers in California are now offering solventless varieties, too. 

Recently, BDSA, a cannabis market analyst firm, showed solventless concentrate sales in the vape rosin category grew by 1405% over the prior year. Even more, between June 2021 - 2022, each month the category grew on average by 132%. While, Glimpse, a trends analytics firm, reports consumer interest in Live Rosin alone grew 19% in the last year, reaching a monthly search volume of 13K. 

With year-to-year growth and increasing consumer interest, the biggest brands in the game have already begun entering the solventless extraction category. Including the manufacturing giant, Papa & Barkley, who launched their line of solventless edibles called ‘Papa and Barkley’s Kitchen’ in 2020. 

Now, two years later, California dispensaries are in overdrive trying to stock solventless products to meet consumer demand. Many display ‘solventless’ categories within their online menus making it that much easier for consumers to find the clean weed they’re seeking. So, next, let’s find out how you or your brand could be the next brand on the shelves.

Cash in on Solventless Extracts

If you’re already a licensed facility, or just considering becoming a cannapreneur yourself, you’re probably wondering - how can I cash in on solventless extract growth? There are two simple ways you can capitalize on the future of cannabis and capture higher-than-average live rosin prices. 

• Type-s licensing - A Type-S License is a “shared-use” license specific to California cannabis manufacturers. When obtaining your own type-s license you can then use  a primary Type-S License’s facility, equipment, and space to produce your own product. Some primary type-s facilities like My Green Network (MGN) provide access to solventless extraction technology, to avoid having to secure and invest in your own.  
• White label  - With a little less labor required into the manufacturing of your product, another way to enter the solventless cannabis extraction market is to brand your own white label product. When choosing a white label solventless extract brand to partner with (MGN does that too!), be sure to verify the quality and consistency of the manufacturer or facility’s products and processes for optimal success. 

But these types of solventless extract market entries aren’t just seamless for manufacturing and operational purposes, but for sales purposes too. Advanced primary type-s licensing facilities like MGN, also offer retail support through programs like buyer discovery days, and even immediate placement with a retail delivery license.

Your Source for Solventless Extract Solutions

As we start to see hash hole pre-rolls, solventless edible manufacturing, solventless vapes, and rosin goods reach the peak of popularity, the time is now to tap into the growing cannabis market share. But keep in mind, for most traditional licensing methods, it can take over a year to become approved not to mention the time it’ll take to get up and running. 

So, to act fast before the next trend hits - consider type-s licensing or white label goods with an established partner in My Green Network. In less time, and with less investment, your brand could be the latest and greatest solventless rosin to hit the dispensary shelves (and fly off of it, too!). 

Get in touch to schedule a tour facility or discovery call with the My Green Network team - where we exist to inspire the future Green Leaders of the cannabis industry. Explore our membership opportunities, FAQs, current members, and more here now. 

As the US collectively and patiently awaits further progress on the SAFE Banking Act, cannabis funding continues to negatively affect market entry for craft and small start-ups. Why? Because cannabis is a schedule-1 ‘drug’ under the Controlled Substances Act, many big-time banks, lenders, and investors can’t or won’t participate in cannabis transactions not insured by the FDIC. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other creative ways to break into the market. In fact, as the world of ‘funding’ evolves, the opportunities to gain funding for cannabis startups have evolved, too.

Today, you have more options than ever for starting an edible business or starting a canna business with unconventional ways of funding. So, if you’ve ever dreamt of being an edibles manufacturer or launching your own branded line of cannabis goods - this is the ultimate guide for you. 

Keep reading to learn the latest in cannabis funding solutions and the top five ways to secure cannabis funding in 2022-23. 

Cannabis Funding 101

It’s no surprise that aspiring entrepreneurs want to get into the cannabis market. Especially considering the industry’s global market was estimated to be worth $21.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $55.9 billion by 2026. But still, with federal restrictions on raising and gaining capital, the industry is seeing a decline in cannabis startup funding. 

In 2022, only 41 cannabis companies globally have been successful at raising capital or venture funding. Altogether, the companies have raised $294 million over the year, which is less than ⅓ of all the funds raised in just the first half of 2021. If the current pace continues, experts cite that 2022 is on track to be the lowest fundraising period for the industry since 2017. 

But, long-time cannabis advocates and multi-millionaires themselves, like Snoop Dogg, are using their positions for good use when it comes to cannabis funding. The rapper recently became the director of Casa Verde Capital, which is a venture capital fund that specifically focuses on cannabis startup funding. So far, the fund has been successful with a portfolio that includes notable brands like Dutchie, Cannalysis, and Green Tank. 

Beyond celebrity clout, there have been some new movements when it comes to federal legislation addressing cannabis funding concerns. The Capital Lending and Investment for Marijuana Businesses, or CLIMB Act, was recently introduced to the US House of Representatives and sets out  “to permit access to community development, small business, minority development, and any other public or private financial capital sources for investment in and financing of cannabis-related legitimate businesses.” 

As we await definitive changes, rest assured there are still alternative ways to source startup money for cannabis businesses. So, next, let’s cover the four most innovative cannabis funding solutions for you to explore. 

The Top Four Cannabis Funding Solutions

Let’s be honest - the cannabis industry and its players are creative, to say the least. To answer the question, of how to raise money for cannabis, we’ll cover the four ways these visionary cannabis startups have found success.

Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors

The search for angel investors for marijuana is on the rise, as is the need for cannabis-specific venture capitalists. To show their effectiveness, cannabis startups who have used venture capitalists or angel investors for marijuana market entry include - 

• Weedmaps
• Leafly
• Flowhub
• Eaze 
• Surterra Holdings (Parallel) 
• LeafLink

If you’re not familiar with the term ‘angel investors’, it refers to high net worth individuals - who act like ‘angels’ for some by investing a portion of their worth into startup brands. As noted by Cannabis Business Times, often angel investors for marijuana are more apt to invest in businesses that  - 

• Have a low capex, aka low capital expenditures. 
• Require low start-up costs.
• Are ‘mom and pop’ in nature. 

Traditional Business Loan

Of course, don’t rule out traditional business loan options either. Smaller banks and financial institutions are increasingly offering and facilitating cannabis business loans as the industry and legalization grow more widespread and mainstream. In the case of traditional financing, you’ll want to be sure your business plan and personal finances are as buttoned-up as they can be.

That’s because traditional banks and institutions will require, review and dissect these more than other financing routes. This means increasing your credit score as much as possible, exploring the possibility of a co-signer, and saving up for potential down payments.

Asking Friends and Family

We all get by with a little help from our friends. But cannabis startups are relying on friends and family more than most legitimate industries. Many cannabis companies' first equity investors are those close to the founder, but the logistics can be tricky to manage personally and professionally. To be transparent, you’ll want to be sure your family or friend investors know the risks of the industry vs investments in traditional markets.

Again, similar to traditional loans, when going to friends and family for starting a cannabusiness, make sure the terms of your business plan and paying out investors in stock, or capital, are clearly defined.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has been a successful capital-raising route for thousands of big-time and small-time brands, cannabis included. Notable platforms like Kickstarter, Mainvest,  Indiegogo, and MicroVentures have been found to be 420-friendly, and now cannabis-specific crowdfunding platforms exist too. 

These platforms, including CannaFundr and Fundanna, give cannabis startups the opportunity to source funds by sharing their business plans and facilitating captivating campaigns to drum up support from those in favor of and interested in investing in cannabis without other ways to do so. 

Starting a Cannabusiness - Maximizing Your Return on Investment

No matter which route you take, you’ll have to consider just when you’ll make a profit or how quickly you’ll see a return on your investment. While you’re thinking outside of the box to secure cannabis startup funding, continue the same type of thinking for licensing and manufacturing, too.

A traditional license isn’t the only avenue to starting a cannabusiness, especially when launching in California. California is one of the few states that offers type-s licensing as a fast track to getting approved while using a primary type-s licensed facility to begin manufacturing in an expedited fashion. 

My Green Network is proud to be the premier type-s licensing facility in southern California that helps aspiring cannapreneurs achieve their dreams of getting into the cannabis business through co-manufacturing, white label or private label goods, and shared cannabis cloud kitchen space. 

The faster you begin producing, the faster you begin turning a profit. So, bookmark this guide on how to get funding for cannabis business licensing, and keep My Green Network in mind as you continue your journey towards cannapreneurship.

Get in touch to schedule a tour or to learn more, now.