Cannabis News

when LPs stop keeping secrets

Published

2 months ago

March 7, 2026

admin

On March 5, Innexo BV opened its research facilities in the Netherlands to more than 20 licensed producers from 10 countries for the first Acceleration Day 2026. The agenda covered two topics: Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) and Non-vegetable cropping strategies.

What Dominique van Gruisen, CEO of Innexo, did not expect was how much the room started talking. Producers from Germany, the Netherlands and further afield were comparing notes before the formal program began. “There’s no secret thing. ‘Hey, I’m doing this, this is working for me,'” Dominique said. “It was really special to see that interaction.”

It makes sense considering who was in the room. Most of these producers operate in different markets and are not in direct competition. “They realized that if they do a good job there is enough room for good players,” Dominique said. “Bad actors are the ones we have to worry about.”

No-veg: curiosity and operational reality
No-Veg definitely created the most buzz on the floor. In a no-veg system, the cuttings completely bypass the vegetative phase and go directly to a 12/12 flowering photoperiod, a strategy to shorten cycle times and reduce energy consumption, which is particularly important in the Northern European climate, where lighting and climate control dominate operating costs.

Dominique was frank about the state of No-Veg adoption: some producers had already implemented it after the conversation with Innexo, and said they would not back down; others were skeptical. The test room made the case better than any slide board. “We were doing different tests, different genetics and different conditions, they showed a lot of different scenarios at the same time,” he said. “The feedback I received was that it was one of the highlights of the event.”

Xavier G., founder of Avitas Global, who helped bring several international participants to the event, echoed this, and was grateful that Innexo did not oversell. “They showed the good, the bad and the ugly,” he said. “It makes sense to show the bad plants. It’s a research center. The plants need to see with their own eyes what can be done right and what can be done wrong. People were happy that they weren’t selling something perfect.”

IPDM: pest management as a facility architecture
The second major topic of the day was the case for a complete rethinking of pest and disease management as a design principle built into facility infrastructure from day one.

Matthew Gates, a cannabis entomologist based in San Diego, gave a presentation entitled Cannabis Pest Strategy: Everswarm Evolution, developed in collaboration with Avitas Global. Matthew relied primarily on US-based cannabis pest research to map current and emerging threats, focusing on aphids, cutworms and powdery mildews, organisms he described as highly adaptable at the genetic and molecular level.

“Some selection pressures in one region will rapidly affect others,” Matthew said after the event, pointing to the global nature of pest resistance as a shared industry problem. “We all have to own it and move responsibly.” His presentation also addressed the risk of developing resistance to biocontrols and chemical interventions, and how common data sharing and proactive protocol design can prevent these pressures before they develop.

Fluence’s Sabrina downplayed the two drivers of botrytis, osmotic pressure in the root zone, and faulty HVAC programming logic, both of which create VPD swings that create microclimates within the flowers where the pathogen thrives. The practical implication was that sensor data can identify botrytis risk before disease is seen, allowing growers to intervene earlier and more precisely. “He could have talked about Fluence products all the time,” said Xavier, “but he talked about LED and IPM. It sums up the vibe of the event.”

A platform built for collective progress
Acceleration Day also served as the official start of the next API cycle. The platform operates on three levels of participation. Innovators, who run five exclusive trials per year with full data access; Accelerators, which demonstrate technologies under greenhouse conditions; and Platformers, who tap into collective visions without large-scale testing. Entry-level participation starts at €10,000, a deliberate move to lower the barrier to the type of partnership that can move the industry faster than any single player.

Between 60 and 100 trials and demonstrations are planned in the next two years. Current partners include Fluence, FOHSE, Atami, Faven and ProGuard, among others. Atami is developing nutrient lines specifically for Non-Veg conditions; Faven is currently researching under-lighting in No-Veg environments; Fluence is studying spectral tuning across flower phases. Trials are conducted in parallel, in a working greenhouse, visible to all who visit the facility or attend an Acceleration Day. “It’s not like we’re renovating in a hidden bunker,” Dominique said. “This is for the betterment of the industry, for the betterment of LPs and ultimately for the benefit of patients.”

For Matthew, the event came in a place he didn’t expect. “The Innexo Acceleration Day connected me with a passionate and eclectic group of European professionals pushing the boundaries of cannabis research,” he wrote afterwards. “Real value comes from understanding critical aspects of cultivation and applying these findings to future planning, creating process excellence and competitive advantage.”

The next one is already on the calendar, June, the day before GreenTech Amsterdam, when international traffic to the Netherlands peaks. The focus will be genetics, confirmed Jorge Cervantes as speaker. If March is any indication, the conversations in the hallways can be just as important as what happens on stage.

For more information:
Innexo BV
(email protected)
LinkedIn
innexo.nl

Cannabis News

Cannabis growth facility eyes new spot for growth facility near Crisfield

Published

11 hours ago

May 1, 2026

admin

The Somerset County Board of Zoning Appeals approved another special exception for a cannabis-growing facility after negotiations to purchase a previous location failed to reach an agreement.

Trilogy Group LLC was granted a license to grow by the Maryland Cannabis Association, with the condition that the business be operational by July 2026. Trilogy Group wants to operate on the county-owned, undeveloped industrial site on Revell’s Neck Road in Westover. However, this project time frame does not coincide with the license term.

In September 2025, the producer was approved for a special exception for a facility at 4630 Crisfield Highway. The existing building houses Jed’s Auto Refinishing, which would be renovated to accommodate the growing operations. When the sale of that property ultimately failed, Trilogy Group purchased the land at 4381 Crisfield Highway and obtained another special exemption.

Jesse Drewer, Somerset’s Director of Technical and Community Services, said: “They looked for a site they already owned before coming to us and working through the process. “They are landlords and developers all in one.”

Cannabis News

Trump’s New Surgeon General Pick Said Using Marijuana Can Give You ‘Man Boobs’

Published

11 hours ago

May 1, 2026

admin

President Donald Trump’s new surgeon general nominee has raised concerns about marijuana, at one point saying its use is linked to the development of large breasts, or “man boobs,” in men. However, he also admitted that medical cannabis has “potential benefits”.

Trump announced Thursday that he would tap Nicole Saphier, who is now the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering, to be the surgeon general of the United States.

Saphier has repeatedly discussed what he sees as the dangers of marijuana use, and has been more open to the potential benefits of its non-intoxicating ingredient CBD.

“There is a common misconception that marijuana is safer than alcohol and other drugs,” he wrote on Fox News in 2019. “As a doctor I know that marijuana is not harmless and can have serious adverse effects on the health of users.”

“And as a mother of three (one in college), I’m concerned that legalizing the drug for adults sends a clear message to kids that they can get pot without negative health effects,” she said.

Saphier went on to criticize the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who supported marijuana reform, saying it’s “politically a popular cause, especially among young voters.”

“These candidates are more interested in how legalization of pot will affect their electoral prospects than how legalization will affect public health,” he said. he wrote.

Among the health concerns he has raised is that cannabis use is “directly linked” to “man boobs”.

“Physically, we know that marijuana is directly linked to respiratory problems (if smoked), cardiovascular disease, and gynecomastia (“man nipples”). As a breast radiologist, the first question I ask men when they come in for breast augmentation is whether they currently smoke marijuana or have smoked it in the past. Often, the answer is “yes.”

Trump’s appointment of Saphier comes just as his administration is moving forward with federal rescheduling of marijuana.

Although the surgeon general has no formal involvement in the drug program, which is administered by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, the position is seen as “America’s doctor” and plays a role in addressing health issues on behalf of the government.

In a podcast earlier this year, Saphier admitted that there are “potential benefits” to medical cannabis.

“Of course, there is evidence supporting cannabinoids for chemotherapy-induced nausea, certain seizure disorders, chronic pain syndromes, multiple sclerosis,” he said. “But that’s very different than, you know, the general normalization of high-potency recreational cannabis on a daily basis, especially in developing brains, which doesn’t happen until age 25.”

In the same podcast, he said that he personally “doesn’t like” and has “never tried” cannabis.

“I think CBD products are probably significantly less harmful if they don’t have THC. I’m not a fan of THC,” Saphier. he said. “I think if people are trying to get away from alcohol and want to take low doses of CBD, not inhale it, not smoke it, I’m sure it’s probably less risky than some of the other things out there.”

“Let’s be honest, today’s cannabis is not your parents’ marijuana. The potency of THC has increased dramatically over the last two decades. High-concentrate products, vapes, dabs, edibles, what the kids are doing these days, I don’t even know.”

In another interview focused on concerns about cannabis use by pregnant women, Saphier he said “As we continue to legalize marijuana, people are equating that to, ‘it has to be safe.'”

In a separate interview, he suggested that the legalization of cannabis is increasing its use among young people, which he said increases rates of addiction and psychosis.

“One in six children who try it, becomes addicted. Cannabis use in children, the risk of psychosis is four times higher,” he said. “What have we done? Legalize. Normalize.”

Trump’s predecessor, now retired Candidate Casey Means discussed his “significant experiences” with psychedelics beforehand Saying that marijuana “can greatly decrease your ability to generate good energy.”

Means himself said during a confirmation hearing in February he would not advise Americans to experiment with psychedelics as he has donebut noted that there is “exciting” research indicating that substances such as psilocybin can effectively treat serious mental health conditions.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

Missouri cannabis growers file class action against Good Day Farm

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2026

admin

CPC of Missouri-Smithville, LLC and GF Saint Mary LLC, licensed cannabis growers and manufacturers in Missouri, filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Jackson County on behalf of independent wholesalers, alleging that Good Day Farm (GDF) and its network of conspiring companies and investors were harmed by an intentional, coordinated and unconstitutional scheme. The complaint alleges that the “GDF Cartel” illegally controls or manages the state’s share of dispensary licenses and uses that market power to manipulate Missouri’s $1.52 billion cannabis market for its own profit.

GDF and its co-conspirators allegedly built the cartel by arranging for third parties to invest in limited liability companies (LLCs) that then acquire additional dispensaries, cultivation and processing facilities, all of which are owned, operated or controlled by GDF. The result: The alleged cartel exercises effective control over at least 61 dispensaries, nearly triple the 22 allowed by the Missouri Constitution, with more than 10% of dispensary licenses “under substantially common control, ownership or management.” With 224 dispensaries currently licensed statewide, the alleged GDF Cartel controls more than one in four dispensary licenses in Missouri. But its influence is even greater, with alleged Cartel dispensaries accounting for more than 40% of wholesale cannabis in the state, giving it significant — and illegal — influence over all independent growers and manufacturers forced to sell through its network.

To avoid the Missouri Constitution’s 10% licensing limit and avoid regulatory oversight, the alleged cartel operates under five different brand names:

Good Day Farm (21 dispensaries),
CODES (20 dispensaries),
Green light (10 dispensaries),
Fresh Karma (6 dispensaries), and
3 Fifteen Primo (4 medications).

But they’re all part of a single, coordinated operation, the complaint says.

Purchase cannabis products from non-Cartel wholesalers at artificially depressed prices;
They supply their 61 dispensaries with the same products—mainly those produced by Cartel growers—significantly excluding products from independent wholesalers;
Force independent drug wholesalers to purchase the Cartel’s finished products as a condition for their wholesale products to be placed on the Cartel’s drug store shelves; and
Boycott non-cartel wholesalers who refuse to agree to anti-cartel demands.

Bob Hoffman, one of the attorneys leading the case, said: “The GDF Cartel is removing competition from the wholesale cannabis market and enriching itself with illegal profits through a counterproductive, clandestine business conspiracy. Missouri growers and manufacturers have been suffering under this scheme for a long time; many of them know something is wrong, but we don’t realize how the cartel has manipulated the market through this manipulation framework. Missourians to approve recreational cannabis in 2022 They voted for a fair and competitive market. Missouri licensed cannabis businesses that have suffered these practices should join us because they may be entitled to substantial damages.”

The complaint alleges the financial toll the Cartel has taken: Since the Cartel began illegal price-fixing, it has used its collective market power to lower wholesale prices by more than 20%, and continues to squeeze wholesalers and threaten the viability of their operations.

The unconstitutional complaint alleges that GDF knew its plan to build cartels could create legal risks for the company under the Constitution’s 10% licensing limit. The complaint quotes from a document provided by GDF to potential investors: “There can be no assurance that the Missouri Department of Cannabis Regulation will not dispute the number of marijuana dispensaries operated or supervised by the operator or its affiliates…”.

This action is brought on behalf of a putative class that includes all licensed independent wholesalers in Missouri that are not members of the alleged GDF Cartel for purposes of injunctive relief. Wholesalers who believe they have been financially harmed by the alleged Cartel’s practices should join the case because they may be entitled to substantial damages. The putative class is represented by the law firms of Feuerstein Kulick LLP and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

Source: Feuerstein Kulick LLP and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP