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Safe Harbor Financial expands Board of Directors with Tyler Klimas and Sean Tonner

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Safe Harbor Financial has appointed Tyler Klimas and Sean Tonner to its Board of Directors (“Board”) effective April 22, 2026. The appointments expand the Board from five to six members. Mr. Klimas has been appointed to the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and will be the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Tonner has been appointed to the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and will serve as Chairman of the Compensation Committee.

The Company also notes that Richard Carleton has previously notified the Board that he will not seek re-election at the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Mr. Carleton’s decision is not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter related to its operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Mr. Carleton for his service and contributions to the Board. “Richard has been a great addition to the board, and we thank him for his tremendous insights and appreciate everything he has done for the Company,” said Fred Niehaus, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“Tyler and Sean bring the type of experience that strengthens our ability to execute on the opportunity before us,” continued Mr. Niehaus. “Tyler’s background at the intersection of cannabis regulation and federal policy is directly relevant as the regulatory environment continues to evolve, and Sean’s experience advising governments and major organizations on strategic communications and public affairs adds an important dimension to our Board as the Company grows its platform and expands its market presence. We are pleased to welcome them both.”

Mr. Klimas is the founder of Leaf Street Strategies, a Washington, DC-based regulatory affairs and consulting firm specializing in cannabis and hemp policy, regulatory strategy and market development. Prior to founding Leaf Street Strategies, Mr. Klimas was the first Executive Director of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board, where he designed and led the agency responsible for regulating Nevada’s billion dollar cannabis and adult cannabis markets. Mr. Klimas is the co-founder and former president of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), a non-profit association of cannabis regulators from more than 45 US states and territories, Canada and the Netherlands. He previously served as Nevada’s top federal lobbyist under Governors Brian Sandoval and Steve Sisolak.

“Safe Harbor has played a key role in building the infrastructure that allows cannabis businesses to operate with financial legitimacy,” said Mr. Klimas. “I look forward to contributing to the Company’s continued growth at a time when the regulatory landscape is changing in ways that create significant opportunities for the platform that Safe Harbor has built.”

Mr. Tonner has served as managing partner of Fulcrum Group since December 2017 and is a seasoned strategic communications and public affairs leader with experience advising governments and corporations globally. He has served in senior positions for Presidents, Premiers and Governors, and has extensive experience in high-profile political campaigns, global brand reputation management and leadership roles in Colorado business and civic organizations. Mr. Tonner is a veteran of the US Army and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor during Operation Desert Storm.

“Safe Harbor is building something truly distinct in a rapidly maturing market,” Mr. Tonner said. “I am excited to join the Board and support the leadership of the Company as its platform grows and its position as the financial partner of choice for the cannabis industry continues.”

For more information:
Safe Harbor Financial
shfinancial.org

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cbdMD welcomes White House call for fair treatment of hemp-derived products

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cbdMD welcomes the Administration’s call for Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products under federal law and calls for immediate action to revise hemp regulations to ensure fair treatment of hemp products under federal law.

In a letter to congressional leadership this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified hemp reform as a priority strongly supported by the Administration. The petition calls on Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products by maintaining access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, and by maintaining Congress’ intent to reduce products that pose health risks. The administration also urged Congress to pass a responsible federal framework or at least extend the current implementation period to give lawmakers time to get policy right. The request builds on the president’s previous public statements urging lawmakers to protect access to full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on.

“We are encouraged to see the administration so clearly championing the responsible, scientific hemp products that consumers depend on every day,” said Ronan Kennedy, CEO of cbdMD. “cbdMD has always believed that the future of this category is built on quality, transparency, and clear rules that separate them from bad actors. A federal framework that protects consumer access, promotes safety, and provides certainty to companies that provide certainty is what this industry and the people it serves deserve. We applaud the policymakers who are working to achieve this outcome.”

“We believe CbdMD is purpose-built for this next phase of the market,” added Kennedy. “Our focus remains on serving our customers with reliable and effective products, supporting responsible regulation and building long-term value for our shareholders as the category continues to evolve. Along the way, we will continue to evaluate the opportunities this evolving environment holds.”

For more information:
cbdMD
cbdmd.com/










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Applications For Missouri Marijuana Microbusiness Licenses Will Open Next Month

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“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also provide a step-by-step guide. Anyone could sit down and make the app. I don’t think it’s challenging.”

By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent

Application window win one of Missouri’s 77 micro-business marijuana licenses through a lottery selection it will be open from July 13 to 27.

The selection lottery is scheduled for Sept. 9, and the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation expects to issue licenses in December, according to a press release issued Monday.

Microbusinesses are marijuana facility licenses issued to entities and individuals designed to allow marginalized or underrepresented people to legally participate in the marijuana market.

Lesley Turek, the division’s capital manager, has been traveling the state this month to educate people about the application process.

“I really feel that microenterprise graduates are, first and foremost, a community of people who help each other,” he said. “They’re the ones who are driving this program forward, so I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing as much as I can about the program. It’s a great program.”

Much of what is being worked on is the new rules that went into effect at the end of May…In 2024 the proposed cannabis regulators will remove a large number of licences Because of unconstitutional property deals.

The new rules, he said, allow regulators to conduct extensive scrutiny before licensing, rather than after. Furthermore, they give a more in-depth explanation of what it means to “have and operate the majority” of the License, which is a requirement in the Constitution.

Regulators are mandated to communicate directly with majority owners and require applicants to complete a compliance course before applying and after receiving a license.

The microbusiness program was passed by voters in the 2022 constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.

In Missouri, there are seven categories in which people can qualify for a micro-business license, ranging from lower income or living in an area considered poor, to past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.

Applicants pay a $1,500 application fee if not selected. The Missouri Lottery will select 77 license applicants to open dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The goal is to fill the remaining gaps in the minimum 144 micro-business licenses mandated by the Constitution.

Turek believes the application is relatively simple and something people can complete on their own, unlike the much more complicated application for comprehensive licenses.

“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also offer a step-by-step guide,” he said. “Anyone can sit down and do the app. I don’t think it’s a challenge.”

The part that most people often don’t understand is everything that comes with owning a marijuana facility.

“It’s very expensive, it’s very regulated, and so it’s challenging,” he said. “I want to make sure people have a clear understanding beforehand so they can make a good decision whether they want to apply for this program.”

A big part of his presentation was that the majority of the licenses should be owned by and eligible people. They must have more than 50 percent of the authority to direct the decisions made with the license.

“It’s more than a percentage of ownership,” he said. “It’s really about being able to have that control over it.”

It also talks about the designated contact, and why in the new rule the regulators will require that the designated contact be the applicant or the eligible person with the majority of ownership.

The designated liaison role was conceived as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees.

Instead, state regulators discovered it many named contacts have kept real applicants in the dark about business and licensing. Applicants are locked into agreements that limit their voting power and profits in the business.

That’s why the state now requires pre-application training, a three-video online course to ensure applicants understand “potentially predatory practices,” regulators said in response to public comments during the rulemaking process.

The press release It says those who need help with eligibility requirements or application forms can contact the facility’s application services (email protected).

Educational dissemination events for micro-enterprises

Personal forums:
June 22 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Kansas City

Webinars:
June 24 – from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
June 29 – from 18:00 to 20:00

Registration is required for in-person and virtual sessions. Interested participants can register at Microenterprise education. Additional information on the microenterprise program is available here cannabis.mo.gov.

Those requiring assistance with eligibility requirements or application forms may contact Facilities Application Services at (email protected).

This story was first published by the Missouri Independent.

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RAND estimates Indiana adult-use cannabis could yield $180M in annual revenue

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Two new RAND reports commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation outline the policy options and financial commitments facing Indiana as the state debates whether to change its cannabis laws amid restrictions across the country.

Reports show that 44% of Indiana residents live within 50 miles of a licensed dispensary in a neighboring state, and 96% live within 100 miles, as three of Indiana’s four states have legalized adult-use cannabis. At the same time, intoxicating hemp products containing the same psychoactive compound as marijuana are available at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores throughout Indiana with limited oversight.

Cannabis use in Indiana has doubled in the past decade, with a significant increase among adults 26 and older. RAND estimates that 1.3 million Hoosiers used cannabis in 2024 and spent $1.8 billion on marijuana products that year. Indiana recorded more than 13,000 cannabis-related arrests in 2024, with more than 90% for possession and more than 75% for non-cannabis related charges. The state spends $10 million to $20 million annually on cannabis law enforcement.

Rather than recommending a specific policy, the RAND reports outline four broad options: maintaining prohibition, reducing criminal penalties for possession, legalizing medical cannabis, or legalizing the adult recreational use market. Legalizing adult-use cannabis would generate about $180 million in annual state revenue, roughly 1 percent of the state’s general fund, well below some previous projections and less than half of the $385 million in combined cigarette and alcohol tax revenue Indiana will collect in 2025, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Legalization would also entail significant upfront costs, and ongoing regulatory costs could reach the low tens of millions of dollars annually, outweighing the savings from reduced criminal justice spending. RAND identifies 14 policy considerations important to establishing legal markets, each with its own public health and state economic implications.










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