Cannabis Business Pro

Examine the process of obtaining a special license to run a cannabis business. This lesson acts as a guided tour of the requirements for cannabis business applications in each legal state, province, and territory across the United States and Canada. The lesson covers these topics:

• Inventory Tracking System Requirements in US States and Canadian Provinces
• Vertical Integration Requirements by State For United States Cannabis Businesses
• Licenses Available for Medical Cannabis Businesses in each US state with a medical cannabis program
• Fee Requirements for Cannabis Businesses in every US state with a legal cannabis program
• Licenses Available for Recreational Cannabis Businesses in every US state with a legal cannabis program
• Fee and Licensing Requirements for Canadian Cannabis Businesses
• Cannabis Delivery by Mail in Canada
• Medical and Recreational Cannabis Businesses Licensing in Canadian Provinces and Territories
• Regulations from the Canadian Department of Finance, including Excise Duties on Cannabis, the 2001 Canadian Excise Act, and the 2018 Canadian Budget Implementation Act
• Canadian Retail and Recreational Cannabis Dispensary Licenses in the United States and Canada
• Cannabis Medical and Recreational Cultivation Licenses in the United States and Canada
• Cannabis Processing Licenses in US States and Canadian Provinces and Territories
• Applications and Fees for Cannabis Business Licenses and L300 Cannabis Licenses
• Contacting the Canadian Government
• Canada’s Cannabis Tracking System (CTS)
• Canadian Cannabis Product Packaging and Labeling Requirements

Before joining the multi-billion dollar cannabis industry, you’ll need to be prepared. This lesson covers the basics of planning your cannabis business, from writing and pitching your marijuana business plan to overcoming common challenges you might face along the way. The lesson covers these topics:

• Challenges in Starting a Cannabis Business and Potential Cannabis Industry Pitfalls, including Cannabis Banking Challenges, Changing Cannabis Laws and Regulations, Income Tax Issues, Municipal Moratoriums, Under-Educated Consumers, Security, 280E Tax Code and Cannabis, Compliance with Cannabis Regulations, Cannabis Inventory Tracking, and Entering the Green Rush
• Competition in the Cannabis Industry, including Black Market Competition
• How to Write a Cannabis Business Plan, including Audience, Cover Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Trademarks and Patents, Market Analysis, Company Descriptions, Ownership, and Appendices
• Sample Cannabis Business Plan
• The Global, National, and Local Cannabis Market
• Pricing in the Cannabis Industry, including Variable Market Considerations and Competition
• Stages of Development of a Cannabis Business
• Specialization in the Cannabis Industry
• Cannabis Patents, Trade Secrets, Copyrights, Intellectual Property, and Right of Publicity
• Marketing and Sales in the Cannabis Industry, including Creating a Visual Marketing Plan, Target Markets, Price Structure, and Market Penetration Strategy, Financial Projections, Cannabis Advertising, Cannabis Networking, Cannabis Industry Social Media Concerns, Cannabis Business Marketing Strategies, Budtender Product Education, Industry Brochures, Market Influencers, Cannabis Affiliate Marketing, Micro-Influencers, and Online Cannabis Reviews
• Sales Approach Strategies in the Cannabis Space, including Solutions Selling, the Buddy Approach, and The Guru Approach
• Research and Development (R&D) in the Cannabis Industry, including Cannabis Product Life Span
• Creating a Cannabis Facility Operating Plan
• Finances in the Cannabis Industry, including Funding Requests
• Cannabis Pitch Deck Basics, including Importance of a Cannabis Pitch Deck, Pitch Decks to Request Funding, Pitch Decks at Networking Events, and Pitch Deck Competitions
• How to Write a Cannabis Industry Pitch Deck, including Optimal Number of Slides, Slide Content, Appearance of Slides, Verbal Presentations, Delivering the Pitch Deck, Storytelling Skills, and Practicing
• Sample Cannabis Industry Pitch Deck
• Marketing and Advertising Challenges in the Cannabis Industry, including Changing Regulations, Truth and Accuracy Statements, Prohibited Areas, Prohibited Populations, Prohibited Methods
• Cannabis Holidays, including April 20 (420), July 10 (710), and Seasonal Cannabis Considerations
• Advertising in the Cannabis Space, including Industry Restrictions, Traditional Advertising, Advertising on Packaging, Live Events, Advertising in Dispensaries, In-Store Video Ads, Product Marketing Posters, Flyers, Signs, Branded Dispensary Bags and Jars, Promotional Models, Reward Programs, Promotional Items, Print Advertising, Radio Advertising, TV Advertising, Direct Mail, Billboards, Promotional Drink Coasters, News Media Coverage, Vinyl-Wrapped Vehicles, Online Advertising, Business Websites, Email Marketing, Banner Ads, Keyword Advertising, Social Media, and Hashtags
• Cannabis Transporting and Delivery Regulations Between Businesses, from Growers to Stores, to Dispensaries, Between Wholesale Businesses
• Cannabis Inventory Management, including Product Recalls and Defective Products, Expiration Dates, Inventory Tracking Systems, Seed-To-Sale, Seed-to-Harvest Tracking, Tracking for Processors, Wholesale-to-Consumer Tracking, Point of Sale (POS) Systems
• Tracking Cannabis Product Turnover Rates, Product Performance, Gross Margins, Lost Sales, Sell-Through Rates, and Stolen Products
• Cannabis Business Insurance, including Property Insurance, Product Liability Insurance, Living Cannabis Plant Coverage
• Federal Legal Considerations for Cannabis Businesses in the United States
• Local Regulations for Different Cannabis Business Types, including Prohibited Locations
• Packaging and Labeling Regulations in the Cannabis Industry
• Cannabis Business Shutdown Procedures, Rule Violations, and Government Raids

This lesson walks you through the many factors involved in starting a marijuana cultivation business. It will help you set up a successful cannabis cultivation business and avoid many common pitfalls. The lesson covers these topics:

• Preparing to Start a Cannabis Cultivation Business, including Cannabis Education, Networking, Research, and Planning
• Financing a Cannabis Business, including Traditional Financing, Venture Capital, Private Equity Funding, and Private Lenders
• Setting up a Cannabis Grow Business, including Business Structure, Licensing, and Insurance for Cannabis Cultivation
• Getting Property for your Cannabis Grow Business, including Building Permits, Square Footage Limitations, Legal Use of Property, Zoning, Commercial Leases, and Avoiding a Move
• Setting up an Indoor Cannabis Cultivation Facility, including Space Requirements, Costs, and Choosing the best Lights and Media for Growing Cannabis
• Setting up an Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation Facility, including Soil, Water, Climate, Harvest Limitations, and Light Deprivation Greenhouses
• Cannabis Cultivation Business Operations, including Cultivation Plans, Inventory Control, Product Testing, Employment Laws, Training Manuals, Safety Plans, Staffing Plans, Environmental Plans, Fire Safety, Waste Disposal, and Security
• Choosing Cannabis Strains to Grow, including Grow Time, THC and CBD Strains, CBD vs THC, Indica vs. Sativa vs Hybrids, and Genetic Origin of Strains

Cannabis manufacturing businesses make consumer products out of harvested cannabis plants. In this lesson, we cover the basic business decisions that all cannabis manufacturing businesses need to make to be successful. We also walk through the main types of cannabis manufacturing businesses, including extraction facilities, infused-product commercial kitchens, and large-scale infused-product manufacturers. The lesson covers these topics:

• Preparing to Start a Cannabis Manufacturing Business, including Research, Planning, Pitch Decks, and Building a Team
• Financing a Cannabis Infused Product Manufacturing Business
• Licensing and Insurance for Cannabis Manufacturing Businesses
• Finding Property for a Cannabis Manufacturing Facility, including Legal Use of Property, Zoning, Leases, Fire Safety, Environmental Plans, Waste Disposal, and Security
• Constructing a Cannabis-Infused Product Manufacturing Facility, including Negative Pressure Ventilation, Spark-Proof Exhaust, and Commercial Sprinklers
• Ordering Equipment for a Cannabis Infused-Product Manufacturing Business
• Setting Up a Cannabis Extraction Facility, Choosing Extraction Methods and Products, Solventless Extracts, Extracting with Solvents, Choosing Equipment, and Inventory Tracking
• Setting Up a Cannabis-Infused Product Commercial Kitchen, including Choosing and Sourcing Cannabis Ingredients, Developing Products, Packaging and Regulations, Setting Up a Facility, Finding Employees, and Planning for Expansion
• Setting Up a Large-Scale Cannabis-Infused Product Manufacturing Facility, including Automation, Equipment, Finding Employees, and Planning for Expansion
• Getting Cannabis-Infused Products into Stores and Dispensaries

When you open a dispensary, you will be faced with some unique business challenges, including industry compliance, store planning, and addressing local attitudes on cannabis. This lesson explains how to open a dispensary and gives you tips on how to move past common issues without a glitch. The lesson covers these topics:

• Legal Considerations in Opening a Cannabis Dispensary, including Operation Type, Signage, Packaging, Labeling
• Cannabis Dispensary Business Basics, including Vertical Integration, Medical vs. Recreational, and Finances
• Cannabis Store Business Plans, including Dispensary Type, Market Niche, Store Layout, and Marketing Plan
• Choosing a Location for your Cannabis Dispensary, including Population, Customer Interests, Competition, Zoning, and Property Leases
• Cannabis Store Setup, including Sales Floor Layout, Order of Services, Equipment, Supplies, and Sanitation
• Quality in Cannabis Dispensaries, including Products, Pricing, Operating Costs, and Tracking Inventory, Patients, and Customers
• Customer Service in Cannabis Stores, including Basic Skills, Product Recalls, and Return Policies
• Cannabis Dispensary Security, including Loss Prevention, Dealing with Customer Problems, Physical Store Security, Door Security, Keeping Cash Safe, Consumption Policies, and Neighborhood Relationships
• Special Considerations for Medical Cannabis Dispensaries, including Legal Requirements, Medical Claims, Patient Education, Patient Agreements, Increasing Plant Limits, and Consumption Options

An ancillary cannabis business is one that provides services to a cultivation operation, manufacturer, or dispensary. This lesson describes some of the ancillary businesses in the cannabis industry. The lesson covers these topics:

• Description of Common Ancillary Cannabis Businesses
• Compliance and Consulting Cannabis Businesses
• Cannabis Test Labs Cannabis Businesses
• Cannabis Delivery Businesses
• Cannabis Packaging and Labeling Design Businesses
• Specialized Cannabis Equipment and Supplies Businesses
• Cannabis Real Estate Businesses
• Cannabis Law Firms
• Cannabis Staffing and Payroll Agencies
• Cannabis Accounting Firms
• Cannabis Payment Processing and Software Businesses
• Cannabis Business Insurance Agency
• Cannabis Industry Security Businesses
• Cannabis Marketing Businesses
• Cannabis Public Relations and Branding Businesses
• Cannabis Trade Associations
• Cannabis Medical Centers
• Online Cannabis Directories
• Cannabis Media and Publishing Businesses
• Cannabis Research Businesses
• Cannabis Tourism Businesses
• Cannabis Paraphernalia and Supplies

A deep dive into cannabis laws across the US, including detailed information on current adult use, medical marijuana laws, recreational marijuana laws, and prohibition laws in each US state. The lesson covers these topics:

• History of US Cannabis Policy, including the Cannabis Tax Act of 1937, Cannabis during World War II, The War on Drugs, The Controlled Substance Act of 1970, Cannabis and the United States Criminal Justice System, US Federal Punishments and Penalties for Cannabis, The Cole Memorandum of 2009, Cannabis and the Obama Administration, Pot and the Trump Administration, Cannabis and the Biden Administration, and Cannabis and Attorney General Jeff Sessions
• Cannabis Laws in the United States, including United States Cannabis Regulation, Public Support for Cannabis in the US, Interaction between United States Federal and State Cannabis Laws, Cannabis Court Cases, Federal Cannabis Laws in the United States, Unwarranted Searches as They Relate to Cannabis, Firearms and Cannabis, and Cannabis and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
• Cannabis Possession, Distribution, Manufacturing, Cultivation, Trafficking and CBD Access in every Cannabis Prohibition State
• Medical cannabis programs in each US state
• Cannabis possession, distribution, manufacturing, growing, and trafficking in medical and recreational cannabis states
• Recreational cannabis programs in each US state

With adult use cannabis now legal nationwide, there has never been a better time to get involved in the cannabis industry in Canada—but only if you understand the status of the Canadian cannabis laws. The lesson covers these topics:

• History of Canadian Cannabis Policy, including Cannabis Prohibition, Cannabis Royal Commission of Inquiry, Legalization for Medical Use, Marihuana for Medical Access Regulations (MMAR), Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR), and Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR)
• Cannabis Legalization for Personal Use in Canada, including the Cannabis Act, An Act Respecting Cannabis and to Amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code, and Other Acts, and Adult Recreational Use
• Canada’s Federal Medical Cannabis Program, including Health Canada, Qualifying Conditions, and Becoming a Medical Cannabis Patient
• Canada’s Federal Cannabis Laws regarding Possession, Public Consumption, Distribution, Growing Cannabis, and Unlawful Activity
• Cannabis Possession, Public Consumption, Distribution, and Cultivation Laws in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory

Cannabis laws can vary drastically from country to country, and keeping track is hugely important for industry professionals travelling overseas or over borders. In addition to detailed United States and Canadian cannabis law information, Cannabis Training University currently offers marijuana laws for 47 countries around the world. We continue to add more as weed laws change worldwide. The lesson covers these topics:

• International cannabis laws
• Cannabis laws in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Holland cannabis laws (The Netherlands), North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, Belize, Cambodia, Estonia, Thailand, and Ukraine.