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Articles by Eric Sandy
Is 'the end of reading' here?
Back in high school, my sophomore English teacher assigned a research paper. I didn't realize at the time that it would matter so much. The class was given a familiar menu of literary giants to choose from: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Austen, Twain, etc. They were the authors every American high school student encounters. They’re well worth your attention, but I had weirder aims at the time. I asked Mr. McKenna if I could write about Hunter S. Thompson instead.
How Riverbend Water Resources District is rebuilding its regional water supply system
Outside Texarkana, where Wright Patman Lake stretches across the Piney Woods of East Texas, the Riverbend Water Resources District is building the largest water infrastructure project in its history. On paper, the project is straightforward: a new raw water intake, an 84-inch transmission pipeline, a raw water pump station, a regional treatment plant, and new transmission mains that will deliver drinking water to a dozen participating communities across Northeast Texas.
The wetlands behind the cloud
When Drausin Wulsin’s father purchased the farmland in Pike County, Ohio, in the southernmost part of the state, back in the 1960s, the tenant farmer on-site offered a warning: “You bought a swamp.” The remark was not intended as praise. The property sat in a broad valley where water had a habit of lingering.
We need to talk about Vivek
Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican primary for Ohio governor without much drama. The spectacle had already happened elsewhere, neatly paving a pathway to Columbus. Recall the not-too-distant 2024 presidential debates, the cable hits, the book-tour fluency, the tech-bro cadences, the happy-warrior confidence of a man who seems to have learned politics from the internet and capital allocation from a pitch deck.
Top 10: Birdwatching edition
Ed. note: I’m switching this Friday newsletter to a classic Top 10-style feature, similar to several writers I admire (Austin Kleon, Wally Holland). On Tuesdays I send out a longer essay or reported feature that involves a bit more legwork; I’m taking a shot at a new paid subscription model to support those stories. Thanks for reading.
What we talk about when we talk about data centers in America
Almost as soon as the data center project was announced in Mansfield, Ohio, it was shut down by Mayor Jodie Perry, who on April 21 said that the city would not pursue it. Each data center in America is unique, but they all tend to move fast, soup to nuts, without fully engaging everyone involved on what, exactly, the project even is.
The Amateurs and Pros Tracking Down the Biggest Trees in Ohio
We’re driving down the road in Yankee Lake, Ohio, in Marc DeWerth’s blue Honda Odyssey, when suddenly he spots a prize: a sprawling white oak tree in the middle of a field, just beyond a roadside advertisement for an upcoming gun show. The tree’s mighty crown draws us in. On approach, we see that the tree is hollowed out at its base, enough so that an adult could fit comfortably inside. After a century or two of growth, some pain is to be expected, some evidence of survival at great cost.
New York City in five meals
My lovely wife and I stepped out of our hotel on East 29th and Park Ave. in Manhattan last weekend to find the streets taken over with runners and cyclists and walkers and skaters and scooter-ers. At first I thought it was some strange marathon qualifier, but, no, this was Summer Streets, the occasional daylong shutdown of major thoroughfares to all car and bus traffic. I’m over-generalizing here, but we learned that people in NYC love Summer Streets.
Notes on the nostalgic camp of Sugar Ray
It’s been a good week for concerts in my world. Last night I caught Wilco in Cleveland Heights (too late to make the deadline for this newsletter), and, last week, my wife and I saw Barenaked Ladies at Blossom. I’d been wanting to check out BNL for a long time. They’re a truly likable band, and every review I’d heard over the years was raving and positive. They totally delivered on that hype. What I maybe wasn’t expecting was just how much navel-gazing stage banter we’d get.
'Guitar Man,' Cleveland's Beloved Caped Crusader of Street Performing, Dead at the Age of 64
Guitar Man, Cleveland’s only real superhero, the man charged with saving the city one song at a time, died Dec. 14. He was 64 years old. He is survived by his sister, Donna. Known to many as Eli Fletcher and to few as Keith Thornhill, Guitar Man was a Cleveland icon.
The dragon at the end of the adventure
You can’t play the “what-if” game in sports (trust me, I try every time I play a round of golf), but it’s amazing to think that if Clase had sealed his four-out close in typical Clase fashion, we would not have the awe-inspiring October baseball moments that we’re all thinking about this morning. We’d have taken a very nice 3-1 victory and all had a lovely night of sleep.
How to Rank Higher on Google as a Content Creator
As a content creator for a small business, ranking on Google and other search engines is critical for staying relevant, profitable, and successful. Plus, who doesn’t want to brag about being in the top ten (or number one) for a keyword? Ranking higher on Google boosts traffic to your site and helps build a reliable audience. But, how can you beat the giant we know as the “algorithm”? Understanding SEO is a great start–still, you have to put in work elsewhere.
How Does One of the Fastest-Growing Companies in the US Maintain a Tight-Knit Work Culture?
In Arizona’s adult-use cannabis market, Sonoran Roots has made it a point to place its employees at the heart of its operations. We spoke with CEO Michael O’Brien to learn how the company has navigated a dramatically steep growth curve—and how corporate leadership keeps employees in the spotlight. On favorite questions to ask when interviewing candidates: Michael O’Brien: We typically look for people who are really self-starters.
How to Grow Actually Really Good Weed in Your Backyard This Summer
The morning after Ohio voters passed Issue 2 last fall, two middle-aged men showed up at Tilth Soil’s warehouse on St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland. They arrived within five minutes of each other. In fact, they were neighbors and they knew each other. As those two men walked past heaps of packaged soil blends, taking in the sights of the city’s most robust composting operation, they sheepishly explained that they were looking for soil for their, uh, indoor tomato plants. Cue the awkward pause.
Inside the hell of East Palestine: Unanswered questions, frustration and the lingering threat of toxic chemicals
Note: This feature was originally published in February 2023 by the wonderful team at Grid. That website was later acquired by The Messenger, which by any objective account was a disastrous clickbait farm. I didn’t like that my work was under that URL, as opposed to the Grid aegis, but the desires of freelance journalists aren’t much of a priority out there. At any rate, The Messenger shit the bed as a going concern in January 2024.
11 States That Could Legalize Cannabis in 2024
While four states took giant leaps on the cannabis legalization front in 2023—including Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota and Ohio—a host of others have unfinished business lingering for 2024. Here at Cannabis Business Times, we’ve once again consulted with our crystal ball to determine the possibility of changing fortunes for 11 states on our legalization radar.
Runtz Takes Top Honors in Oregon Flower Sales in 2023
With a slightly more varied top-10 list than some other states we looked at this year, Oregon still has a familiar favorite leading the sales charts: Good old Runtz. Bananas earned the No. 2 spot, which was one of the more unusual top-three flower strains in states we surveyed. The indica-leaning genetics from Leafs may have picked up some interest in Oregon from Snoop Dogg's recent and frequent appearances in various marketing campaigns, though who knows?
In Massachusetts, Blue Dream Was the Best-Selling Flower Cultivar in 2023
If you've been following along with some of our end-of-the-year flower sales roundups (here, here and here), you'll see a common theme emerge: Blue Dream remains dominant. In Massachusetts, the Blueberry x Haze cross brought in more than $16.5 million in sales, placing it above runners-up like Super Lemon Haze and Runtz (another frequent winner in the 2023 sales horse race). Get curated news on YOUR industry. Enter your email to receive our newsletters.
Blue Dream, Wedding Cake, GG4: The Best-Selling Flower Cultivars in Colorado in 2023
We saw some themes emerge in our roundup of top-selling flower strains in select markets this year: namely, the people still love and prize Blue Dream like it was 2011 all over again.
2023 in books
Another terrific year of reading in the books! While I read fewer titles this year than in any other since first tracking this sort of thing in 2018, I’d say this was a robust year of reading (and, N.B., a robust year of writing with the first draft of my own novel nearly complete, which in itself might explain the relative drop in pages read and all that). This was a good year in general. I spent more time golfing, working out, and, hey, being a father than I have in any other year prior.
The Top 10 Best-Selling Flower Strains in California in 2023
Blue Dream is widely known as a popular cannabis cultivar. It's nearly a household name at this point. Last year, Blue Dream was the No. 4 best-selling flower strain in California, behind Wedding Cake, Gelato, and Cookies' own Cereal Milk. This year, the titan stands alone at the top of the list with a commanding lead. More than $91 million worth of Blue Dream flower was sold in California this year. That's almost double the No. 2 strain, Gelato.
An American Chestnut in Ohio — Cleveland Review of Books
In late March I traveled to Huron to find something I thought had been lost forever: an American chestnut tree. American chestnuts are functionally extinct, but rumors have circulated for years that a fine specimen quietly thrives in Sheldon Marsh. I wanted to see it for myself. This is no run-of-the-mill maple or oak.
Showdown in Oregon
In late August, nearly six months after Oregon regulators introduced a suite of new tests for cannabis products, an appeals court halted the state’s controversial testing protocol for Aspergillus content. The court order was widely hailed by growers as a victory. After all, the growers who’d filed the lawsuit against the state insisted that this Aspergillus testing had caused “irreparable harm” to businesses operating in Oregon’s precarious adult-use cannabis market.
Showdown in Oregon
In late August, nearly six months after Oregon regulators introduced a suite of new tests for cannabis products, an appeals court halted the state’s controversial testing protocol for Aspergillus content. The court order was widely hailed by growers as a victory. After all, the growers who’d filed the lawsuit against the state insisted that this Aspergillus testing had caused “irreparable harm” to businesses operating in Oregon’s precarious adult-use cannabis market.
Kathryn Hahn Joins Middle Aged Dad Jam Band for Some Classic Rock Shenanigans at Beachland Ballroom
I couldn’t believe it when I first heard the announcement: David Wain? Ken Marino? Middle-aged dads? In a jam band? At Beachland Ballroom? On a Monday night? In September? These were some of my favorite things, so I quickly texted my buddy and told him that we needed to be there—pronto. He said that’s fine, but let’s not get there just yet: The show wasn’t for another month or two.
Oregon Court Halts Aspergillus Testing in Cannabis
Oregon Court Halts Aspergillus Testing in Cannabis - Cannabis Business Times
Oregon Cannabis Operators on ‘Brink of Financial Collapse’ as Trade Group Sues Regulators Over Testing
Oregon’s largest cannabis trade association is teaming up with cultivators to sue state regulators over new Aspergillus testing standards the plaintiffs say are unsupported by adequate scientific data or evidence. Aspergillus is a common mold (a type of fungus) that lives indoors and outdoors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Oregon’s New Aspergillus Testing Could Be an Inflection Point for the Cannabis Market-But It’s Complicated
In January 2023, the team at Rebel Spirit Cannabis in Eugene, Ore., ran a batch of flower through R&D testing in preparation for new standards coming in March. CEO Diane Downey and her husband, COO Chris Bechler, along with the rest of the Oregon cannabis industry, knew that times where changing. Proactive R&D testing was one way to prepare.
Trulieve Puts Eyes on Growth-Oriented Markets
Headquarters: Tallahassee, Fla.
Ascend Wellness Commits to Expanding Current Footprint
Ascend Wellness Headquarters: New York, N.Y. Operating States: New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland Cultivation Capacity: 245,000 square feet Geographic Focus: Eastern/Midwest markets Q1 2023 Financial Highlights: Net Revenue: $114.2 million (34% YOY increase) Gross Profit: $35.7 million Net Loss: $18.5 million Cash Balance: $73.3 million States With Retail Operations: New Jersey (3), Michigan (8), Ohio (2), Illinois (9), Massachusetts (3), Pennsylvania...
Ukraine Parliament Advances Medical Cannabis Legalization Draft
With 268 out of 405 deputies voting in favor, the Ukrainian parliament has advanced a medical cannabis legalization draft law on first reading. A second reading is anticipated soon, and, if lawmakers formally adopt the draft law, it will head to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's desk for a signature. Zelenskyy has signaled support for the plan, going so far as to urge the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, to fast-track the draft this summer.
Less Than 25% of Plant-Touching Cannabis Businesses Are Profitable, According to New Report
Each U.S. state has its own particular cannabis market trends to navigate—slumping sales, supply chain disruptions, license litigation and attendant cash flow fallout—but one thing remains true regardless of geography, according to a new report from Whitney Economics: “Worsening economics conditions are creating stress across the industry.” This might sound familiar to anyone in the business.
Less Than 25% of Plant-Touching Cannabis Businesses Are Profitable, According to New Report
Each U.S. state has its own particular cannabis market trends to navigate—slumping sales, supply chain disruptions, license litigation and attendant cash flow fallout—but one thing remains true regardless of geography, according to a new report from Whitney Economics: “Worsening economics conditions are creating stress across the industry.” This might sound familiar to anyone in the business.
Billy Strings 6/13/23
The moment that did it for me at last night’s Billy Strings show was the touchdown out of ‘Spinning’ into ‘She Makes My Love Come Rolling Down.’ The decision to chase far-out spoken word psychedelia with a gentle arrangement of an old Doc Watson tune was simply astonishing, and this is the sort of transcendent moment that compels to keep going to shows. I like when live music sets the spirit soaring.
New York Will Allow Licensed Cannabis Growers to Host Farmers Market-Style Events This Summer
Last week, the New York Office of Cannabis Management announced early plans to allow new pathways for direct sales to consumers in the state’s fledgling adult-use marketplace. Dubbed the New York Cannabis Growers Showcase, this proposal would see licensed businesses setting up temporary shop in a farmers market environment, placing products in front of consumers and moving the state’s steadily growing supply.
Horticulture Industry Mourns the Passing of Kurt W. Dramm
Manitowoc, WI – May 18, 2023 – PRESS RELEASE– Kurt W. Dramm, a born salesman and friend to all in the horticulture industry, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, at the age of 85. Kurt was born and raised in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a double major in business and horticulture. After graduating college, Kurt worked for the Vaughan Seed Company with a sales territory covering the Southeastern United States.
Oregon Secretary of State Steps Down Amid Criticism of Her Role as a Cannabis Business Consultant
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in Oregon called for Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s ouster, following revelations that she’d been consulting a licensed cannabis business. On Tuesday, Fagan resigned. Earlier this year, she had worked for two months as a paid consultant to Veriede Holding LLC—an affiliate of La Mota, which is one of the largest cannabis companies in Oregon.
Fairwinds Cannabis Offers Limited-Availability Sriracha Tincture for 4/20
April 20 is the hottest sales day of the year in cannabis. This is especially true in Washington, where Fairwinds Cannabis launches its spicy sriracha tincture each year around this special day. What was once a year-round product is now only offered as a seasonal launch, which is one big reason why Fairwinds’ sriracha tincture has gained something of a cult following in recent years. This year’s 4/20 celebrations promise more of the same hype.
Unique Cultivars That ‘Check All the Boxes’: How Shango Stands Out in a Crowded Arizona Market
Arizona began adult-use cannabis sales in January 2021, just two months after voters greenlit the market in the first place, and already the Southwest state has emerged as a powerhouse in the broader U.S. industry. The market plays host to a lively community of growers with a well rounded calendar of cannabis competitions and events. But Arizona is not immune to the harsher economic trends seen across the country, like ongoing price compression.
Dispatches From The Failing Cannabis Economy
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Cannabis operators from across the U.S. foresee a tough year ahead, but they are controlling and adjusting what they can to stay afloat. Cannabis Business Times editors have had conversations with economists, business owners in multiple states and other stakeholders who have shared their insights into the market downturn, what’s really driving it and how some are adapting. The following pages include key excerpts from that reporting.
By Michelle Simakis Verified, Patrick Williams Verified, Melissa Schiller, Eric Sandy Verified, Andriana Ruscitto Verified
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Cannabis Business Times
Verified
Stone Road Launches Products in Michigan
It’s another feather in the cap of this growing business, rooted on a 57-acre, off-grid biodynamic farm in Nevada City, Calif. The launch in Michigan follows similar moves in Massachusetts and Oklahoma, and this time around Stone Road Farms teamed up with Cheboygan-based Gamut Cannabis for the entrance into the Great Lakes region. The company is kicking things off in Michigan with its 1-gram solventless hash-infused prerolls.
No Dice in Oklahoma: Voters Shoot Down Adult-Use Legalization Question
Oklahoma voters said "no" to adult-use cannabis legalization Tuesday, during a special election devoted solely to State Question 820. The margin was never really close; from early votes onward, electoral returns showed a wide gulf between those who supported the measure and those who opposed it. With 91% of precincts reporting as of 9 p.m. CT, SQ 820 was being shot down by a 63-37 margin.
Oklahoma Voters Take to the Polls Today for Adult-Use Legalization Vote
Oklahoma may become the next state to legalize adult-use cannabis, as voters have their say on the matter during a single-issue special election today. State Question 820 was left off the ballot last fall, after the Oklahoma Supreme Court flagged the petitioners for a missed deadline (long story), but Gov. Kevin Stitt called this March 7 vote specifically to give the electorate a shot at the issue. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT.
A Small Family Farm in Ohio Looks Ahead to Year Three in Hemp
In 2020, the removal of a dam in Stillwater Creek flooded the valley below Joey and Amy Ellwood’s home and farm in Uhrichsville, Ohio, crumbling the road at the end of their driveway and shutting down traffic for the next two years. The ensuing construction work was frustration enough, but thankfully the flooding and destruction did not affect the Ellwoods’ hemp crop. That was their second year working with hemp, and it was a good year.
Inside the Cannabis Market in Massachusetts, Operators Find (Cautious) Optimism
Earlier this month, Meg Sanders, CEO of Massachusetts-based Canna Provisions, wrote an article urging licensed cannabis business operators to rethink their strategies for the tough road ahead. With an imbalance between supply and demand—and an influx of licensees yet to open their doors—the cannabis market, from Massachusetts to California and back again—is facing tough times. “People are getting all excited, ‘Oh, I got my provisional license! Oh, I got my final license!’” she says.
After Setting Special Election on Cannabis Legalization, Oklahoma Governor Confirms He Opposes the Measure
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt does not support the legalization of adult-use cannabis in his state—or any singular state, for that matter—preferring instead to leave the question to the federal government. But in the course of his executive duties, Stitt did concede the point that cannabis legalization remains a state-by-state political question.
Two weeks after Ohio crash, a toxic stew of questions and frustration
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — As the wind picked up here, on Wednesday, several thousand residents joined public officials, law enforcement officers and members of various news media in a long line leading to the local high school, where a highly anticipated town hall meeting awaited.
East Palestine
“I realized the place was awash in noise. The toneless systems, the jangle and skid of carts, the loudspeaker and coffee-making machines, the cries of children.
Kim Kardashian Came to Ohio to Talk Kevin Keith, Whose Case Now Rests in Gov. Mike DeWine’s Hands
A US district judge in Florida said former president Donald Trump had exhibited a pattern of misusing the courts to further his political agenda. Former president Donald Trump and his attorneys were ordered to pay more than $937,000 in sanctions for suing former secretary of state Hillary Clinton over claims the 2016 presidential election was rigged. 1 DAY AGO
Kim Kardashian Came to Ohio to Talk Kevin Keith, Whose Case Now Rests in Gov. Mike DeWine’s Hands
The Ohio Parole Board voted 5-0 against clemency for Kevin Keith, who is now 29 years into a life sentence (a sentence that had been commuted from the death penalty in 2010 by then-Gov. Ted Strickland, who could not ignore the “troubling” questions left unanswered in Keith’s case). The decision on Keith’s fate in this request for clemency (read: release from prison) now rests with Gov. Mike DeWine.
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