Marijuana Business Magazine July 2018

FROM THE CEO'S DESK J uly marks the midpoint of the year, and as we embark on the second half of 2018 (already?!?!?), it’s a great time to revisit the plans we made at the start of the year. How far have your business, your strategy and your plans come? What adjustments do you need to make – either because the landscape has changed, or because you’ve accomplished more than you expected, or because new opportunities have developed? As I look back on the past six months at MJBizDaily , what stands out most in my mind is the people. Our team has expanded by 50% already this year, with several positions yet to be filled. Those additional resources have been added across the company, with the majority of them in our editorial department. And those folks have gotten right to work, expanding the daily business journalism that drives MJBizDaily – and the industry – forward. From the launch of Hemp Industry Daily, (hempindustrydaily.com ) helmed by former Associated Press veteran Kristen Nichols, to our expanding Canadian and international coverage (mjbizdaily.com/canada ) led by Matt Lamers, to adding reporters focused on cultivation, retail, tech and finance for the cannabis industry, we are enhancing our ability to provide our readers with in-depth, quality journalism that answers key business questions and uncovers industry trends. Another of those new editorial resources is the editor of this magazine: Kate Lavin. Kate joins the MJBizDaily team from Wines & Vines magazine, where she managed a publication covering a parallel industry to the cannabis markets. She is returning home to Colorado from the Bay Area to join the team and to dive into this industry, and she is excited to help both grow strong into the future. I encourage you to take a close look at the masthead of this issue on Page 4 and note the reporters covering our industry. They are always interested in hearing from our readers regarding the business challenges you’re facing, building new sources and finding new angles to report. The adjustments and expansions we’ve made at MJBizDaily were charted specifically due to the rapidly expanding volume of news you, our readers, are creating each and every day. The pace of change shows no signs of stopping, and you can count on this growing team of journalists to help point the way. Here’s to the second half of 2018! Cassandra Farrington President & CEO, MJBizDaily Checking in on 2018 8 • Marijuana Business Magazine • July 2018