2021 is the Year of the Patient
Happy New Year!
It’s 2021 and we have made it to a new year. While 2020 seemed to drag on through various highs and lows, let’s take a moment to give thanks that we are here. One of the biggest accomplishments of the cannabis industry in 2020 was cannabis business being deemed essential. Being deemed essential allowed cannabis to operate during times of lockdown and quarantine around our country.
What 2021 means for Maryland Cannabis
Here’s what we can look forward to in 2021 as it relates to cannabis in Maryland
Patient growth
Laws and regulations
Additional opportunities to enter the workforce
While we can’t make predictions as to what you can expect in 2021, here’s a few of our wishes for the Maryland cannabis ecosystem:
Transparency on all levels
All cannabis use is medicinal and there is nothing better than finding a product that works for you and that you feel good about using and endorsing. Issues around what goes into production, handling and even consumer education is critical for an informed and engaged cannabis community.
Community engagement
There is no medical market without the patients - and our population spans hundreds of thousands of individuals from the new to experienced users to parents and caregivers across our state. We need a uniform plan of getting information to the community without hearsay or being passed down.
Opportunities for Maryland based companies
We have the power to shape our Maryland ecosystem in ways that benefit our large and small businesses community. Empower business growth by providing opportunities for businesses to market and connect with the community.
Patients over Profits
According to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission Annual Report, projected revenue & sales will total $450,000,000 for 2020. We have to find an equitable way to give back to those who cannot afford their medicine. In 2020, the FUND was established - but we still hear from patients who await solutions that were promised to be placed into law. But there’s other ways to give back - through community programming, reduced or free certifications, concessions, etc. There’s no one solution to fix this problem - we need to work together to find a solution.
This year, we are looking forward to hosting conversations that work towards those solutions through our monthly EMC Community Conversations, a focus group style setting with issues affecting our ecosystem. You can learn more here!
As always, we invite you to join us for more conversation about the Year of the Patient and more by joining the Explorers Crew, our community membership program!
Learn more about our community membership program, The Explorers Crew