Body and Mind Commences Michigan Vertical Market Expansion
LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the “Company” or “BaM”), a multi-state operator focused on limited license markets, is pleased to report plans to enter the Michigan market with fully funded dispensary, cultivation and production facilities. BaM, through wholly owned subsidiaries, has leveraged its expertise of navigating licensing and approval processes gained with other state and local authorities, adding Michigan to its growing list of license successes.
Michigan is a lucrative cannabis market. In 2020, Michigan cannabis retail stores sold US$985 million of cannabis products with roughly one of five Michigan residents using cannabis.* Cannabis sales in Michigan for the month of August 2021 alone totaled over US$40 million for Medical cannabis and over US$125 Million for Adult-Use sales.**
The billion-dollar Michigan market continues to break sales records on a consistent basis, and the decision to duplicate our successful vertically integrated model in such a thriving cannabis market was an easy one to make. Our team has been successful with securing locations for each facility and our license team has finalized local and state preapproval licenses for the dispensary, cultivation and production operations.
Michael Mills, CEO of Body and Mind
We are fully funded for development and our strategy is to replicate our past successes in building shareholder value through securing licenses and rapidly and efficiently advancing each operation to cash flow positive as fast as possible. We continue to assess numerous opportunities to bring the Body and Mind brand, award winning product line and vertical expertise to the Michigan market and beyond.
Cultivation and Production Facilities
The Company has leased a commercial building in Manistee, MI with the intent of developing a cultivation facility with 50,000 square feet of canopy as well as a production facility. Architectural plans are complete for phase one which is planned for 20,000 square feet of canopy, 5,000 square feet of processing and 5,000 square feet of multi-use and office space. The second phase of development is planned for 30,000 square feet of canopy.
“Body and Mind has years of cultivation experience and strong genetics that we believe will be well received by the Michigan market. In addition, our cultivation team continues to develop new genetics that complement our award-winning flower and concentrates that we plan to introduce to the Michigan market,” stated Trip Hoffman, COO of Body and Mind. “The building was selected in a location to optimize lease and operating costs, with access to ample power, allowing our development team to move quickly through the construction process. The wholly owned subsidiaries have received state pre-approval licenses for cultivation and production, and the Company intends to commence construction in the coming weeks.”
Dispensary
Body and Mind, through a wholly owned Michigan subsidiary, has received local and state licensing for its first Michigan dispensary, located in Muskegon. This is a social equity license granted in a limited license jurisdiction. Architect plans are complete, the Company has received its building permit, and construction has started on the leased building. Body and Mind’s dispensary is on a main thoroughfare street with exceptional parking.
“Body and Mind excels at building community, and we are highly confident that we can partner with the City of Muskegon to utilize its social equity program to build awareness and financial assistance to the disproportionately affected minority community and individuals,” said Trip Hoffman, COO of Body and Mind.
In consideration for leases and rent abatement during development and construction, the Company has committed to issue shares based on milestone achievements for each project. A total of up to US$150,000 worth of shares will be issued in relation to the Muskegon dispensary with shares issued based on licensing milestones, of which the Company will be issuing 238,929 common shares at a deemed price of $0.3938 per share (US$75,000 worth of shares) based on the terms of the lease agreement. A total of up to US$1,000,000 worth of shares will be issued in relation to the Manistee Cultivation and Production operations with shares issued based on licensing and operational milestones, of which the Company will be issuing 1,304,601 common shares at a deemed price of $0.3912 per share (US$400,000 worth of shares) based on the terms of the lease agreements. The common shares being issued to the landlords will contain the required hold period under Canadian securities laws and contain the required restrictive legend under U.S. securities laws.
The Company is pleased to announce it intends to engage Stonegate Partners for a three-month term for US$ 5,000 per month commencing October 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2021. Stonegate partners will provide social media, client outreach and strategy for the Company.
*statistics from Michigan Cannabis Marker Growth and Size by Anderson Economic Group commissioned by the Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association
**Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency Monthly Report August 1, 2021 – August 31, 2021.
About Body and Mind Inc.
BaM is an operations focused multi-state operator investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup.
BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas, Ohio and Michigan and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions.
