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Item 9 Labs
Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis operator and dispensary franchisor delivering premium products from its large-scale cultivation and production facilities in the United States. The award-winning Item 9 Labs brand specializes in best-in-class products and user experience across several cannabis categories. The company also offers a unique dispensary franchise model through the national Unity Rd. retail brand.
Easing barriers to entry, the franchise provides an opportunity for both new and existing dispensary owners to leverage the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to thrive in their state compliantly and successfully. Item 9 Labs brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. The veteran management team combines a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector, franchising, and the capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies that provide transparency, consistency, and well-being.
Headquartered in Arizona, the company is currently expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower.
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CEO
Item 9 Labs
Andrew Bowden, Chief Executive Officer of Item 9 Labs Corp.: A serial disruptor, Item 9 Labs Corp. CEO Andrew Bowden’s experience with fundraising and partnering efforts has led to a successful career focused on multi-tier investment strategies in real estate, technology and sustainable sectors.
Since his appointment to CEO at the start of the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, the vertically integrated cannabis operator that produces premium products has seen strong, steady performance with sequential quarter-over-quarter growth rates of nearly 20%. Recognizing the capital-efficient method for expansion that franchising offers, he has directed the Company’s merger with ONE Cannabis Group, parent company of the national dispensary franchise Unity Rd. The merger is expected to close in early 2021. The Definitive 14C Proxy was filed on Feb. 3, 2021.
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CFO
Item 9 Labs
Mike Weinberger leads all franchise-related areas of Unity Rd., while overseeing day-to-day operations of the franchise. A culture creator and growth driver with around 20 years in franchising, his experience has been focused on growing emerging concepts into nationally recognized brands.
Weinberger has been instilling his franchise knowledge into the cannabis space since 2018 and paved the path for bringing the franchise business model to cannabis – offering creative solutions to something many thought couldn’t be done. His tenacity has opened the doors to cannabis entrepreneurship through the Unity Rd. franchise opportunity. Weinberger’s previous experience as CEO of Maui Wowi, 500+ franchise units worldwide, provides a comprehensive understanding of scalability and best practices that are required to implement the company’s operations in new states and markets. He was with Maui Wowi for eight years and led the franchise’s successful sale to Kahala Brands.