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TREES Corp (Colorado) - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

Form 10-K


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

[ ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission file number: 000-54457

GENERAL CANNABIS CORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


COLORADO

 

90-1072649

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

6565 E. Evans Avenue

Denver, Colorado  80224

(Address of principal executive offices)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 759-1300


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None.


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None.


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No þ

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer 

 

Accelerated filer 

 

Non-accelerated filer

 þ

Smaller reporting company 

 þ

Emerging growth company

 

 

 


If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act): Yes o No þ


The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the registrant’s common stock on June 30, 2019, was $31,638,715.


As of May 5, 2020, the Registrant had 40,281,881 issued and outstanding shares of common stock.





TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Business

4

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

11

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

20

Item 2.

Properties

20

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

20

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

20

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

21

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

22

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

22

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

28

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

28

Item 9.

Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants On Accounting and Financial Disclosure

59

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

59

Item 9B.

Other Information

59

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

60

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

64

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

66

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

66

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services 

67

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

67

 

Signatures

69




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EXPLANATORY NOTE


As previously reported on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2020, the Company was unable to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 by the original deadline of March 30, 2020, due to circumstances related to COVID-19 pandemic. The Company’s operations and business have been disrupted due to the unprecedented conditions and travel restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic spreading throughout the United States. These disruptions have resulted in limited access to the Company’s facilities and have interfered with management’s ability to work with its independent accountants, professional advisors and support staff in order to complete the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures that will be included in the Company’s Form 10-K.


PART I


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION


This Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Report”) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements discuss matters that are not historical facts. Because they discuss future events or conditions, forward-looking statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “may,” “seek,” “plan,” “might,” “will,” “expect,” “predict,” “project,” “forecast,” “potential,” “continue” negatives thereof or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, are based on various underlying assumptions and current expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievement to be materially different from the results of operations or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.


We cannot predict all risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, such information should not be regarded as representations that the results or conditions described in such statements will occur or that our objectives and plans will be achieved and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are found at various places throughout this Report and include information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations, including statements about potential acquisition or merger targets; business strategies; future cash flows; financing plans; plans and objectives of management, any other statements regarding future acquisitions, future cash needs, future operations, business plans and future financial results, and any other statements that are not historical facts.


Some factors that might cause such differences are described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this Report and in other documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which factors include, without limitation, the following:


·

Competition from other similar companies;  

·

Regulatory limitations on the products we can offer and markets we can serve;  

·

Other changes in the regulation of medical and recreational cannabis use;  

·

Changes in underlying consumer behavior, which may affect the business of our customers;  

·

Our ability to access adequate financing on reasonable terms and our ability to raise additional capital in order to fund our operations;  

·

Our ability to identify and successfully integrate acquisitions, and the ability of acquired businesses to perform as expected;

·

Challenges with new products, services and markets; and  

·

Fluctuations in the credit markets and demand for credit.


These forward-looking statements represent our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Many of those factors are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Report. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning other matters addressed in this Report and attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this Report.


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Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, a change in events, conditions, circumstances or assumptions underlying such statements, or otherwise.


The following description of the business of General Cannabis Corp should be read in conjunction with the information included elsewhere in this Report. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to the words “we,” “us,” “our,” “GCC,” and the “Company” in this Report refer to General Cannabis Corp.


ITEM 1.   BUSINESS.


Recent Strategic Changes


The cannabis industry is dynamic and becoming more mature.  As markets like Colorado mature, we believe that an opportunity exists for operationally excellent companies to build scale by acquiring and operating licensed cannabis facilities. Accordingly, we are focused on delivering on the promise of cannabis, by: (1) investing for long-term and sustainable value creation, (2) focused execution that allows us to continue to generate cash and meet our financial commitments, (3) using data and analysis to guide decisions, and (4) moving with an urgency that reflects our conviction and confidence in our ability to own the customers’ loyalty and advocacy. To that end, during the year ended 2019, we announced the following significant actions in support of our continued growth:


·

On December 26, 2019, the board of directors and management made the strategic decision to investigate a possible buyer for the security segment and if no buyer could be found, cease operations of the security segment. We transferred all our Colorado security contracts and employees to a company on January 16, 2020.  We will receive $1.00 per man hour worked on existing contracts for a period of one year.  On February 6, 2020 we cancelled all our security contracts in California.

·

On December 26, 2019, the board of directors and management made the strategic move to cease operations of Chiefton, our apparel line.

·

On December 26, 2019, the board of directors committed to a plan to cease operations of STOA Wellness, our retail store.  We transferred all assets of STOA Wellness to an individual on January 10, 2020, in exchange for the release on the outstanding lease.


We determined that the sale and disposal of our security and consumer goods segments represented a strategic shift that will have a major effect on our results of operations and, as a result, we have presented the disposal as held for sale and discontinued operations in our financial statements. Unless noted otherwise, discussion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K pertains to our continuing operations.


History and Corporate Structure


General Cannabis Corp, a Colorado corporation, was incorporated on June 3, 2013.  We operate through our ten wholly-owned subsidiaries: (a) 6565 E. Evans Owner LLC, a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2014; (b) General Cannabis Capital Corporation, a Colorado corporation formed in 2015; (c) GC Security LLC (“GCS”), a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2015; (d) GC-NY Health, LLC, a New York limited liability company formed in 2019; (e) Standard Cann, Inc., a Colorado corporation formed in 2019; (f) Cannassuer, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2019; (g) Cannasseur Dispensary, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2019; (h) Cannasseur Cultivation, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2019; (i) Cannassuer Extraction, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2019 (j) SevenFive Farms, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2020, (k) SevenFive Farms Cultivation, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2020 and (l) GC Corp., a Colorado corporation, originally formed in 2013 under the name ACS Corp.  In 2015, the name was changed to GC Corp.


Our Products, Services and Customers


Through our reporting segments (Security, Operations, Consumer Goods, and Investments), we provide products, services and capital to the regulated cannabis industry and non-cannabis customers, which include the following:


Operations Consulting and Products (“Operations Segment”)


Through Next Big Crop (“NBC”), we deliver comprehensive consulting services to the cannabis industry that include obtaining licenses, compliance, cultivation, retail operations, logistical support, facility design and construction, and expansion of existing operations.  During 2019 and 2018, 59% and 60% of NBC’s revenue was with three customers and one customer, respectively.


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NBC oversees our wholesale equipment and supply business, operated under the name “GC Supply,” which provides turnkey sourcing and stocking services to cultivation, retail and infused products manufacturing facilities. Our products include building materials, equipment, consumables and compliance packaging.  There are generally multiple suppliers for the products we sell; however, there are a limited number of manufacturers of certain high tech cultivation equipment.


NBC provides a competitive advantage as we plan to evaluate and operate licensed cultivation facilities.


Capital Investments and Real Estate (“Investments Segment”)


As a publicly traded company, we have access to capital that may not be available to businesses operating in the cannabis industry.  Accordingly, we may provide debt or equity capital through (a) loans or revolving lines of credit, (b) leasing real estate we own, or (c) investing in businesses using cash or shares of our common stock.


Recent Significant Transactions


On April 7, 2020, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with The Organic Seed, LLC, doing business under the name Cannasseur (the “Seller”), pursuant to which we agreed to acquire the assets of the Seller which includes a recreational retail dispensary, a 12,000 square foot light deprivation greenhouse, and a manufacturing facility based in Pueblo West, Colorado.  The agreement provides the purchase price to acquire Cannasseur is $2,350,000 (the “Purchase Price”). The purchase price will be paid by issuing to the Seller shares of our common stock equal to the purchase price divided by the volume weighted average per share price of our shares for 30 consecutive trading days ending on the second trading day prior to the closing (the “VWAP”); provided that if the VWAP exceeds $0.55 per share, then the VWAP will equal $0.55 per share for purposes of the foregoing calculation; and if the VWAP is less than $0.45 per share, then the VWAP will be adjusted to equal $0.45 for the purposes of the foregoing calculation. The closing is subject to approval of the transaction by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, as well as other customary closing conditions.


On March 20, 2020 we sold our office building located in Denver, Colorado, to certain individuals for a sale price of $1,499,000 and net proceeds, after repaying the mortgage on the property, was approximately $600,000.


In February and March 2020, we issued and sold unsecured promissory notes (the “Unsecured Notes”) with an aggregate principal amount of $2,031,000 to certain investors in exchange for $525,000 of new funding and the cancellation of outstanding indebtedness of $1,506,000 represented by prior promissory notes issued by us in September 2019.  The Unsecured Notes have an annual interest rate of 15% and mature on January 31, 2021 and March 1, 2021.  Interest is due on a quarterly basis.  In connection with the issuance of the Unsecured notes, each holder of Unsecured Notes received three warrants (i.e., a 2020 A Warrant, a 2020 B Warrant and a 2020 C Warrant) to acquire shares of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.45 per share.


On January 24, 2020, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Dalton Adventures, LLC (the “Seller”), pursuant to which we agreed to acquire the assets of the Seller and which constitutes the business of SevenFive Farm, a cultivation facility in Boulder, Colorado.  The purchase price to be paid for the assets is equal to 1.4 times the Seller’s gross revenue for the 12-month period prior to the closing; provided that the purchase price will not be lower than $3,000,000.  The purchase price will be paid by issuing to the Seller shares of our common stock equal to the purchase price divided by the volume weighted average per share price of our shares for 30 consecutive trading days ending on the second trading day prior to the closing (the “VWAP”); provided that if the VWAP exceeds $0.85 per share, then the VWAP will equal $0.85 per share for purposes of the forgoing calculation.  The Seller may require us to repurchase in cash 25% of the shares issued to the Seller at the closing at a repurchase price equal to the same VWAP used to determine the number of shares issued to the Seller at closing.  The closing is subject to approval of the transaction by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, which was received on May 13, 2020, as well as other customary closing conditions.


In September 2019, we completed a $1,506,000 private placement with certain accredited investors pursuant to (a) a senior unsecured promissory note, bearing interest at 12% payable quarterly, with principal due October 31, 2020, with an option for us to extend the due date to October 31, 2021 (“2019 12% Notes”) and (b) warrants with an exercise price of $1.30 per share and a life of 1.1 years; however, if we prepay at any time the life extends to October 31, 2022 (“2019 12% Warrants”) (combined the “2019 12% Agreements”). We may prepay the 2019 12% Notes at any time, but in any event must pay at least one year of interest. As described above, the 2019% Notes were cancelled in connection with the issuance of the 2020 Notes.


In July 2019, we completed a $855,000 private placement pursuant to a promissory note (“SBI Note”) with a certain accredited investor, bearing interest at 10% with principal due on October 18, 2019.  On November 15, 2019, SBI agreed to an extension of debt to November 29, 2019 with an increase in principal amount of the note from $855,000 to $905,000.  On December 30, 2019 SBI agreed to extend the maturity date of the note to January 31, 2020, upon the payment of $195,911 of


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the note.  On February 18, 2020, we entered into a promissory note exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with the investor pursuant to which the SBI Note was exchanged for a new convertible promissory note (the “SBI Convertible Note”). The SBI Convertible Note has a principal amount of $934,000, an interest rate of 10% per annum and a maturity date of February 18, 2021. The SBI Convertible Note may be converted at the option of the investor into shares of our common stock at a conversion price equal to 80% of the Market Price (as defined in the SBI Convertible Note); provided that the conversion price shall in no event be less than $0.45 per share (unless adjusted as provided in the SBI Convertible Note).


On May 31, 2019 we received gross proceeds of $3 million by issuing three million shares of our common stock and three million warrants (“2019 Warrants”) to purchase shares of our common stock (together “2019 Units”) in a registered direct offering for $1.00 per 2019 Unit (combined the “2019 Capital Raise”).  The 2019 Warrants had an exercise price of $1.30 per share, which was subsequently adjusted down to $0.45 per share pursuant to the anti-dilution adjustment provision in the 2019 Warrants, and are exercisable for five years from the date of issuance.  The 2018 warrants expired on April 20, 2020.


Competitive Strengths


We believe we possess certain competitive strengths and advantages in the industries in which we operate:


Cultivation Expertise.  NBC has designed and operated over 100 cultivation facilities across the country.  As we execute on our rollup strategy, this expertise enables us to evaluate, acquire and operate these facilities efficiently.


Range of Services. We are able to leverage our breadth of services and resources to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to companies in the cannabis industry—from operational and compliance, to products and services.


Strategic Alliances. We are dedicated to growing through strategic acquisitions, partnerships and agreements that will enable us to enter and expand into new markets. Our strategy is to pursue alliances with potential targets that have the ability to generate positive cash flow, effectively meet customer needs and supply desirable products, services or technologies, among other considerations. We anticipate that strategic alliances will play a significant role as more states pass legislation permitting the cultivation and sale of hemp and cannabis.


Regulatory Compliance. The state and local laws regulating the cannabis industry change at a rapid pace.  We have resources committed to ensure our operations are in compliance with all state and local laws, policies, guidance and regulations to which we are subject.  We apply this compliance knowledge to our customers in order to ensure that they, too, are in full compliance.


Industry Knowledge. We continue to create, share and leverage information and experiences with the purpose of creating awareness and identifying opportunities to increase shareholder value. Our management team has business expertise, extensive knowledge of the cannabis industry and closely monitors changes in legislation. We work with partners who enhance the breadth of our industry knowledge.


Market Conditions


Our target markets are the locations in the U.S. and its territories that have legalized cannabis:


Location

Medical

Recreational

Year*

California**

X

X

1996 / 2016

Washington

X

X

1998 / 2012

Alaska

X

X

1998 / 2014

Oregon**

X

X

1998 / 2014

Maine

X

X

1999 / 2016

Hawaii**

X

 

2000

Colorado**

X

X

2000 / 2012

Nevada**

X

X

2000 / 2016

Montana

X

 

2004

Vermont

X

X

2004 / 2018


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Location

Medical

Recreational

Year*

Rhode Island

X

 

2006

New Mexico

X

 

2007

Michigan

X

X

2008 / 2018

District of Columbia

X

X

2009 / 2014

Arizona**

X

 

2010

New Jersey**

X

 

2010

Delaware

X

 

2011

Connecticut

X

 

2012

Massachusetts

X

X

2012 / 2016

Illinois**

X

X

2013/2019

New Hampshire

X

 

2013

Guam

X

 

2014

Maryland**

X

 

2014

Minnesota

X

 

2014

New York**

X

 

2014

Louisiana

X

 

2015

Puerto Rico

X

 

2015

Arkansas**

X

 

2016

Location

Medical

Recreational

Year*

Florida

X

 

2016

North Dakota

X

 

2016

Ohio**

X

 

2016

Pennsylvania**

X

 

2016

West Virginia

X

 

2017

Missouri

X

 

2018

Northern Mariana Islands

X

X

2018

Oklahoma**

X

 

2018

Utah

X

 

2018

 

* When two dates are listed the first date refers to medical legalization.

** Indicates locations in which we provide or have provided services.


Our best opportunities are in locations with large populations or legal recreational cannabis use.  Continued development of the regulated cannabis industry depends on additional legalization, which is significantly influenced by state and local legislation.


Competition


Overall, we believe we have a competitive advantage by providing a range of goods and services to the cannabis industry. This allows us to provide integrated solutions to our customers, as well as sell additional goods and services to customers of a single segment. There is no aspect of our business, however, that is protected by patents or copyrights. As a result, our competitors could duplicate our business model with little effort.


Operations Consulting and Products. There are a limited number of competitors that provide the full range of services that NBC delivers. However, each individual service we provide has competition from experts in individual, specific fields. For example, attorneys may assist with license procurement and compliance. There are numerous firms that specialize in traditional greenhouse and cultivation consulting, as well as companies that provide operations services. As the cannabis industry grows, these competitors may develop further expertise and expand their focus on the cannabis industry.


Capital Investments and Real Estate. Many banks and traditional financial institutions refuse to provide financial services to cannabis-related business. With the growth of the cannabis industry, however, there has been growth in alternative financing and banking resources. Many of these alternative sources have more capital and resources than we have.


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Government and Industry Regulation


Cannabis is currently a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) and is, therefore, illegal under federal law. Even in those states in which the use of cannabis has been legalized pursuant to state law, its use, possession and/or cultivation remains a violation of federal law. A Schedule I controlled substance is defined as one that has no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of safety for use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. The U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) describes Schedule I controlled substances as “the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.” If the federal government decides to enforce the CSA in Colorado with respect to state-regulated cannabis activities in Colorado and other states, persons that are charged with distributing, possessing with intent to distribute or growing cannabis could be subject to fines and/or terms of imprisonment, the maximum being life imprisonment and a $50 million fine.


In light of the conflict between federal laws and state laws regarding cannabis, the previous administration under President Obama had effectively stated that it was not an efficient use of resources to direct federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state-designated laws allowing the use and distribution of medical cannabis. For example, the prior DOJ Deputy Attorney General of the Obama administration, James M. Cole, issued a memorandum (the “Cole Memo”) to all United States Attorneys providing updated guidance to federal prosecutors concerning cannabis enforcement under the CSA. In addition, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) provided guidelines (the “FinCEN Guidelines”) on February 14, 2014, regarding how financial institutions can provide services to cannabis-related businesses consistent with their Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) obligations (see “– FinCEN”).


Congress previously enacted an omnibus spending bill that included a provision (the “Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment”) prohibiting the DOJ from using funds to prevent states with medical cannabis laws from implementing such laws. This provision, however, has only been extended through September 30, 2020, and must be renewed annually by Congress.  In August 2016, a Ninth Circuit federal appeals court ruled in United States v. McIntosh that the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment bars the DOJ from spending funds on the prosecution of conduct that is allowed by state medical cannabis laws, provided that such conduct is in strict compliance with applicable state law. In March 2015, bipartisan legislation titled the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act (the “CARERS Act”) was introduced, proposing to allow states to regulate the medical use of cannabis by changing applicable federal law, including by reclassifying cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act to a Schedule II controlled substance and thereby changing the plant from a federally-criminalized substance to one that has recognized medical uses. More recently, the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017 has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, which proposes to exclude persons who produce, possess, distribute, dispense, administer or deliver marijuana in compliance with state laws from the regulatory controls and administrative, civil and criminal penalties of the CSA.


These developments previously were met with a certain amount of optimism in the cannabis industry, but (i) neither the CARERS Act nor the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017 have yet been adopted, (ii) the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, being an amendment to an appropriations bill that must be renewed annually, has not currently been renewed beyond September 30, 2020, and (iii) the ruling in United States v. McIntosh is only applicable precedent in the Ninth Circuit, which does not include Colorado, the state where we currently primarily operate.


Furthermore, on January 4, 2018, the former U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, issued a memorandum for all U.S. Attorneys (the “Sessions Memo”) stating that the Cole Memo was rescinded effectively immediately. In particular, Mr. Sessions stated that “prosecutors should follow the well-established principles that govern all federal prosecutions,” which require “federal prosecutors deciding which cases to prosecute to weigh all relevant considerations, including federal law enforcement priorities set by the Attorney General, the seriousness of the crime, the deterrent effect of criminal prosecution, and the cumulative impact of particular crimes on the community.” The Sessions Memo went on to state that given the DOJ’s well-established general principles, “previous nationwide guidance specific to marijuana is unnecessary and is rescinded, effective immediately.”


In response to the Sessions Memo, U.S. Attorney Bob Troy for the District of Colorado, the state in which our principal business operations are presently located, issued a statement on January 4, 2018, stating that the United States Attorney’s Office in Colorado is already guided by the well-established principles referenced in the Sessions Memo, “focusing in particular on identifying and prosecuting those who create the greatest safety threats to our communities around the state. We will, consistent with the Attorney General’s latest guidance, continue to take this approach in all of our work with our law enforcement partners throughout Colorado.”


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It is unclear at this time whether the Sessions Memo indicates that the Trump administration will strongly enforce the federal laws applicable to cannabis or what types of activities will be targeted for enforcement. However, a significant change in the federal government’s enforcement policy with respect to current federal laws applicable to cannabis could cause significant financial damage to us. We do not currently cultivate, distribute or sell cannabis. We may be irreparably harmed by a change in enforcement policies of the federal government depending on the nature of such change. As of the date of this Report, we have provided products and services to state-approved cannabis cultivators and dispensary facilities. Accordingly, we could be subject to criminal prosecution, which could lead to imprisonment and/or the imposition of penalties, fines, or forfeiture .


The Cole Memo


Because of the discrepancy between the laws in some states, which permit the distribution and sale of medical and recreational cannabis, from federal law that prohibits any such activities, DOJ Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued the Cole Memo concerning cannabis enforcement under the CSA.


At the time of its issuance, the Cole Memo reiterated Congress’s determination that cannabis is a dangerous drug and that the illegal distribution and sale of cannabis is a serious crime that provides a significant source of revenue to large-scale criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels. The Cole Memo noted that the DOJ was committed to enforcement of the CSA consistent with those determinations. It also noted that the DOJ was committed to using its investigative and prosecutorial resources to address the most significant threats in the most effective, consistent, and rational way. In furtherance of those objectives, the Cole Memo provided guidance to DOJ attorneys and law enforcement to focus their enforcement resources on persons or organizations whose conduct interferes with any one or more of the following important priorities (the “Enforcement Priorities”) in preventing:


·

the distribution of cannabis to minors;

·

revenue from the sale of cannabis from going to criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels;

·

the diversion of cannabis from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;

·

state-authorized cannabis activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;

·

violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of cannabis;

·

drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with cannabis use;

·

the growing of cannabis on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by cannabis production on public lands; and

·

cannabis possession or use on federal property.


Although the Sessions Memo has rescinded the Cole Memo and it is unclear at this time what the ultimate impact of that rescission will have on our business, if any, we intend to continue to conduct rigorous due diligence to verify the legality of all activities that we engage in and ensure that our activities do not interfere with any of the Enforcement Priorities set forth in the Cole Memo.


FinCEN


FinCEN provided guidance regarding how financial institutions can provide services to cannabis-related businesses consistent with their BSA obligations. For purposes of the FinCEN guidelines, a “financial institution” includes any person doing business in one or more of the following capacities:


·

bank (except bank credit card systems);

·

broker or dealer in securities;

·

money services business;

·

telegraph company;

·

card club; and

·

a person subject to supervision by any state or federal bank supervisory authority.


In general, the decision to open, close, or refuse any particular account or relationship should be made by each financial institution based on a number of factors specific to that institution. These factors may include its particular business objectives, an evaluation of the risks associated with offering a particular product or service, and its capacity to manage those risks effectively. Thorough customer due diligence is a critical aspect of making this assessment.


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In assessing the risk of providing services to a cannabis-related business, a financial institution should conduct customer due diligence that includes: (i) verifying with the appropriate state authorities whether the business is duly licensed and registered; (ii) reviewing the license application (and related documentation) submitted by the business for obtaining a state license to operate its cannabis-related business; (iii) requesting from state licensing and enforcement authorities available information about the business and related parties; (iv) developing an understanding of the normal and expected activity for the business, including the types of products to be sold and the type of customers to be served (e.g., medical versus recreational customers); (v) ongoing monitoring of publicly available sources for adverse information about the business and related parties; (vi) ongoing monitoring for suspicious activity, including for any of the red flags described in this guidance; and (vii) refreshing information obtained as part of customer due diligence on a periodic basis and commensurate with the risk. With respect to information regarding state licensure obtained in connection with such customer due diligence, a financial institution may reasonably rely on the accuracy of information provided by state licensing authorities, where states make such information available.


As part of its customer due diligence, a financial institution should consider whether a cannabis-related business implicates one of the Cole Memo Enforcement Priorities or violates state law. This is a particularly important factor for a financial institution to consider when assessing the risk of providing financial services to a cannabis-related business. Considering this factor also enables the financial institution to provide information in BSA reports pertinent to law enforcement’s priorities. A financial institution that decides to provide financial services to a cannabis-related business would be required to file suspicious activity reports. It is unclear at this time what impact the Sessions Memo will have on customer due diligence by a financial institution.


While we believe we do not qualify as a financial institution in the United States, we cannot be certain that we do not fall under the scope of the FinCEN guidelines. We plan to use the FinCEN Guidelines, as may be amended, as a basis for assessing our relationships with potential tenants, clients and customers. As such, as we engage in financing activities, we intend to adhere to the guidance of FinCEN in conducting and monitoring our financial transactions. Because this area of the law is uncertain and is expected to evolve rapidly, we believe that FinCEN’s guidelines will help us best operate in a prudent, reasonable and acceptable manner. There is no assurance, however, that our activities will not violate some aspect of the CSA. If we are found to violate the federal statute or any other in connection with our activities, our company could face serious criminal and civil sanctions.


Moreover, since the use of cannabis is illegal under federal law, we may have difficulty acquiring or maintaining bank accounts and insurance, and our stockholders may find it difficult to deposit their stock with brokerage firms.


Licensing and Local Regulations


Where applicable, we apply for state licenses or similar approvals that are necessary to conduct our business in compliance with local laws. Our subsidiary, GC Corp., has been registered with Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (the “MED”) as an approved vendor since September 8, 2014. GCS, another subsidiary, has been registered as a MED approved vendor since March 11, 2015.


On May 1, 2020, the MED granted regulatory approval to the Company as a qualified and suitable buyer of licensed cannabis operations in the State.  This authorization, known as a Suitability Approval, establishes the Copany as one of the first public companies authorized to acquire licensed cultivation, manufacturing and retail operations throughout Colorado.


Local laws at the county and municipal level add an additional layer of complexity to legalized cannabis. Despite a state’s adoption of legislation legalizing cannabis, counties and municipalities within the state may have the ability to otherwise restrict cannabis activities, including but not limited to cultivation, retail, distribution, manufacturing or consumption.


Zoning sets forth the approved use of land in any given city, county or municipality. Zoning is set by local governments or local voter referendum, and may otherwise be restricted by state laws. For example, under certain state laws a seller of liquor may not be allowed to operate within 1,000 feet of a school. There may be similar restrictions imposed on cannabis operators, which will restrict where cannabis operations may be located and the manner and size to which they can grow and operate. Zoning can be subject to change or withdrawal, discretionary approvals may be required for certain uses, and properties can be re-zoned. The zoning of our properties will have a direct impact on our business operations.


Employees


As of December 31, 2019, we had 76 full-time employees.


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Corporate Contact Information


Our principal executive offices are located at 6565 E. Evans Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80224; Telephone No.: (303) 759-1300. Our website is http://www.generalcann.com. The content on our website is available for informational purposes only. It should not be relied upon for investment purposes, nor is it incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.


Available Information


We maintain a website at www.generalcann.com and make available, free of charge, on our website, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K (including any amendments thereto), registration statements and other information filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are so filed or furnished, as well as our Code of Ethics. Any materials we file with the SEC, including our annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports, proxy statements, information statements and other information, are also available at the SEC’s Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.


ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS.


Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks and all other information contained in this Form 10-K, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, before investing in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face, but include the most significant factors currently known by us that make investing in our common stock speculative or risky. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, also may become important factors that affect us. If any of the following risks materialize, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose some or all of your investment.


Risks Related to Our Business and Industry


We have a limited operating history in an evolving industry, which makes it difficult to accurately assess our future growth prospects.


Although we believe our management team has extensive knowledge of the cannabis industry and closely monitors changes in legislation, we also operate in an evolving industry that may not develop as expected. Furthermore, our operations continue to evolve under our business plan as we continually assess new strategic opportunities for our business within our industry. Assessing the future prospects of our business is challenging in light of both known and unknown risks and difficulties we may encounter. Growth prospects in our industry can be affected by a wide variety of factors including:


·

Competition from other similar companies;

·

Regulatory limitations on the products we can offer and markets we can serve;

·

Other changes in the regulation of medical and recreational cannabis use;

·

Changes in underlying consumer behavior, which may affect the business of our customers;

·

Our ability to access adequate financing on reasonable terms and our ability to raise additional capital in order to fund our operations;

·

Challenges with new products, services and markets; and

·

Fluctuations in the credit markets and demand for credit.


We may not be able to successfully address these factors, which could negatively impact our growth, harm our business and cause our operating results to be worse than expected.


Our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected by pandemic infectious diseases, particularly the recent novel coronavirus strain known as COVID-19.


Pandemic infectious diseases, such as the current COVID-19 strain, may adversely impact our business, consolidated results of operations and financial condition. The global spread of COVID-19 has created significant volatility and uncertainty and economic disruption. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our business, operations and financial results will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic; governmental, business and individuals’ actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic; the impact of the pandemic on economic activity and actions taken in response; the effect on our customers and customer demand our services, products and solutions; our ability to sell and provide its services and solutions, including as a result of travel restrictions and people working from home; the ability of our customers to pay for our services and solutions; and any closures of our offices and the offices and facilities of our customers. COVID-19, as well as measures taken by governmental authorities to limit the spread of this virus, may interfere with the ability of our employees, suppliers, and other business


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providers to carry out their assigned tasks or supply materials or services at ordinary levels of performance relative to the requirements of our business, which may cause us to materially curtail certain of our business operations. We require additional funding and such funding may not be available to us as a result of contracting capital markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Any of these events could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or stock price.


We have a history of losses and may not achieve profitability in the future.


We generated net losses of approximately $12.4 million and $16.9 million, respectively, in the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. As of December 31, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $64.2 million. We will need to generate and sustain increased revenues in future periods in order to become profitable, and, even if we do, we may not be able to maintain or increase any such level of profitability.


As we grow, we expect to continue to expend substantial financial and other resources on:


·

personnel, including significant increases to the total compensation we pay our employees as we grow our employee headcount;

·

expenses relating to increased marketing efforts;

·

strategic acquisitions of businesses and real estate; and

·

general administration, including legal, accounting and other compliance expenses related to being a public company.


These expenditures are expected to increase and may adversely affect our ability to achieve and sustain profitability as we grow. Our efforts to grow our business may also be more costly than we expect, and we may not be able to increase our revenues enough to offset our higher operating expenses. We may incur losses in the future for a number of reasons, including the other risks described in this Report, unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays and other unknown events. If we are unable to achieve and sustain profitability, the market price of our common stock may significantly decrease.


Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, and any change in the enforcement priorities of the federal government could render our current and planned future operations unprofitable or even prohibit such operations.


We operate in the cannabis industry, which is dependent on state laws and regulations pertaining to such industry; however, under federal law, cannabis remains illegal.


The United States federal government regulates drugs through the Controlled Substances Act (the “CSA”), which places controlled substances, including cannabis, on one of five schedules. Cannabis is currently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, which is viewed as having a high potential for abuse and having no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. No prescriptions may be written for Schedule I substances, and such substances are subject to production quotas imposed by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (the “DEA”). Because of this, doctors may not prescribe cannabis for medical use under federal law, although they can recommend its use under the First Amendment.


Currently, numerous U.S. states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories have legalized cannabis for medical and / or recreational adult use.  Such state and territorial laws are in conflict with the federal CSA, which makes cannabis use and possession illegal at the federal level. Because cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance, however, the development of a legal cannabis industry under the laws of these states is in conflict with the CSA, which makes cannabis use and possession illegal on a national level. The United States Supreme Court has confirmed that the federal government has the right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, including for medical purposes, and that federal law criminalizing the use of cannabis preempts state laws that legalize its use.  We would likely be unable to execute our business plan if the federal government were to strictly enforce federal law regarding cannabis.


In light of such conflict between federal laws and state laws regarding cannabis, the previous administration under President Obama had effectively stated that it was not an efficient use of resources to direct law federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state-designated laws allowing the use and distribution of medical cannabis. For example, the prior DOJ Deputy Attorney General of the Obama administration, James M. Cole, issued a memorandum (the “Cole Memo”) to all United States Attorneys providing updated guidance to federal prosecutors concerning cannabis enforcement under the CSA (see “Business—Government and Industry Regulation—The Cole Memo”). In addition, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) provided guidelines on February 14, 2014, regarding how financial institutions can provide services to cannabis-related businesses consistent with their Bank Secrecy Act obligations (see “Business—Government and Industry Regulation—FinCEN”).


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Congress previously enacted an omnibus spending bill that included a provision (the “Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment”) prohibiting the DOJ from using funds to prevent states with medical cannabis laws from implementing such laws. This provision, however, has only been extended through September 30, 2020, and must be renewed annually by Congress.  In August 2016, a Ninth Circuit federal appeals court ruled in United States v. McIntosh that the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment bars the DOJ from spending funds on the prosecution of conduct that is allowed by state medical cannabis laws, provided that such conduct is in strict compliance with applicable state law. In March 2015, bipartisan legislation titled the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act (the “CARERS Act”) was introduced, proposing to allow states to regulate the medical use of cannabis by changing applicable federal law, including by reclassifying cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act to a Schedule II controlled substance and thereby changing the plant from a federally-criminalized substance to one that has recognized medical uses. More recently, the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017 has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, which proposes to exclude persons who produce, possess, distribute, dispense, administer or deliver marijuana in compliance with state laws from the regulatory controls and administrative, civil and criminal penalties of the CSA.


These developments previously were met with a certain amount of optimism in the cannabis industry, but (i) neither the CARERS Act nor the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017 have yet been adopted, (ii) the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, being an amendment to an appropriations bill that must be renewed annually, has not currently been renewed beyond September 30, 2020, and (iii) the ruling in United States v. McIntosh is only applicable precedent in the Ninth Circuit, which does not include Colorado, the state where we currently primarily operate.


Furthermore, on January 4, 2018, former U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, issued a memorandum for all U.S. Attorneys (the “Sessions Memo”) stating that the Cole Memo was rescinded effectively immediately. In particular, Mr. Sessions stated that “prosecutors should follow the well-established principles that govern all federal prosecutions,” which require “federal prosecutors deciding which cases to prosecute to weigh all relevant considerations, including federal law enforcement priorities set by the Attorney General, the seriousness of the crime, the deterrent effect of criminal prosecution, and the cumulative impact of particular crimes on the community.” The Sessions Memo went on to state that given the DOJ’s well-established general principles, “previous nationwide guidance specific to marijuana is unnecessary and is rescinded, effective immediately.”


In response to the Sessions Memo, U.S. Attorney Bob Troy for the District of Colorado, the state in which our principal business operations are presently located, issued a statement on January 4, 2018, stating that the United States Attorney’s Office in Colorado is already guided by the well-established principles referenced in the Sessions Memo, “focusing in particular on identifying and prosecuting those who create the greatest safety threats to our communities around the state. We will, consistent with the Attorney General’s latest guidance, continue to take this approach in all of our work with our law enforcement partners throughout Colorado.”


It is unclear at this time whether the Sessions Memo indicates that the Trump administration will strictly enforce the federal laws applicable to cannabis or what types of activities will be targeted for enforcement. However, a significant change in the federal government’s enforcement policy with respect to current federal laws applicable to cannabis could cause significant financial damage to us. We may be irreparably harmed by a change in enforcement policies of the federal government depending on the nature of such change. As of the date of this Report, we have provided products and services to state-approved cannabis cultivators and dispensary facilities. As a result, strict enforcement of federal prohibitions regarding cannabis could subject the Company to criminal prosecution.


Additionally, financial transactions involving proceeds generated by cannabis-related conduct can form the basis for prosecution under the federal money laundering statutes, unlicensed money transmitter statutes and the Bank Secrecy Act. Prior to the DOJ's rescission of the “Cole Memo”, supplemental guidance from the DOJ issued under the Obama administration directed federal prosecutors to consider the federal enforcement priorities enumerated in the “Cole Memo” when determining whether to charge institutions or individuals with any of the financial crimes described above based upon cannabis-related activity. It is unclear what impact the recent rescission of the “Cole Memo” will have, but federal prosecutors may increase enforcement activities against institutions or individuals that are conducting financial transactions related to cannabis activities.


Additionally, as we are always assessing potential strategic acquisitions of new businesses, we may in the future also pursue opportunities that include growing and/or distributing medical or recreational cannabis, should we determine that such activities are in the best interest of the Company and our stockholders. Any such pursuit would involve additional risks with respect to the regulation of cannabis, particularly if the federal government determines to strictly enforce all federal laws applicable to cannabis.


Federal prosecutors have significant discretion and no assurance can be given that the federal prosecutor in each judicial district where we operate our business will not choose to strictly enforce the federal laws governing cannabis production or distribution. Any change in the federal government's enforcement posture with respect to state-licensed cultivation of medical-use cannabis, including the enforcement postures of individual federal prosecutors in judicial districts where we


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purchase properties, would result in our inability to execute our business plan, and we would likely suffer significant losses, which would adversely affect the trading price of our securities. Furthermore, following any such change in the federal government's enforcement position, we could be subject to criminal prosecution, which could lead to imprisonment and/or the imposition of penalties, fines, or forfeiture.


Any potential growth in the cannabis industry continues to be subject to new and changing state and local laws and regulations.


Continued development of the cannabis industry is dependent upon continued legislative legalization of cannabis at the state level, and a number of factors could slow or halt progress in this area, even where there is public support for legislative action. Any delay or halt in the passing or implementation of legislation legalizing cannabis use, or its cultivation, sale and distribution, or the re-criminalization or restriction of cannabis at the state level could negatively impact our business. Additionally, changes in applicable state and local laws or regulations, including zoning restrictions, permitting requirements, and fees, could restrict the products and services we offer or impose additional compliance costs on us or our customers and tenants. Violations of applicable laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations. We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be materially adverse to our business.


The cannabis industry faces significant opposition, and any negative trends will adversely affect our business operations.


We are substantially dependent on the continued market acceptance, and the proliferation of consumers, of medical and recreational cannabis. We believe that with further legalization, cannabis will become more accepted, resulting in growth in consumer demand. However, we cannot predict the future growth rate or future market potential, and any negative outlook on the cannabis industry may adversely affect our business operations.


Large, well-funded business sectors may have strong economic reasons to oppose the development of the cannabis industry. For example, medical cannabis may adversely impact the existing market for the current “cannabis pill” sold by mainstream pharmaceutical companies. Should cannabis displace other drugs or products, the medical cannabis industry could face a material threat from the pharmaceutical industry, which is well-funded and possesses a strong and experienced lobby. Any inroads the pharmaceutical, or any other potentially displaced, industry or sector could make in halting or impeding the cannabis industry could have a detrimental impact on our business.


We operate in a highly competitive industry.


The markets for ancillary businesses in the medical marijuana and recreational marijuana industries are competitive and evolving. There is no material aspect of our business that is protected by patents, copyrights, trademarks, or trade names, and we face strong competition from larger companies that may offer similar products and services to ours. Many of our current and potential competitors have longer operating histories, significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources and larger client bases than us, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully compete against these or other competitors.


Given the rapid changes affecting the global, national, and regional economies generally and the medical marijuana and recreational marijuana industries, in particular, we may not be able to create and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Our success will depend on our ability to keep pace with any changes in our markets, particularly, legal and regulatory changes. Our success will also depend on our ability to respond to, among other things, changes in the economy, market conditions, and competitive pressures. Any failure by us to anticipate or respond adequately to such changes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.


If we are unable to obtain capital, we may not be able to pay our debt obligations as they become due, and there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.


We may not generate sufficient cash flows from operations to retire our debt obligations and may not be able to raise sufficient capital from (a) the exercise of warrants and options for our common stock, (b) sale of our common stock, or (c) issuing additional long-term debt. Our failure to obtain additional capital and retire our debt obligations would negatively impact our ability to continue as a going concern. To that end our auditors report for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes disclosure of substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.


Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which means we will be able to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our becoming profitable in the future and/or obtaining the necessary financing to meet our obligations and repay our liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in achieving these objectives.


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We may be unable to obtain capital to execute our business plan.


Our business plan involves lending to and investing in companies in the cannabis industry, as well as the general expansion of our business within and outside of Colorado. In order to execute on our business plan, we will need additional capital. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain financing on agreeable terms, if at all, and any future sale of our equity securities will dilute the ownership of our existing stockholders and could be at prices substantially below the price of the shares of common stock sold in the past. If we are unable to obtain the necessary capital, we may need to delay the implementation of or curtail our business plan.


We face risks associated with strategic acquisitions and our business strategy.


As an important part of our business roll-up strategy, we strategically acquire businesses and real property, some of which may be material. These acquisitions involve a number of financial, accounting, managerial, operational, legal, compliance and other risks and challenges, including the following, any of which could adversely affect our results of operations:


·

The applicable restrictions on the cannabis industry and its participants limit the number of available suitable businesses and real properties that we can acquire;

·

Any acquired business or real property could under-perform relative to our expectations and the price that we paid for it, or not perform in accordance with our anticipated timetable;

·

We may incur or assume significant debt in connection with our acquisitions;

·

Acquisitions could cause our results of operations to differ from our own or the investment community’s expectations in any given period, or over the long term; and

·

Acquisitions could create demands on our management that we may be unable to effectively address, or for which we may incur additional costs.


Additionally, following any business acquisition, we could experience difficulty in integrating personnel, operations, financial and other systems, and in retaining key employees and customers.


We may record goodwill and other intangible assets on our consolidated balance sheet in connection with our acquisitions. If we are not able to realize the value of these assets, we may be required to incur charges relating to the impairment of these assets, which could materially impact our results of operations.


Our ability to grow our business depends on state laws pertaining to the cannabis industry.


Continued development of the cannabis industry depends upon continued legislative authorization of cannabis at the state level. The status quo of, or progress in, the cannabis industry is not assured and any number of factors could slow or halt further progress in this area. While there may be ample public support for legislative action permitting the manufacture and use of cannabis, numerous factors impact the legislative process. For example, many states that voted to legalize medical and/or adult-use cannabis have seen significant delays in the drafting and implementation of industry regulations and issuance of licenses. In addition, burdensome regulation at the state level could slow or stop further development of the medical-use cannabis industry, such as limiting the medical conditions for which medical cannabis can be recommended by physicians for treatment, restricting the form in which medical cannabis can be consumed, imposing significant registration requirements on physicians and patients or imposing significant taxes on the growth, processing and/or retail sales of cannabis, which could have the impact of dampening growth of the cannabis industry and making it difficult for cannabis businesses, including our tenants, to operate profitably in those states. Any one of these factors could slow or halt additional legislative authorization of cannabis, which could harm our results of operations, business and prospects.


Applicable state laws may prevent us from maximizing our potential income.

 

Depending on the laws of each particular state, we may not be able to fully realize our potential to generate profit. For example, some states have residency requirements for those directly involved in the cannabis industry, which may impede our ability to contract with cannabis businesses in those states. Furthermore, cities and counties are being given broad discretion to ban certain cannabis activities. Even if these activities are legal under state law, specific cities and counties may ban them.


Assets used in conjunction with cannabis businesses may be forfeited to the federal government.

 

Any assets used in conjunction with the violation of federal law are potentially subject to federal forfeiture, even in states where cannabis is legal. In July 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a new policy directive regarding asset forfeiture, referred to as the “equitable sharing program.” Under this new policy directive, federal authorities may adopt state and local


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forfeiture cases and prosecute them at the federal level, allowing for state and local agencies to keep up to 80% of any forfeiture revenue. This policy directive represents a reversal of the U.S. Department of Justice's policy under the Obama administration, and allows for forfeitures to proceed that are not in accord with the limitations imposed by state-specific forfeiture laws. This new policy directive may lead to increased use of asset forfeitures by local, state and federal enforcement agencies. If the federal government decides to initiate forfeiture proceedings against cannabis businesses, our investment in those businesses may be lost.


Our future success depends on our ability to grow and expand our customer base and operational territory.


Our success and the planned growth and expansion of our business depend on our products and services achieving greater and broader acceptance, resulting in a larger customer base, and on the expansion of our operations into new markets. However, there can be no assurance that customers will purchase our products and/or services, or that we will be able to continually expand our customer base. Additionally, if we are unable to effectively market or expand our product and/or service offerings, we will be unable to grow and expand our business or implement our business strategy.


Operating in new markets may expose us to new operational, regulatory or legal risks and subject us to increased compliance costs. We may need to modify our existing business model and cost structure to comply with local regulatory or other requirements. Facilities we open in new markets may take longer to reach expected revenue and profit levels on a consistent basis, may have higher construction, occupancy or operating costs, and may present different competitive conditions, consumer preferences and spending patterns than we anticipate.  Any of the above could materially impair our ability to increase sales and revenue.


We and our existing and potential customers, clients and tenants have difficulty accessing the service of banks, which may make it difficult for them to operate.


Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by cannabis-related conduct can form the basis for prosecution under the federal money laundering statutes, unlicensed money transmitter statute and the Bank Secrecy Act. Previous guidance issued by the FinCen, a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, clarifies how financial institutions can provide services to cannabis-related businesses consistent with their obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act. Prior to the DOJ’s announcement in January 2018 of the rescission of the “Cole Memo” and related memoranda, supplemental guidance from the DOJ directed federal prosecutors to consider the federal enforcement priorities enumerated in the “Cole Memo” when determining whether to charge institutions or individuals with any of the financial crimes described above based upon cannabis-related activity. It is unclear what impact the recent rescission of the “Cole Memo” will have, but federal prosecutors may increase enforcement activities against institutions or individuals that are conducting financial transactions related to cannabis activities. The increased uncertainty surrounding financial transactions related to cannabis activities may also result in financial institutions discontinuing services to the cannabis industry.


Because the use, sale and distribution of cannabis remains illegal under federal law, many banks will not accept deposits from or provide other bank services to businesses involved with cannabis. Consequently, those businesses involved in the cannabis industry continue to encounter difficulty establishing banking relationships, which may increase over time. Our inability to maintain our current bank accounts would make it difficult for us to operate our business, increase our operating costs, and pose additional operational, logistical and security challenges and could result in our inability to implement our business plan.  Furthermore, the inability to open bank accounts may make it difficult for our existing and potential customers, clients and tenants to operate and may make it difficult for them to contract with us.


Conditions in the economy, the markets we serve and the financial markets generally may adversely affect our business and results of operations.


Our business is sensitive to general economic conditions. We believe that the state of global economic conditions is particularly uncertain due to recent and expected shifts in political, legislative and regulatory conditions concerning, among other matters, international trade and taxation, and the impact of recent or future natural disasters and/or health and safety epidemics, including the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in the first quarter of 2020.  An uneven recovery or a renewed global downturn may put pressure on our sales due to reductions in customer demand as well as customers deferring purchases.  Slower economic growth, volatility in the credit markets, high levels of unemployment, and other challenges that affect the economy adversely could affect us and our customers and suppliers. If growth in the economy or in any of the markets we serve slows for a significant period, if there is a significant deterioration in the economy or such markets or if improvements in the economy do not benefit the markets we serve, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.


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We depend on our management, certain key personnel and board of directors, as well as our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel.


Our future success depends largely upon the experience, skill, and contacts of our key personnel, officers and directors, and the loss of the services of these key personnel, officers or directors, particularly our chief executive officer and chairman of our board of directors, may have a material adverse effect upon our business. Additionally, our revenues are largely driven by several employees with particular expertise in cannabis-related security, apparel and operations. If one of these key employees were to leave, it would negatively impact our short and long-term results from operations. Shortages in qualified personnel could also limit our ability to successfully implement our growth plan. As we grow, we will need to attract and retain highly skilled experts in the cannabis industry, as well as managerial, sales and marketing, security and finance personnel. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to attract and retain such personnel.


Our reputation and ability to do business may be negatively impacted by the improper conduct by our business partners, employees or agents.


We depend on third party suppliers to produce and timely ship our orders. Products purchased from our suppliers are resold to our customers. These suppliers could fail to produce products to our specifications or quality standards and may not deliver units on a timely basis. Any changes in our suppliers to resolve production issues could disrupt our ability to fulfill orders. Any changes in our suppliers to resolve production issues could also disrupt our business due to delays in finding new suppliers.


Furthermore, we cannot provide assurance that our internal controls and compliance systems will always protect us from acts committed by our employees, agents or business partners in violation of U.S. federal or state laws. Any improper acts or allegations could damage our reputation and subject us to civil or criminal investigations and related shareholder lawsuits, could lead to substantial civil and criminal monetary and non-monetary penalties, and could cause us to incur significant legal and investigatory fees.


Due to our involvement in the cannabis industry, we may have difficulty obtaining various insurance policies that are desired to operate our business, which may expose us to additional risks and financial liabilities.


Insurance that is otherwise readily available, such as workers’ compensation, general liability, and directors’ and officers’ insurance, is more difficult for us to find and more expensive, because of our involvement in the cannabis industry. There are no guarantees that we will be able to find such insurance in the future, or that the cost will be affordable to us. If we are forced to go without such insurance, it may prevent us from entering into certain business sectors, may inhibit our growth, and may expose us to additional risk and financial liabilities.


A cybersecurity incident and other technology disruptions could result in a violation of law or negatively impact our reputation and relationships, our business operations and our financial condition.


Information and security risks have generally increased in recent years due to the rise in new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of perpetrators of cyber-attacks. We use computers in substantially all aspects of our business operations and we also use mobile devices and other online activities to connect with our employees, customers, tenants, suppliers and other parties. Such uses give rise to cybersecurity risks, including the risk of security breaches, espionage, system disruption, theft and inadvertent release of information. Our business involves the storage and transmission of numerous classes of sensitive and/or confidential information and intellectual property, including employees’, customers’, tenants’ and suppliers’ personally identifiable information and financial and strategic information about us.


If we fail to adequately assess and identify cybersecurity risks associated with our business operations, we may become increasingly vulnerable to such risks. Even the most well protected information, networks, systems and facilities remain potentially vulnerable because the techniques used in such attempted security breaches evolve and generally are not recognized until launched against a target, and in some cases are designed not to be detected and, in fact, may not be detected. Accordingly, we, our customers and our suppliers may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate security barriers or other preventative measures, and thus it is impossible for us, our customers and our suppliers to entirely mitigate this risk. Further, in the future we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. We can provide no assurances that the measures we have implemented to prevent security breaches and cyber incidents will be effective in the event of a cyber-attack.


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The theft, destruction, loss, misappropriation or release of sensitive and/or confidential information or intellectual property, or interference with our information technology systems or the technology systems of third-parties on which we rely, could result in business disruption, negative publicity, violation of privacy laws, loss of tenants, loss of customers, potential liability and competitive disadvantage, any of which could result in a material adverse effect on financial condition or results of operations.


We may be required to recognize impairment charges that could materially affect our results of operations.


We assess our intangible assets, and our other long-lived assets as and when required by GAAP to determine whether they are impaired. If they are impaired, we would record appropriate impairment charges. It is possible that we may be required to record significant impairment charges in the future and, if we do so, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.


Changes in accounting standards could affect our reported financial results.


Our management uses significant judgment, estimates and assumptions in applying GAAP. New accounting standards that may be applicable to our financial statements, or changes in the interpretation of existing standards, could have a significant effect on our reported results of operations for the affected periods.


Risks Related to the Securities Markets and Ownership of Our Common Stock


The price of our common stock is volatile, and the value of your investment could decline.


The market price of our common stock has been, and may in the future, be volatile. Between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, the closing price of our stock has ranged from a low of $0.37 per share to a high of $11.19 per share. Accordingly, it is difficult to forecast the future performance of our common stock. The market price of our common stock may be higher or lower than the price you pay, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our common stock. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include the following:


·

regulatory developments at the federal, state or local level;

·

announcements of new products, services, relationships with strategic partners, acquisitions or other events by us or our competitors;

·

changes in general economic conditions;

·

price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;

·

significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of similar companies in our industry;

·

fluctuations in the trading volume of our shares or the size of our public float;

·

actual or anticipated changes in our operating results or fluctuations in our operating results;

·

major catastrophic events;

·

sales of large blocks of our stock; or

·

changes in senior management or key personnel.


In addition, if the market for cannabis company stocks or the stock market in general experiences loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, operating results or financial condition. The trading price of our common stock might decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry, even if these events do not directly affect us. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. If our stock price continues to be volatile, we may become the target of securities litigation, which could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources from our business. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.


Trading and listing of securities of cannabis related businesses, including our common stock, may be subject to restrictions.


In the United States, many clearing houses for major broker-dealer firms, including Pershing LLC, the largest clearing, custody and settlement firm in the United States, have refused to handle securities or settle transactions of companies engaged in cannabis related business. This means that certain broker-dealers cannot accept for deposit or settle transactions in the securities of cannabis related businesses. Further, stock exchanges in the United States, including Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange, have historically refused to list certain cannabis related businesses, including cannabis retailers, that operate primarily in the United States. Our existing operations, and any future operations or investments, may become the


18



subject of heightened scrutiny by clearing houses and stock exchanges, in addition to regulators and other authorities in the United States. Any existing or future restrictions imposed by Pershing LLC, or any other applicable clearing house, stock exchange or other authority, on trading in our common stock could have a material adverse effect on the liquidity of our common stock.


We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.


We do not currently anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend on our earnings and financial condition, as well as on other business and economic factors affecting our business, as our board of directors may consider relevant. Our current intention in the foreseeable future is to apply net earnings, if any, to increasing our capital base and our development and marketing efforts. There can be no assurance that we will ever have sufficient earnings to declare and pay dividends to the holders of our common stock and, in any event, a decision to declare and pay dividends is at the sole discretion of our board of directors. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our common stock if the market price of our common stock increases compared to the price at which you purchased our common stock, which may never occur.


Were our common stock to be considered penny stock, and therefore become subject to the penny stock rules, U.S. broker-dealers may be discouraged from effecting transactions in shares of our common stock.


Broker-dealers are generally prohibited from effecting transactions in “penny stocks” unless they comply with the requirements of Section 15(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules promulgated thereunder. These rules apply to the stock of companies whose shares are not traded on a national stock exchange, trade at less than $5.00 per share or who do not meet certain other financial requirements specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Trades in our common stock are subject to these rules, which include Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act, which imposes certain requirements on broker/dealers who sell securities subject to the rule to persons other than established customers and accredited investors. For transactions covered by the rule, brokers/dealers must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for purchasers of the securities and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction prior to sale.


The penny stock rules also require a broker/dealer, prior to effecting a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the SEC that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. A broker/dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the relevant penny stock and information on the compensation of the broker/dealer and its salesperson in the transaction. A broker/dealer must also provide monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in a customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker/dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation.


Our securities have in the past constituted “penny stock” within the meaning of the rules. Were our common stock to again be considered penny stock, and therefore become subject to the penny stock rules, the additional sales practice and disclosure requirements imposed upon U.S. broker-dealers may discourage such broker-dealers from effecting transactions in shares of our common stock, which could severely limit the market liquidity of such shares and impede their sale in the secondary market.


Our stockholders may experience significant dilution.


We have a significant number of warrants and options to purchase our common stock outstanding, the exercise of which would be dilutive to stockholders. In certain instances, the exercise prices are subject to adjustment if we issue or sell shares of our common stock or equity-based instruments at a price per share less than the exercise price then in effect. In such case, both the issuance and the adjustment would be dilutive to stockholders.


We may from time to time finance our future operations or acquisitions through the issuance of equity securities, which securities may also have rights and preferences senior to the rights and preferences of our common stock. We may also grant options to purchase shares of our common stock to our directors, employees and consultants, the exercise of which would also result in dilution to our stockholders.


We may face continuing challenges in complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and any failure to comply or any adverse result from management’s evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting may have an adverse effect on our stock price.


As a smaller reporting company as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are required to evaluate our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Section 404”). Section 404 requires us to include an internal control report with our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The


19



report must include management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the fiscal year. This report must also include disclosure of any material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting that we have identified.


Failure to comply, or any adverse results from such evaluation, could result in a loss of investor confidence in our financial reports and have an adverse effect on the trading price of our equity securities.  Achieving continued compliance with Section 404 may require us to incur significant costs and expend significant time and management resources. We cannot assure you that we will be able to fully comply with Section 404 or that we will be able to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective at fiscal year-end. As a result, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have an adverse effect on the trading price of our securities, as well as subject us to civil or criminal investigations and penalties. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm may not agree with our management’s assessment or conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is operating effectively.


ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.


None.


ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES


None.


ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently involved in any material legal proceedings outside the ordinary course of our business.


ITEM 4.   MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES


Not applicable.



20



PART II


ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


Market Information


On April 28, 2015, our common stock was uplisted and on May 6, 2015, resumed quotation on the OTC Market’s OTCQB.  Quotation of our stock on the OTC Bulletin Board began on August 15, 2013. Trading was suspended on March 28, 2014, due to a suspension of trading order issued by the SEC. From April 10, 2014 to April 27, 2015, our common stock was traded under the symbol “CANN” on an unsolicited basis in the grey market.  On June 6, 2018 we began trading on the OTCQX® Best Market after upgrading from the OTCQB® Venture Market.


Holders


As of May 5, 2020, we had approximately 59 holders of record of our common stock.  A substantially greater number of holders of the Company’s common stock are “street name” or beneficial holders, whose shares of record are held by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.  In addition, our Articles of Incorporation authorize the Board to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The provisions in the Articles of Incorporation relating to the preferred stock allow directors to issue preferred stock with multiple votes per share and dividend rights, which would have priority over any dividends paid with respect to the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock with these rights may make the removal of management difficult even if the removal would be considered beneficial to stockholders, generally, and will have the effect of limiting stockholder participation in certain transactions such as mergers or tender offers if these transactions are not favored by management.


Dividend Policy


Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be declared by the Board. The Board is not restricted from paying any dividends, but is not obligated to declare a dividend. No cash dividends have ever been declared and it is not anticipated that cash dividends will be paid in the near future. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance future growth. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors the Board considers relevant.


Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans


The following table provides information regarding our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2019:


Equity Compensation Plan Information


Plan Category

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

11,883,780

(1)

$ 1.17

986,442

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

1,025,000

(2)

$ 3.02

   Total

12,908,780

 

$ 1.32

986,442


(1)

On October 29, 2014, the Board authorized the adoption of and, on June 26, 2015, our stockholders ratified, our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan for the issuance of 10 million shares of our common stock and, in April 2018, stockholders approved an increase of 5 million shares of common stock that may be granted (the “Incentive Plan”).  The Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of up to 15 million shares of our common stock, and is designed to provide an additional incentive to executives, employees, directors and key consultants, aligning our long term interests with participants. Forfeited or expired issuances are returned to the shares that may be issued under the plan.  As of December 31, 2019, 2,079,778 stock options issued under the Incentive Plan have been exercised.  

(2)

The equity compensation plans not approved by security holders include 900,000 options to purchase shares of our common stock granted to Mr. Feinsod, our Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors, on December 8, 2017, and 135,000 warrants and options to purchase shares of our common stock granted to non-employees for services.  


21



ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.


ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS


This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to provide an understanding of our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year to year.  This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes in Item 8 of this Report.


Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements


Our MD&A contains forward-looking statements that discuss, among other things, future expectations and projections regarding future developments, operations and financial condition.  All forward-looking statements are based on management’s existing beliefs about present and future events outside of management’s control and on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect.  If any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or intended.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in expectations or events or circumstances after the date of this Report is filed.


Going Concern


The consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K, have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes we will be able to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. Our cash of approximately $224,994 as of December 31, 2019 is not sufficient to absorb our operating losses and retire our debt of $2,330,351 and other obligations as they come due. The warrants associated with this debt, if exercised, would provide sufficient funds to retire the debt; however, there is no guarantee that these warrants will be exercised.  Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our generating profitable operations in the future and/or obtaining the necessary financing to meet our obligations and repay our liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. Management believes that (a) we will be successful obtaining additional capital and (b) actions presently being taken to further implement our business plan and generate additional revenues provide opportunity for the Company to continue as a going concern. While we believe in the viability of our strategy to generate additional revenues and our ability to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances to that effect. Accordingly, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern.


Results of Operations


As of December 31, 2019, we made the strategic decision to cease operations of Chiefton and STOA Wellness. All operations were abandoned in January 2020. Separately, we classified Iron Protection Group as held for sale as of December 31, 2019, in which the contracts of the Colorado division were sold in January 2020 and the remaining contracts in California have been abandoned. The completed and planned divestiture of these non-core businesses has changed the way in which we evaluate performance and allocate resources. As a result, during the year ended December 31, 2019, we revised our business segments, consistent with our management of the business and internal financial reporting structure.  


The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, statements of operations data.  The tables and the discussion below should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in Item 8 in this Report.


Consolidated Results


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Change

 

Change

Revenues

$

3,666,346

$

1,737,256

$

1,929,090

 

111%

Costs and expenses

 

(12,258,035)

 

(12,308,231)

 

(219,804)

 

2%

Other expense

 

(1,925,411)

 

(5,564,335)

 

3,638,924

 

(65)%

Net loss from continuing operations

 

(10,787,100)

 

(16,135,310)

 

5,348,210

 

(33)%

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(1,675,539)

 

(838,448)

 

(837,091)

 

100%

Net loss

$

(12,462,639)

$

(16,973,758)

$

4,511,119

 

(27)%


22



The following discussion of our results of operations relates to our continuing operations.  See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for information concerning discontinued operations.


Revenues


Revenue increased for our Operations and Investments Segments, offset by a decrease in revenues in our Security and Marketing Segments.  See Segment discussions below for further details.


Costs and expenses


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Change

 

Change

Cost of service revenues

$

858,714

$

1,055,593

$

(196,879)

 

(19)%

Cost of goods sold

 

1,608,386

 

400,097

 

1,208,289

 

302%

Selling, general and administrative

 

4,379,800

 

3,411,724

 

968,076

 

28%

Share-based compensation

 

3,966,621

 

5,995,007

 

(2,028,386)

 

(34)%

Professional fees

 

1,598,818

 

1,383,367

 

215,451

 

16%

Depreciation and amortization

 

115,696

 

62,443

 

53,253

 

85%

 

$

12,528,035

$

12,308,231

$

219,804

 

2%


Cost of service revenues typically fluctuates with the changes in revenue for our Operations Segments. Cost of goods sold varies with changes in product sales, including an increase in products sold by our Operations Segment, which have smaller margins. See Segment discussions below for further details.


Selling, general and administrative expense increased in 2019 primarily due to increases for (a) salaries; (b) premiums for liability, and directors and officers insurance; (c) computer and internet costs; and (d) marketing costs.


Share-based compensation included the following:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Change

 

Change

Employee awards

$

3,040,497

$

3,626,271

$

(585,774)

 

(16)%

Consulting awards

 

85,683

 

306,466

 

(220,783)

 

(72)%

Feinsod Agreement

 

840,441

 

2,062,270

 

(1,221,829)

 

(59)%

 

$

3,966,621

$

5,995,007

$

(2,028,386)

 

(34)%


Employee awards are issued under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on June 26, 2015, and expense varies primarily due to the number of stock options granted and the share price on the date of grant.  Consulting awards are granted to third parties in lieu of cash for services provided.  The Feinsod Agreement expense represents equity-based compensation pursuant to agreements with Michael Feinsod for serving as the Executive Chairman of our Board.  


Professional fees consist primarily of accounting and legal expenses, and have increased slightly from 2018 due primarily to the cost of raising debt.


Depreciation and amortization expense increased due to normal depreciation expense for our ERP system.


Other Expense


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Change

 

Change

Amortization of debt discount

$

2,019,726

$

4,234,823

$

(2,215,097)

 

(52)%

Interest expense

 

345,371

 

323,557

 

21,814

 

7%

Gain on derivative liability

 

(816,986)

 

 

(816,986)

 

(100)%

Loss from Desert Created Investment

 

 

182,136

 

(182,136)

 

(100)%

Impairment of Desert Created Investment

 

 

823,819

 

(823,819)

 

(100)%

Gain/loss on extinguishment of debt

 

377,300

 

 

377,300

 

100%

 

$

1,925,411

$

5,564,335

$

(3,638,924)

 

(65)%


23



Amortization of debt discount costs generally varies with our debt balance and, in 2019, includes $318,681 of costs associated with derivative warrants from the 2019 Warrants (as defined below). Interest expense varied between 2019 and 2018 due to the payoff of the 12% Notes in January 2018, the payoff of the Infinity Note in February 2018, and the issuance of the 8.5% Notes in April 2018. We recognized issuance costs in relation to the  derivative warrants included in our registered direct offering in May 2019. The loss on investment in Desert Created is our 50% share of the net loss of Desert Created during the three quarters September 30, 2018. The impairment of Desert Created occurred primarily because the agreement was priced in November 2017, however, the transaction did not close until January 2018.  In the interim, our stock price increased substantially, thus the consideration we paid, in equity instruments, was higher than the fair value of the investment received. In October 2018, we sold our 50% interest to DNFC for cash consideration of $23,045 and, accordingly, impaired the remaining balance. The gain on warrant derivative liability reflects the change in fair value of the 2019 Warrants.


Operations Consulting and Products


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Change

 

Change

Revenues

$

3,570,909

$

1,718,507

$

1,852,402

 

108%

Costs and expenses

 

(3,372,174)

 

(1,932,598)

 

(1,439,576)

 

74%

 

$

198,735

$

(214,091)

$

412,826

 

193%


Increased revenues in 2019 primarily related to revenue from license application consulting; and an increase in product sales throughout 2019.  The higher margin is due to completed applications in the third and fourth quarters of 2019.  Costs and expenses increased in 2019 primarily due to increased product sales.


Investments


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Change

 

Change

Revenues

$

95,437

$

18,749

$

76,688

 

409%

Costs and expenses

 

(71,723)

 

 

(71,723)

 

100%

Investment in Desert Created

 

 

(1,005,955)

 

1,005,955

 

(100)%

 

$

23,714

$

(987,206)

$

1,010,920

 

(102)%


The increase in revenues in 2019 is related to three new notes receivables that were executed during 2019. All revenue is from interest and loan origination fees related to these new notes. The investment in Desert Created includes an $823,819 impairment charge and our share of their net loss of $182,136.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures


For the non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings (loss) Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) per share-basic and diluted measures presented above, we have provided (1) the most directly comparable GAAP measure; (2) a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure; (3) an explanation of why our management believes this non-GAAP measure provides useful information to investors; and (4) additional purposes for which we use this non-GAAP measure.


We believe that the disclosure of Adjusted EBITDA per share-basic and diluted provides investors with a better comparison of our period-to-period operating results. We exclude the effects of certain items from net loss per share-basic and diluted when we evaluate key measures of our performance internally, and in assessing the impact of known trends and uncertainties on our business. We also believe that excluding the effects of these items provides a more balanced view of the underlying dynamics of our business. Adjusted EBITDA per share-basic and diluted excludes the impacts of interest expense, tax expense, depreciation and amortization, gain (loss) on its derivative liability, amortization of debt discount and share-based compensation. Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (adjusted) excludes the impact of shares issued in connection with share-based compensation.


24



Tabular reconciliations of this supplemental non-GAAP financial information to our most comparable GAAP information are contained in this Report. We present such non-GAAP supplemental financial information, as we believe such information provides additional meaningful methods of evaluating certain aspects of our operating performance from period-to-period on a basis that may not be otherwise apparent on a non-GAAP basis. This supplemental financial information should be considered in addition to, not in lieu of, our Consolidated Financial Statements.


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

$

(14,803,639)

$

(16,973,758)

Adjustment for loss from discontinued operations

 

1,675,539

 

838,448

Loss from continuing operations attributable to
common stockholders

 

(13,128,100)

 

(16,135,310)

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

Share-based expense

 

3,966,621

 

5,995,007

Depreciation and amortization

 

115,696

 

62,443

Impairment of Desert Created investment

 

 

823,819

Amortization of debt discount and equity issuance costs

 

2,019,726

 

4,234,823

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

377,300

 

Interest expense

 

345,371

 

323,557

Gain on warrant derivative liability

 

(816,986)

 

Loss on investment of Desert Created

 

 

182,136

Total adjustments

 

6,007,728

 

11,621,785

Adjusted EBITDA

$

(7,120,372)

$

(4,513,525)

Per share  basic and diluted:

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(0.39)

$

(0.49)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

(0.20)

 

(0.13)

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

38,106,781

 

34,938,978

Adjusted EBITDA

 

36,222,752

 

34,297,078


Liquidity


Sources of liquidity


Our sources of liquidity include cash generated from operations, the cash exercise of common stock options and warrants, debt, and the issuance of common stock or other equity-based instruments. We anticipate our more significant uses of resources will include funding operations, developing infrastructure, as well as potential loans, investments, and business acquisitions.


In September 2019, we completed a $1,506,000 private placement with certain accredited investors pursuant to the 2019 12% Notes and the 2019 12% Warrants”).  In July 2019, we completed a $855,000 private placement pursuant to the SBI Note.


In May 2019, we raised approximately $3 million by issuing three million shares of our common stock and three million warrants (“2019 Warrants”) to purchase shares of our common stock (together “2019 Units”) in a registered direct offering for $1.00 per 2019 Unit. The 2019 Warrants have an exercise price of $1.30 per share and are exercisable for five years from the date of issuance. We received cash of $2,604,355, which is net of $395,645 of issuance costs.


In April 2018, we completed a $7,500,000 private placement pursuant to a promissory note (“8.5% Notes”) and warrant purchase agreement (the “8.5% Agreement”) with certain accredited investors, bearing interest at 8.5%, with principal due May 1, 2019, and interest payable quarterly.  The proceeds were made available for general working capital purposes and acquisitions.


25



Sources and uses of cash


We had cash of approximately $224,994 and $8.0 million, respectively, as of and December 31, 2019 and 2018.  Our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities were as follows:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Net cash used in operating activities

$

(5,328,661)

$

(5,726,207)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(753,639)

 

(568,266)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activitie

 

(1,649,875)

 

9,214,855


Net cash used in operating activities decreased in 2019 by $397,546 compared to 2018, primarily due to reduction of expenses and personnel.  Where possible, we continue to use non-cash equity-based instruments to obtain consulting services and compensate employees.


Net cash used in investing activities in 2019 relates primarily to purchasing fixed assets, including the opening of STOA Wellness retail location.  In the 2018, we purchased fixed assets and invested in the Flowhub SAFE.


Net cash used in financing activities related to the payoff of the notes payable, offset by a capital raise in May 2019. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2018 related to the exercise of warrants and options offset by paying off debt.


Capital Resources


We have no material commitments for capital expenditures as of December 31, 2019. Part of our growth strategy, however, is to acquire businesses. We would fund such activity through cash on hand, the issuance of debt, common stock, warrants for our common stock or a combination thereof.


Off-balance Sheet Arrangements


We currently have no off-balance sheet arrangements.


Critical Accounting Policies


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the amounts of revenues and expenses.  Critical accounting policies are those that require the application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often because of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods.  In applying these critical accounting policies, our management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in making certain estimates.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.


We define critical accounting policies as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties and which may potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions.  In applying these critical accounting policies, our management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in making certain estimates.  These estimates are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty.


Purchase Accounting for Acquisitions


Acquisition of a business requires companies to record assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their respective fair market values at the date of acquisition.  Any amount of the purchase price paid that is in excess of the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.  We determine fair value using widely accepted valuation techniques, primarily discounted cash flows and market multiple analyses.  These types of analyses require us to make assumptions and estimates regarding industry and economic factors, the profitability of future business strategies, discount rates and cash flow.  If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, or our assumptions and estimates change due to new information, we may be exposed to an impairment charge in the future.


26



Accounting for Discontinued Operations


We regularly review underperforming assets to determine if a sale or disposal might be a better way to monetize the assets.  When an asset group is considered for sale or disposal, we review the transaction to determine if or when the entity qualifies as a discontinued operation in accordance with the criteria of FASB ASC Topic 205-20 “Discontinued Operations.” The FASB has issued authoritative guidance that raises the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations. Under this guidance, a discontinued operation is (1) a component of an entity or group of components that have been disposed of or are classified as held for sale and represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results, or (2) an acquired business that is classified as held for sale on the acquisition date.


Impairment of Long-lived Assets


We periodically evaluate whether the carrying value of long-lived assets has been impaired when circumstances indicate the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable.  The carrying amount is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset.  If the carrying value is not recoverable, the impairment loss is measured as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value.


Our impairment analyses require management to apply judgment in estimating future cash flows as well as asset fair values, including forecasting useful lives of the assets, assessing the probability of different outcomes, and selecting the discount rate that reflects the risk inherent in future cash flows. If the carrying value is not recoverable, we assess the fair value of long-lived assets using commonly accepted techniques, and may use more than one method, including, but not limited to, recent third party comparable sales and discounted cash flow models.  If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, or our assumptions and estimates change due to new information, we may be exposed to an impairment charge in the future.


Debt with Equity-linked Features


We may issue debt that has separate warrants, conversion features, or no equity-linked attributes.


When we issue debt with warrants, we determine the value of the warrants using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model (“Black-Scholes”) or the Binomial Model, using the stock price on the date of issuance, the risk-free interest rate associated with the life of the debt, and the estimated volatility of our stock.  


When we issue debt with a conversion feature, we must first assess whether the conversion feature meets the requirements to be treated as a derivative.  If the conversion feature within convertible debt meets the requirements to be treated as a derivative, we estimate the fair value of the convertible debt derivative using Black-Scholes upon the date of issuance, using the stock price on the date of issuance, the risk free interest rate associated with the life of the debt, and the estimated volatility of our stock.  If the conversion feature is not treated as a derivative, we assess whether it is a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”).  A BCF exists if the conversion price of the convertible debt instrument is less than the stock price on the commitment date.  This typically occurs when the conversion price is less than the fair value of the stock on the date the instrument was issued.  The value of a BCF is equal to the intrinsic value of the feature, the difference between the conversion price and the common stock into which it is convertible.


Equity-based Payments


We estimate the fair value of equity-based instruments issued to employees or to third parties for services or goods using Black-Scholes or the Binomial Model, which requires us to estimate the volatility of our stock and forfeiture rate.


Revenue Recognition


On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”). The core principle of ASC 606 requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than required under existing U.S. GAAP including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation.


27



The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:


·

Step 1: Identify the contract with the customer;

·

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract;

·

Step 3: Determine the transaction price;

·

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

·

Step 5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation.


ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISKS


As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required by this Item.


ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


Index to Consolidated Financial Statements


 

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

29

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

32

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

33

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

34

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

35

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

36


28





Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


Board of Directors and Shareholders

General Cannabis Corp


Opinion on the consolidated financial statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of General Cannabis Corp (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).


In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established by COSO.


Substantial Doubt About the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern


The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s prior year 10-K filed on March 8, 2019, the Company’s cash balance of approximately $8.0 million is not sufficient to absorb the Company’s operating losses and retire their debt of $6,849,000 due May 1, 2019.  Accordingly, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.


Basis for Opinion


The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Assessment of Internal Control over Financial Reporting under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the entity’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the entity’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.


We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.


Our audit of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that responds to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.


29




Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


An entity’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. An entity’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the entity; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the entity are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the entity; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the entity’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.


Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.



/s/ Hall & Company


Irvine, California


March 8, 2019



We have served as the Company's auditor since 2014.




30




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

General Cannabis Corp.


Opinion on the Financial Statements


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of General Cannabis Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).  In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.


Explanatory Paragraph – Going Concern


The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 1 the Company has a significant working capital deficiency, has incurred significant losses and needs to raise additional funds to meet its obligations and sustain its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.


Basis for Opinion


These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.


We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.


Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.


/s/ Marcum LLP


Marcum LLP


We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.


Melville, NY

May 14, 2020


31




GENERAL CANNABIS CORP

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

122,390

$

7,604,562

Accounts receivable, net

 

85,204

 

116,622

Note receivable, net  current portion

 

375,000

 

50,000

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

546,970

 

421,579

Assets held for sale

 

375,218

 

649,775

Assets of discontinued operations

 

47,453

 

144,365

Total current assets

 

1,552,235

 

8,986,903

 

 

 

 

 

Note receivable, net

 

93,333

 

Property and equipment, net

 

1,507,327

 

1,439,067

Investment

 

250,000

 

250,000

Assets held for sale

 

15,584

 

66,255

Assets of discontinued operations

 

83,525

 

Total Assets

$

3,502,004

$

10,742,225

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

1,221,194

$

442,707

Interest payable

 

93,375

 

Customer deposits

 

562,803

 

308,111

Accrued stock payable

 

80,657

 

Notes payable (net of discount)

 

2,230,684

 

5,273,906

Related party note payable (net of discount)

 

99,667

 

Warrant derivative liability

 

1,599,436

 

Liabilities held for sale

 

149,249

 

159,944

Liabilities of discontinued operations

 

207,993

 

6,220

Total current liabilities

 

6,245,058

 

6,190,888

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018

 

 

Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 39,497,480 shares and 36,222,752 shares issued and outstanding on December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively

 

39,498

 

36,223

Additional paid-in capital

 

61,468,034

 

56,303,061

Accumulated deficit

 

(64,250,586)

 

(51,787,947)

Total Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

 

(2,743,054)

 

4,551,337

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

$

3,502,004

$

10,742,225


See Notes to consolidated financial statements.


32




GENERAL CANNABIS CORP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

Service

$

1,787,863

$

1,186,624

Rent and interest

 

95,437

 

18,749

Product sales

 

1,783,046

 

531,883

Total revenues

 

3,666,346

 

1,737,256

 

 

 

 

 

COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

Cost of service revenues

 

858,714

 

1,055,593

Cost of goods sold

 

1,608,386

 

400,097

Selling, general and administrative

 

4,379,800

 

3,411,724

Share-based expense

 

3,966,621

 

5,995,007

Professional fees

 

1,598,818

 

1,383,367

Depreciation and amortization

 

115,696

 

62,443

Total costs and expenses

 

12,528,035

 

12,308,231

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING LOSS

 

(8,861,689)

 

(10,570,975)

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Amortization of debt discount and equity issuance costs

 

2,019,726

 

4,234,823

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

377,300

 

Interest expense, net

 

345,371

 

323,557

Gain on warrant derivative liability

 

(816,986)

 

Loss from Desert Created investment

 

 

182,136

Impairment of Desert Created investment

 

 

823,819

Total other expense, net

 

1,925,411

 

5,564,335

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

$

(10,787,100)

$

(16,135,310)

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(1,675,539)

 

(838,448)

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS

$

(12,462,639)

$

(16,973,758)

Deemed dividend

 

(2,341,000)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

$

(14,803,639)

$

(16,973,758)

 

 

 

 

 

PER SHARE DATA  Basic and diluted

 

 

 

 

Net loss from continuing operations per share

$

(0.28)

$

(0.46)

Net loss from discontinued operations per share

$

(0.04)

$

(0.02)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders per share

$

(0.39)

$

(0.49)

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

38,106,781

 

34,938,978


See Notes to consolidated financial statements.


33




GENERAL CANNABIS CORP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(12,462,639)

$

(16,973,758)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

Amortization of debt discount and equity issuance costs

 

2,019,726

 

4,234,823

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

377,300

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

196,247

 

149,504

Amortization of loan origination fees

 

(13,333)

 

Bad debt expense

 

174,249

 

87,592

Impairment of assets

 

147,035

 

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

 

104,803

 

Impairment of Desert Created investment

 

 

823,819

Loss from Desert Created investment

 

 

182,136

Gain on warrant derivative liability

 

(816,986)

 

Share-based payments

 

3,966,621

 

5,995,007

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(101,766)

 

(56,954)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

(138,254)

 

231,746

Inventory

 

(23,772)

 

(88,494)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

1,242,108

 

(311,628)

Net cash used in operating activities:

 

(5,328,661)

 

(5,726,207)

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(318,639)

 

(241,311)

Lending on notes receivable

 

(705,000)

 

(650,000)

Proceeds on notes receivable

 

270,000

 

600,000

Investment in Flowhub SAFE

 

 

(250,000)

Investment in Desert Created

 

 

(50,000)

Proceeds on investment in Desert Created

 

 

23,045

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(753,639)

 

(568,266)

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants

 

2,604,355

 

Proceeds from the exercise of warrants

 

 

3,985,197

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

188,770

 

721,034

Proceeds from notes payable

 

1,455,000

 

7,500,000

Payments on notes payable

 

(5,898,000)

 

(1,621,250)

Payments on Infinity Note  related party

 

 

(1,370,126)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

(1,649,875)

 

9,214,855

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(7,732,175)

 

2,920,382

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

7,957,169

 

5,036,787

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

$

224,994

$

7,957,169

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

$

305,195

$

637,586

 

 

 

 

 

NON-CASH INVESTING & FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

Deemed dividend from warrant repricing

$

2,603,000

$

Operating lease right-of-use asset/Operating lease liability

 

154,200

 

12% Warrants recorded as a debt discount and loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

SBI Warrants recorded as a debt discount and loss on extinguishment of debt

 

28,800

 

15% Warrants recorded as a debt discount and additional paid-in capital

 

158,100

 

8.5% Note principal used to exercise 8.5% Warrants

 

 

651,000

8.5% Warrants recorded as debt discount and additional paid-in capital

 

 

5,366,000

Issuance of common stock for accrued stock payable

 

 

321,860

Issuance of common stock and warrants for investment in Desert Created

 

 

979,000


See Notes to consolidated financial statements.


34




GENERAL CANNABIS CORP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)


 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-in

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Total

January 1, 2018

 

27,692,910

$

27,693

$

38,292,493

$

(34,814,189)

$

3,505,997

Common stock issued upon exercise of
warrants for debt

 

7,546,286

 

7,547

 

4,795,510

 

 

4,803,057

Common stock issued upon exercise of
stock options

 

731,264

 

731

 

720,303

 

 

721,034

Common stock issued for MHPS acquisition

 

104,359

 

104

 

154,896

 

 

155,000

Common stock and warrants issued for
Desert Created acquisition

 

75,000

 

75

 

978,925

 

 

979,000

Common stock issued for services

 

72,933

 

73

 

234,928

 

 

235,001

Stock options granted to employees

 

 

 

3,626,271

 

 

3,626,271

Stock options under Feinsod Agreement

 

 

 

2,062,270

 

 

2,062,270

Warrants issued for services

 

 

 

71,465

 

 

71,465

Warrants issued with the 8.5% notes

 

 

 

5,366,000

 

 

5,366,000

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

(16,973,758)

 

(16,973,758)

December 31, 2018

 

36,222,752

 

36,223

 

56,303,061

 

(51,787,947)

 

4,551,337

Sale of common stock, net of issuance costs

 

3,000,000

 

3,000

 

503,614

 

 

506,614

Warrants issued with the 12% Notes

 

 

 

392,000

 

 

392,000

Warrants issued with the 15% Notes

 

 

 

158,100

 

 

158,100

Warrants issued with the SBI Note

 

 

 

28,800

 

 

28,800

Common stock issued for property and equipment

 

5,000

 

5

 

7,995

 

 

8,000

Common stock issued upon exercise of
stock options

 

269,728

 

270

 

188,500

 

 

188,770

Stock options granted to employees and consultants

 

 

 

3,885,964

 

 

3,885,964

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,462,639)

 

(12,462,639)

December 31, 2019

 

39,497,480

$

39,498

$

61,468,034

$

(64,250,586)

$

(2,743,054)


See Notes to consolidated financial statements.


35



GENERAL CANNABIS CORP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 1.   NATURE OF OPERATIONS, HISTORY AND PRESENTATION


Nature of Operations


General Cannabis Corp, a Colorado Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “GCC”) (formerly, Advanced Cannabis Solutions, Inc.), was incorporated on June 3, 2013, and provides services and products to the regulated cannabis industry.  On June 6, 2018 we began trading on the OTCQX® Best Market after upgrading from the OTCQB® Venture Market.  As of December 31, 2019, our operations are segregated into the following two segments:


Operations Consulting and Products (“Operations Segment”)


Through Next Big Crop (“NBC”), we deliver comprehensive consulting services to the cannabis industry that include obtaining licenses, compliance, cultivation, retail operations, logistical support, facility design and construction, and expansion of existing operations.  During 2019 and 2018, 59% and 60% of NBC’s revenue was with three customers and one customer, respectively.


NBC oversees our wholesale equipment and supply business, operated under the name “GC Supply,” which provides turnkey sourcing and stocking services to cultivation, retail and infused products manufacturing facilities. Our products include building materials, equipment, consumables and compliance packaging.  There are generally multiple suppliers for the products we sell; however, there are a limited number of manufacturers of certain high-tech cultivation equipment.


Capital Investments and Real Estate (“Investments Segment”)


As a publicly traded company, we have access to capital that may not be available to businesses operating in the cannabis industry.  Accordingly, we may provide debt or equity capital through (a) loans or revolving lines of credit, (b) leasing real estate we own, or (c) investing in businesses using cash or shares of our common stock.


Held for Sale - Security and Cash Transportation Services (“Security Segment”)


We provide advanced security, including on-site professionals and cash transport, to licensed cannabis cultivators, cannabis processing facilities and retail shops, under the business name Iron Protection Group (“IPG”) in California and Colorado, and security services to non-cannabis customers in Colorado, such as hotels, apartment buildings and retail. On December 26, 2019, the board of directors and management made the strategic decision to investigate a possible buyer for the security segment and if no buyer could be found, cease operations of the security segment. We transferred all our Colorado security contracts and employees to a company on January 16, 2020.  We will receive $1.00 per man hour worked on existing contracts for a period of one year.  On February 6, 2020 we cancelled all our security contracts in California.


Discontinued Operations - Consumer Goods and Marketing Consulting (“Consumer Goods Segment”)


Our apparel business, Chiefton, has two primary revenue streams.  Chiefton Supply strives to create innovative, unique t-shirts, hats, hoodies and accessories. Our apparel is sold through our on-line shop, cannabis retailers, non-cannabis retailers, and specialty t-shirt and gift shops.  Chiefton Design provides design, branding and marketing strategy consulting services to the cannabis industry, which frequently includes sourcing and selling customer-specific apparel and accessories.  On December 26, 2019, the board of directors and management made the strategic move to cease operations of Chiefton.  All operations of Chiefton were abandoned on December 31, 2019.


Our CBD retail business, STOA Wellness, opened in July of 2019.  STOA Wellness offers a curated collection of high quality CBD products for athletes and general wellness.  On December 26, 2019, the board of directors committed to a plan to cease operations of STOA Wellness.  We transferred all assets of STOA Wellness to an individual on January 10, 2020, in exchange for the release on the outstanding lease.


Basis of Presentation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of GCC and its ten wholly-owned subsidiary companies: (a) 6565 E. Evans Owner LLC, a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2014; (b) General Cannabis Capital Corporation, a Colorado corporation formed in 2015; (c) GC Security LLC (“GCS”), a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2015; (d) GC-NY Health, LLC, a New York limited liability company formed in 2019; (e) Standard


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Cann, Inc., a Colorado corporation formed in 2019; (f) Cannasseur, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2019; (g) Cannasseur Dispensary, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2019; (h) Cannasseur Cultivation, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2019; (i) Cannasseur Extraction, LLC, a limited liability company formed in 2019 and (j) GC Corp., a Colorado corporation, originally formed in 2013 under the name ACS Corp. In 2015, the name was changed to GC Corp. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.


The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Although these estimates are based on our knowledge of current events and actions we may undertake in the future, actual results may ultimately differ from these estimates and assumptions. Furthermore, when testing assets for impairment in future periods, if management uses different assumptions or if different conditions occur, impairment charges may result.


Going Concern


The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes we will be able to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. Our cash of approximately $225,000 as of December 31, 2019, is not sufficient to absorb our operating losses and retire our debt of approximately $2,330,000.  The warrants associated with this debt, if exercised, would provide sufficient funds to retire the debt; however, there is no guarantee that these warrants will be exercised. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our generating profitable operations in the future and / or obtaining the necessary financing to meet our obligations and repay our liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. Management believes that (a) we will be successful obtaining additional capital and (b) actions presently being taken to further implement our business plan and generate additional revenues provide opportunity for the Company to continue as a going concern. While we believe in the viability of our strategy to generate additional revenues and our ability to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances to that effect. Accordingly, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern.


Significant Accounting Policies


Cash and Cash Equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits with banks, and investments that are highly liquid and have maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.  We maintain our cash balances in financial institutions that, from time to time, may exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ($250,000 as of December 31, 2019).


Inventory


Our inventory consists of finished goods, including apparel and supplies for the cannabis market.  Inventory is stated at the lower of cost (net realizable value), using average cost to determine cost. We monitor inventory cost compared to selling price in order to determine if a write down to net realizable value is necessary.  In December 2019, we ceased all operations of Chiefton and determined we would be ceasing operations of STOA in January 2020.  As a result, we wrote down all of the remaining inventory to $0 as of December 31, 2019.  We recognized $147,035 in expense as a result of this write down of inventory and is included in loss on discontinued operations on the statement of operations.


Accounts Receivable. net


Accounts receivable are recorded at the original invoiced amount due from our customers less an allowance for any potential uncollectible amounts.  We control credit risk related to accounts receivable through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring processes.  In making the determination of the appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts, management considers prior experience with customers, analysis of accounts receivable aging reports, changes in customer payment patterns, and historical write-offs.  The allowance for doubtful accounts totaled $111,000 and $9,000 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  The amounts charged to operations and write-offs were immaterial for the periods presented.


Notes Receivable


Notes receivable consist primarily of amounts due to us related to the financing of different business ventures.  Direct loan origination costs we incur are netted with loan origination fees we receive and the net amount, loan origination fees or costs, is included in notes receivable on the consolidated balance sheets.  The loan origination fees or costs are amortized over the term of the underlying note receivable and included in interest income in the consolidated statements of operations. We report notes receivable at the


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principal balance outstanding less an allowance for losses.  We monitor the financial condition of the notes receivable and record provisions for estimated losses when we believe it is probable that the holders of the notes receivable will be unable to make their required payments.  We charge interest at a fixed rate and interest income is calculated by applying the effective rate to the outstanding principal balance.


Right-of-use Asset / Lease Liability


We adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)” on January 1, 2019, which requires all assets and liabilities arising from leases to be recognized in our consolidated balance sheets.  In July 2018, the FASB added an optional transition method which the Company elected upon adoption of the new standard. This allowed us to recognize and measure leases existing at January 1, 2019 without restating comparative information. In addition, the Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carry forward the historical lease classification.  We first evaluated our leases to determine whether they are classified as a finance lease or as an operating lease.  A lease is a finance lease if any of the following criteria are met: (a) ownership transfers, (b) the lease includes an option to purchase the underlying asset, (c) the lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset, (d) the present value of the lease payments equals or exceeds the fair value of the underlying asset, or (e) the underlying asset is of a specialized nature that is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.  All of our leases are classified as operating leases.  We then determined whether the short-term exemption applies; that is, is the lease term 12 months or less and does not include a purchase option whose exercise is reasonably certain.  If the short-term exemption applies then lease payments are recognized as expense and no asset or liability is recorded.  If the short-term exemption does not apply, then we recorded an operating lease right-of-use asset and a corresponding operating lease liability equal to the present value of the lease payments. All of our leases entered into prior to 2019 met the short-term exemption, so modification to prior period financial position was is not required. The two-year commercial real estate lease we entered into in February 2019 did not meet the short-term exemption and, accordingly, we recorded the present value of the lease payments of $83,525, as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability in the consolidated balance sheet. We recognize operating lease expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease.


Property and Equipment, net


Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Major additions and improvements are capitalized, while replacements, maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the life of the respective assets, are expensed as incurred.  Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets:  thirty years for buildings, the lesser of five years or the life of the lease for leasehold improvements, and three to five years for furniture, fixtures and equipment, software and vehicles.  Land is not depreciated.  When property or equipment is sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts with the resulting gain or loss reflected in operations.  


Business Combinations


Amounts paid for acquisitions are allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition.  The fair value of identifiable intangible assets is based on detailed valuations that use information and assumptions provided by management, including expected future cash flows. We allocate any excess purchase price over the fair value of the net assets and liabilities acquired to goodwill.  Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. Acquisition-related costs, including advisory, legal, accounting, valuation and other costs, are expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date.


Intangible Assets


Intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships and marketing-related intangibles. Our intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of two years and are fully amortized as of December 31, 2019.


Impairment of Long-lived Assets


We periodically evaluate whether the carrying value of property, equipment and intangible assets has been impaired when circumstances indicate the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable.  The carrying amount is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset.  If the carrying value is not recoverable, the impairment loss is measured as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value.


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Our impairment analyses require management to apply judgment in estimating future cash flows as well as asset fair values, including forecasting useful lives of the assets, assessing the probability of different outcomes, and selecting the discount rate that reflects the risk inherent in future cash flows. If the carrying value is not recoverable, we assess the fair value of long-lived assets using commonly accepted techniques, and may use more than one method, including, but not limited to, recent third-party comparable sales and undiscounted cash flow models.  If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, or our assumptions and estimates change due to new information, we may be exposed to an impairment charge in the future.


Investments


We use the equity method for investments when we are able to exercise significant influence over, but do not control, the investee, and are not the primary beneficiary of the investee’s activities.  We include our portion of an equity-method investee’s net income or loss within other expense on the consolidated statements of operations.  In the event that the cost basis in an investment exceeds the fair value of the underlying business, we record an impairment charge to reduce our carrying value to the estimated fair value.


We record investments that do not qualify for treatment under the equity method at fair value, unless there is no readily determinable fair value.  We record at cost equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair value and assess for impairment at each reporting period.  We are able to switch to fair value at our option.   


Debt


We issue debt that may have separate warrants, conversion features, or no equity-linked attributes.


Debt with warrants  When we issue debt with warrants, we treat the warrants as a debt discount, record as a contra-liability against the debt, and amortize the balance over the life of the underlying debt as amortization of debt discount expense in the consolidated statements of operations.  The offset to the contra-liability is recorded as additional paid in capital in our consolidated balance sheets.  If the debt is retired early, the associated debt discount is then recognized immediately as amortization of debt discount expense in the consolidated statement of operations.  The debt is treated as conventional debt.


We determine the value of the non-complex warrants using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model (“Black-Scholes”) using the stock price on the date of issuance, the risk-free interest rate associated with the life of the debt, and the volatility of our stock.  For warrants with complex terms, we use the binomial lattice model to estimate their fair value.


Modification of Debt - When we change the terms of existing notes payable, we evaluate the amendments under ASC 470-50, Debt Modification and Extinguishment to determine whether the change should be treated as a modification or as a debt extinguishment.  This evaluation includes analyzing whether there are significant and consequential changes to the economic substance of the note.  If the change is deemed insignificant then the change is considered a debt modification, whereas if the change is substantial the change is reflected as a debt extinguishment.


Fair Value of Financial Instruments


U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires disclosing the fair value of financial instruments to the extent practicable for financial instruments which are recognized or unrecognized in the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the financial instruments disclosed herein is not necessarily representative of the amount that could be realized or settled, nor does the fair value amount consider the tax consequences of realization or settlement.


In assessing the fair value of financial instruments, the Company uses a variety of methods and assumptions, which are based on estimates of market conditions and risks existing at the time. For certain instruments, including accounts receivable and accounts payable, the Company estimated that the carrying amount approximated fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments. All debt is based on current rates at which the Company could borrow funds with similar remaining maturities and approximates fair value.


GAAP establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use on unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs consist of items that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is described below:


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Level 1  Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  There are no fair valued assets or liabilities classified under Level 1 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.


Level 2  Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets but corroborated by market data.  There are no fair valued assets or liabilities classified under Level 2 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.


Level 3  Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available.  The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs (see Note 12).


Level 3 liabilities are valued using unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the liabilities. For fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s accounting and finance department, which reports to the Chief Financial Officer, determines its valuation policies and procedures. The development and determination of the unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements and fair value calculations are the responsibility of the Company’s accounting and finance department and are approved by the Chief Financial Officer.


Level 3 Valuation Techniques:


Level 3 financial liabilities consist of the derivative liabilities for which there is no current market for these securities such that the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation. Changes in fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are analyzed each period based on changes in estimates or assumptions and recorded as appropriate. The Company deems financial instruments which do not have fixed settlement provisions to be derivative instruments. In accordance with U.S. GAAP the fair value of these warrants is classified as a liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets because, according to the terms of the warrants, a fundamental transaction could give rise to an obligation of the Company to pay cash to its warrant holders. Such instruments do not have fixed settlement provisions and have also been recorded as derivative liabilities. Corresponding changes in the fair value of the derivative liabilities are recognized in earnings on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations in each subsequent period.


The Company’s derivative liabilities are carried at fair value and were classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy due to the use of significant unobservable inputs.


Extinguishment of Notes Payable


When we change the terms of existing notes payable subsequent to the maturity date, we evaluate the amendments under ASC 470-50, Debt Modification and Extinguishment to determine whether the change should be treated as a debt extinguishment or as a debt modification. This evaluation includes analyzing whether there are significant and consequential changes to the economic substance of the note. If the change is deemed insignificant then the change is considered a debt modification, whereas if the change is substantial the change is reflected as a debt extinguishment. If determined to be a debt extinguishment, the difference between the fair value of the new instrument compared to the original instrument is reflected as a gain or loss on extinguishment of debt.


Warrants Instruments


Warrants with derivative features  When we raise capital by issuing warrants that do not have complex terms, they are recorded as additional paid in capital in our consolidated balance sheet. When we issue warrants that have complex terms, such as a clause in which the warrant agreements contain a cash settlement provision whereby the holders could settle the warrants for cash upon a fundamental transaction that is considered outside of the control of management, such as a change of control, the warrants are considered to be a derivative that are recorded as a liability at fair value. The warrant derivative liability is adjusted to its fair value at the end of each reporting period, with the change being recorded as other expense or gain.


Revenue Recognition


We have two main revenue streams: (i) product sales; and (ii) licensing and consulting.


Product sales are recorded at the time that control of the products is transferred to customers. In evaluating the timing of the transfer of control of products to customers, we consider several indicators, including significant risks and rewards of products, our right to payment, and the legal title of the products. Based on the assessment of control indicators, sales are generally recognized when products are delivered to customers.


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Revenue from licensing and consulting services is recognized when our obligations to our client are fulfilled which is determined when milestones in the contract are achieved.


ASC Topic 606 is a comprehensive revenue recognition model that requires revenue to be recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to our customers at an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive. Application of ASC Topic 606 requires us to use more judgment and make more estimates than under former guidance. Application of ASC Topic 606 requires a five-step model applicable to all product offerings revenue streams as follows:


Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer


A contract with a customer exists when (i) we enter into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these goods or services, (ii) the contract has commercial substance and, (iii) we determine that collection of substantially all consideration for goods or services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration.


We apply judgment in determining the customer’s ability and intention to pay, which is based on a variety of factors including the customer’s historical payment experience or, in the case of a new customer, published credit or financial information pertaining to the customer.


Identification of the performance obligations in the contract


Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the goods or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from us, and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the goods or services is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract.


When a contract includes multiple promised goods or services, we apply judgment to determine whether the promised goods or services are capable of being distinct and are distinct within the context of the contract. If these criteria are not met, the promised goods or services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation.


Determination of the transaction price


The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which we will be entitled to receive in exchange for transferring goods or services to our customer. We estimate any variable consideration included in the transaction price using the expected value method that requires the use of significant estimates for discounts, cancellation periods, refunds and returns. Variable consideration is described in detail below.


Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract


If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative Stand-Alone Selling Price (“SSP,”) basis. We determine SSP based on the price at which the performance obligation would be sold separately. If the SSP is not observable, we estimate the SSP based on available information, including market conditions and any applicable internally approved pricing guidelines.


Recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation


We recognize revenue at the point in time that the related performance obligation is satisfied by transferring the promised goods or services to our customer.


Principal versus Agent Considerations


When another party is involved in providing goods or services to our customer, we apply the principal versus agent guidance in ASC Topic 606 to determine if we are the principal or an agent to the transaction. When we control the specified goods or services before they are transferred to our customer, we report revenue gross, as principal. If we do not control the goods or services before they are transferred to our customer, revenue is reported net of the fees paid to the other party, as agent. Our evaluation to determine if we control the goods or services within ASC Topic 606 includes the following indicators:


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We are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified good or service.


When we are primarily responsible for providing the goods and services, such as when the other party is acting on our behalf, we have indication that we are the principal to the transaction. We consider if we may terminate our relationship with the other party at any time without penalty or without permission from our customer.


We have risk before the specified good or service have been transferred to a customer or after transfer of control to the customer.


We may commit to obtaining the services of another party with or without an existing contract with our customer. In these situations, we have risk of loss as principal for any amount due to the other party regardless of the amount(s) we earn as revenue from our customer.


The entity has discretion in establishing the price for the specified good or service.


We have discretion in establishing the price our customer pays for the specified goods or services.


Contract Liabilities


Contract liabilities consist of customer advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized. We may receive payments from our customers in advance of completing our performance obligations. We record contract liabilities equal to the amount of payments received in excess of revenue recognized, including payments that are refundable if the customer cancels the contract according to the contract terms. Contract liabilities have been historically recorded as current liabilities on our consolidated financial statements when the time to fulfill the performance obligations under terms of our contracts is less than one year. We have no Long-term contract liabilities which would represent the amount of payments received in excess of revenue earned, including those that are refundable, when the time to fulfill the performance obligation is greater than one year.


Share-based Payments


Employee and non-employee awards – We account for share-based compensation in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, and ASC 505, Equity, which require all share-based payments to employees and non-employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized as an expense in the consolidated financial statements based on their fair values. The fair value of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing formula that requires assumptions for expected volatility, expected dividends, the risk-free interest rate and the expected term of the option. Stock options generally vest in one year. The Company accounts for forfeitures of share-based grants as they occur. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model or the anticipated number of shares to be awarded change significantly, share-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period.


Market price-based awards  We may issue share-based payments that vest when certain market conditions are met, such as our common stock trading above a certain value for a specific number of days.  We recognize expense for market price-based options at the estimated fair value of the options using the binomial lattice model over the estimated life of the options used in the model, or immediately upon the market conditions being met.  We use historical data to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected stock option life and expected forfeiture rate.  The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the stock option.


Shipping and Handling


Payments by customers to us for shipping and handling costs are included in revenue on the consolidated statements of operations, while our expense is included in cost of goods sold. Shipping and handling for inventory are included as a component of inventory on the consolidated balance sheets, and in cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations when the product is sold.


Income Taxes


We recognize deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the income tax and financial reporting carrying amount of our assets and liabilities. We monitor our deferred tax assets and evaluate the need for a valuation allowance based on the estimate of the amount of such deferred tax assets that we believe do not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria. We also evaluate whether we have any uncertain tax positions and would record a reserve if we believe it is more-likely-than-not our position would not prevail with the applicable tax authorities and would be recorded in income tax expense. Our assessment of tax positions as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, determined that there were no material uncertain tax positions.


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In general, the tax returns for the years ending December 31, 2016 through 2018 are open to examination by federal and state authorities.


Reportable Segments


Our reporting segments consist of:  a) Operations Consulting and Products; and b) Capital Investments and Real Estate.  Our Chief Executive Officer has been identified as the chief decision maker.  Our operations are conducted primarily within the United States of America.


Related Parties


Related parties are any entities or individuals that, through employment, ownership or other means, possess the ability to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Company. We disclose related party transactions that are outside of normal compensatory agreements, such as salaries or board of director fees.  We consider the following individuals/companies to be related parties:


·

Michael Feinsod  Chairman of our Board of Directors (“Board”).

·

Infinity Capital West, LLC (“Infinity Capital”)  An investment management company that was founded and is controlled by Michael Feinsod.

·

Peter Boockvar  Audit committee chairman.

·

Seth Oster – Board member

·

DB Arizona  A company that borrowed $825,000 from GC Finance Arizona.  Prior to our purchase in June 2017, we did not possess the ability to influence DB Arizona and DB Arizona did not have the ability to influence us.  We include DB Arizona as a related party due to our relationship with Michael Feinsod and Infinity Capital, and their relationship with DB Arizona.


Recently Issued Accounting Standards


FASB ASU 2019-12 – “Income Taxes (Topic 740)” – In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance which simplifies certain aspects of accounting for income taxes.  The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted.  We do not expect adoption of this ASU to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.


FASB ASU 2018-013  “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820)”-  In August 2018, the FASB issued new disclosure guidance on fair value measurement. This new guidance modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements, including removal and modifications of various current disclosures as well as some additional disclosure requirements for Level 3 fair value measurements. Some of these disclosure changes must be applied prospectively while others retrospectively depending on requirement. This guidance is required to be adopted by the Company beginning in fiscal year 2020, with early adoption permitted. We did not early adopt this guidance. The adoption of these changes is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements other than disclosures.


NOTE 2.   INVESTMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS


Flowhub SAFE


On November 7, 2018, we invested $250,000 in Flowhub Holdings, LLC (“Flowhub”) through a simple agreement for future equity (the “Flowhub SAFE”). The Flowhub SAFE provides us with the right to either (a) future equity in Flowhub when it completes an equity financing, or (b) future equity in Flowhub or cash proceeds if there is a liquidity event. If there is an equity financing, Flowhub would issue to us (a) a number of standard preferred units equal to our investment divided by the price per share of the standard preferred units if the pre-money valuation is less than or equal to the valuation cap ($35 million); or (b) a number of safe preferred units equal to the purchase amount divided by the valuation cap ($35 million), if the pre-money valuation is greater than the valuation cap. If there is a liquidity event, we will receive either (a) a cash payment equal to the purchase amount or (b) automatically receive a number of common units equal to the purchase amount divided by the liquidity price.  Our investment in the Flowhub SAFE is recorded on the cost method of accounting and included under investment on the consolidated balance sheet and is shown as long-term, as it is not readily convertible into cash.


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Desert Created Company LLC / DB Products Arizona, LLC


In January 2018, we entered into a limited liability company operating agreement with DNFC LLC (“DNFC”), pursuant to the formation of Desert Created Company LLC (“Desert Created”).  Each party owned a 50% interest in Desert Created, which took over the assets and operations of DB Products Arizona, LLC (“DB Arizona”).  Desert Created produces and distributes cannabis-infused edible products in Arizona.  In connection with the formation of Desert Created, we contributed 75,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase 75,000 shares of our common stock, at an exercise price of $2.00 per share, to members of DNFC (collectively, the “DNFC Sellers”). This pricing was agreed to in November 2017, however, the transaction did not close until January 2018. In the interim, our stock price increased substantially, which was the reason for the initial impairment noted below.  In October 2018, we sold our 50% interest to DNFC for cash consideration of $23,045 and, accordingly, impaired the remaining balance.


The 75,000 shares of our common stock were valued at $461,000, based on the closing price per share of our common stock on January 24, 2018, or $7.23 per share, reduced by a discount of 15% due to the restrictions on the DNFC Seller’s ability to immediately sell such shares.  The warrants were valued at $518,000, using the Black-Scholes model, assuming a life of 5.0 years, a risk-free interest rate of 1.2% and a volatility of 150%.  The fair value of Desert Created was estimated based on the relative fair value of the underlying assets and liabilities, consisting primarily of cash, accounts receivable, equipment and accounts payable.


The purchase price allocation was as follows:


Common Stock

$

461,000

Warrants

 

518,000

Initial investment in Desert Created

$

979,000

 

 

 

Fair value of Desert Created

$

347,000

Percentage ownership

 

50%

Fair value of 50% of Desert Created

 

173,500

Initial investment in Desert Created

 

979,000

Initial impairment

$

805,500


The income and losses related to Desert Created were recognized using the equity method of accounting. The value of the investment as of December 31, 2018, consists of the following and is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the balance sheet:


Initial investment in Desert Created

$

979,000

Initial impairment

 

(805,500)

Additional investment

 

50,000

Net loss

 

(182,136)

Additional impairment

 

(18,319)

Proceeds from sale of investment

 

(23,045)

December 31, 2018

$


NOTE 3.   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS


Security Segment


On December 26, 2019, the board of directors and management made the strategic decision to investigate a possible buyer for the security segment and if no buyer could be found, cease operations of the security segment. We transferred all our Colorado security contracts and employees to a company on January 16, 2020.  We will receive $1.00 per man hour worked on existing contracts for a period of one year.  On February 6, 2020 we cancelled all our security contracts in California.  The assets and liabilities classified as held for sale for the security segment are presented separately in the balance sheet and the operating results for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are presented as discontinued operations.


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Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale included the following:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Cash and cash equivalents

$

77,380

$

352,607

Accounts receivable, net

 

280,058

 

277,857

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

17,780

 

19,311

Current assets held for sale

$

375,218

$

649,775

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

$

15,584

$

24,008

Intangibles

 

 

42,247

Noncurrent assets held for sale

$

15,584

$

66,255

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

88,309

$

78,065

Customer deposits

 

60,940

 

81,879

Current liabilities held for sale

$

149,249

$

159,944


A breakdown of the discontinued operations is presented as follows:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Service revenues

$

2,118,732

$

2,602,365

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of service revenues

 

1,650,823

 

2,033,544

Cost of goods sold

 

 

4,373

Selling, general and administrative

 

877,795

 

795,381

Professional fees

 

4,219

 

104,730

Depreciation and amortization

 

51,654

 

87,061

Total costs and expenses

 

2,584,491

 

3,025,089

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING LOSS

 

(465,759)

 

(422,724)

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

3,422

 

2,421

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

$

(469,181)

$

(425,145)


The cash flows related to discontinued operations have not been segregated, and are included in the consolidated statements of cash flows.  The following table provides selected information on cash flows related to discontinued operations for 2019 and 2018.


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Receivables

 

(2,201)

 

(86,373)

Prepaids and other

 

10,951

 

(7,715)

Depreciation and amortization

 

51,654

 

87,061

Capital expenditures

 

(2,556)

 

(11,139)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

10,244

 

2,479

Customer deposits

 

(20,939)

 

60,878


Consumer Goods Segment


On December 26, 2019, the board of directors and management made the strategic move to cease operations of Chiefton.  On December 26, 2019, the board of directors committed to a plan to cease operations of STOA Wellness.  We transferred all assets of STOA Wellness to an individual on January 10, 2020, in exchange for the release on the outstanding lease.  The assets and liabilities classified as discontinued operations for the consumer goods segment are presented separately in the balance sheet and the operating results for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are presented as discontinued operations.


45



Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations included the following:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Cash and cash equivalents

$

25,223

$

Accounts receivable, net

 

7,836

 

21,102

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

14,394

 

Inventory

 

 

123,263

Current assets discontinued operations

$

47,453

$

144,365

 

 

 

 

 

Right to use asset

$

83,525

$

Noncurrent assets discontinued
operations

$

83,525

$

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

124,468

$

4,920

Customer deposits

 

 

1,300

Operating lease liability – current portion

 

83,525

 

Current liabilities discontinued
operations

$

207,993

$

6,220


A breakdown of the discontinued operations is presented as follows:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Service

$

$

145,079

Product

 

222,220

 

134,012

Total Revenues

 

222,220

 

279,091

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of service revenues

 

 

59,227

Cost of goods sold

 

223,354

 

186,120

Selling, general and administrative

 

833,742

 

410,529

Professional fees

 

110,064

 

36,518

Depreciation and amortization

 

28,897

 

Impairment of assets

 

232,521

 

Total costs and expenses

 

1,428,578

 

692,394

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING LOSS

 

(1,206,358)

 

(413,303)

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

$

(1,206,358)

$

(413,303)


The cash flows related to discontinued operations have not been segregated, and are included in the consolidated statements of cash flows.  The following table provides selected information on cash flows related to discontinued operations for 2019 and 2018.


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Receivables

 

13,266

 

1,962

Prepaids and other

 

(14,394)

 

Inventory

 

 

(88,494)

Depreciation and amortization

 

28,897

 

Capital expenditures

 

(114,384)

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

119,548

 

4,920

Customer deposits

 

(1,300)

 

1,300

Loss on disposal of segment

 

232,521

 


46



NOTE 4.   ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND CUSTOMER DEPOSITS


Our accounts receivable consisted of the following:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Accounts receivable

$

196,204

$

125,622

Less:  Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(111,000)

 

(9,000)

 Total

$

85,204

$

116,622


We record bad debt expense when we conclude the credit risk of a customer indicates the amount due under the contract is not collectible.  We recorded bad debt expense of $103,182 and $15,864, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.


As of December 31, 2019, and 2018, prepaid expenses and other current assets includes $0 and $18,164 of unbilled revenue, respectively, representing amounts for services completed but not billed.


Our customer deposit liability had the following activity:


 

 

Amount

December 31, 2018

$

308,111

 Additional deposits received

 

2,252,416

 Less:  Deposits recognized as revenue

 

(1,997,724)

December 31, 2019

$

562,803


NOTE 5.   NOTES RECEIVABLE


Our notes receivable consisted of the following:


 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2018

CCR Note

$

375,000

$

BB Note

 

100,000

 

BRB Realty

 

 

50,000

 Total principal

 

475,000

 

50,000

Unamortized loan origination fee

 

(6,667)

 

 

 

468,333

 

50,000

Less: Current portion

 

(375,000)

 

(50,000)

Long-term portion

$

93,333

$


In March 2019, we agreed to loan $375,000 to Consolidated C.R., LLC (“CCR”) pursuant to the terms of a convertible promissory note (“CCR Note”), bearing interest at 12% per annum, collateralized by virtually all of the assets of CCR and a maturity date of September 2020.  Interest is due on the first of every month starting in November 2019.  CCR is a vertically integrated medical cannabis company located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  As of December 31, 2019, we had loaned $375,000, of which $155,000 was loaned in the first quarter, to CCR under the CCR Note.  The CCR Note included a loan origination fee of $15,000, which is being recognized as interest income over the term of the agreement.


On January 3, 2019, we loaned $100,000 to Beacher Brewing, LLC (“BB”) pursuant to the terms of a promissory note (“BB Note”), bearing interest at 11% per annum and a maturity date of January 3, 2020.  Interest is due in advance at the beginning of each quarter.  On December 13, 2019, we agreed to extend the maturity date to January 3, 2021.  


On December 13, 2018, we loaned $50,000 to BRB Realty, LLC (“BRB”) pursuant to the terms of a promissory note (“BRB Note”), bearing interest at 13% per annum and a maturity date of June 12, 2019.  On January 19, 2019 the BRB Note was amended with an additional loan amount of $250,000 bearing an interest rate of 13% and a new maturity date of July 15, 2019.  On July 15, 2019, BRB Realty extended the maturity date, in accordance with the terms of the BRB Note, an additional six months with an increased interest rate to 15%. Interest is due at the beginning of each month.  In December 2019, we agreed to forgive $30,000 of the note receivable in exchange for early payment.  The note was paid off on December 3, 2019 and the $30,000 was recorded as bad debt expense and is included in sales, general and administrative on the consolidated statement of operations.  The BRB Note included a loan origination fee of $5,000, which is being recognized as interest income over the term of the agreement.


47



NOTE 6.   PREPAIDS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS


Our Prepaids and other current assets consist of the following:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Prepaid insurance

$

74,026

$

81,667

Prepaid product for resale

 

292,306

 

173,852

Other

 

180,638

 

166,060

 

$

546,970

$

421,579


NOTE 7.   PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET


Property and equipment consisted of the following:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Land

$

800,000

$

800,000

Buildings

 

508,104

 

508,104

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

 

331,467

 

274,380

Software

 

120,111

 

 

 

1,759,682

 

1,582,484

Less:  Accumulated depreciation

 

(252,355)

 

(143,417)

 

$

1,507,327

$

1,439,067


Depreciation expense was $115,696 and $62,443, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.


NOTE 8.   ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES


Our accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Accounts payable

$

879,347

$

125,151

Accrued payroll, taxes and vacation

 

305,259

 

232,313

Property taxes and other

 

36,588

 

85,243

 

$

1,221,194

$

442,707


NOTE 9.   ACCRUED STOCK PAYABLE


The following tables summarize the changes in accrued common stock payable:


 

 

Amount

 

Number of
Shares

December 31, 2018

$

 

Employee stock award  accrual

 

80,657

 

34,469

December 31, 2019

$

80,657

 

34,469


On January 29, 2019, we granted an employee $100,000 worth of our common stock, with fifty percent vesting on July 29, 2019 and the remaining amount vesting over eighteen months.  Based on a stock price of $2.34 on the date of grant, the employee would receive 42,736 shares of our common stock upon vesting.  We are recognizing the value of the grant ratably over the vesting periods.  As of December 31, 2019, no stock had been issued to the employee and as a result we are recognizing the stock liability.


48



NOTE 10.   NOTES PAYABLE


Our notes payable consisted of the following:


 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

2019 12% Notes

$

1,506,000

$

8.5% Notes

 

 

6,849,000

SBI Note

 

750,000

 

2019 15% Notes

 

200,000

 

Related party note payable

 

100,000

 

Unamortized debt discount

 

 (225,649)

 

(1,575,094)

 

 

2,330,351

 

5,273,906

Less: Current portion

 

(2,330,351)

 

(5,273,906)

Long-term portion

$

$


2019 12% Notes


In September 2019, we completed a private placement with certain accredited investors pursuant to (a) a senior unsecured promissory note, bearing interest at 12% payable quarterly, with principal due October 31, 2020, with an option for us to extend the due date to October 31, 2021 (“2019 12% Notes”) and (b) warrants with an exercise price of $1.30 per share and a life of 1.1 years; however, if we prepay at any time the life extends to October 31, 2022 (“2019 12% Warrants”) (combined the “2019 12% Agreements”).  We may prepay the 2019 12% Notes at any time, but in any event must pay at least one year of interest.


We issued an aggregate of $1,506,000 under the 2019 12% Notes and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,506,000 shares of common stock.  We received $400,000 in cash and $1,106,000 from modifying the outstanding principal under the 8.5% Notes; see 8.5% Notes below. The change in terms of the 8.5% Notes is treated as a debt extinguishment and the fair value of the warrants of $298,500 is included in our consolidated statement of operations and as additional paid-in capital.


The relative fair value of the 2019 12% Warrants was recorded as a debt discount and additional paid-in capital of $93,500.  For the year ended December 31, 2019, amortization of debt discount includes $23,432. The 2019 12% Notes are otherwise treated as conventional debt.


For purposes of determining the loss on extinguishment of debt and the debt discount, the underlying assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model to determine the fair value of the 2019 12% Warrants were:


Current stock price

$ 0.82 - 0.92

Exercise price

$ 1.30

Risk-free interest rate

1.63 - 1.68 %

Expected dividend yield

Expected term (in years)

1.10

Expected volatility

124 %


8.5% Notes


In April 2018, we completed a $7,500,000 private placement pursuant to a promissory note (“8.5% Notes”) and warrant purchase agreement (the “8.5% Agreement”) with certain accredited investors, bearing interest at 8.5%, with principal due May 1, 2019, and interest payable quarterly.  During the second quarter this note was extended to be due June 1, 2019.  On June 6, 2019, we made payments of approximately $5.7 million, leaving approximately $1.1 million outstanding.    In the event of default, the interest rate increases to 18%.  The 8.5% Notes are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of our assets.  We may prepay the 8.5% Notes at any time, but in any event must pay at least one year of interest.  In September 2019, we modified the debt agreement into the 2019 12% Notes.


Subject to the terms and conditions of the 8.5% Agreement, each investor was granted fully-vested warrants equal to their note principal times 80%, or six million warrants, with an exercise price of $2.35 per share and a life of two years (the “8.5% Warrants”).  Should we issue any equity-based instruments at a price lower than the exercise price(s) of the 8.5% Warrants, other than under our Incentive Plan (as defined below), the exercise price(s) of the 8.5% Warrants will be adjusted to the lower price.  If the shares underlying the 8.5% Warrants were not registered for resale on a registration statement within six months, we would have issued an additional warrant to each purchaser at the same exercise price for one-half of the shares covered by the initial 8.5% Warrants. A registration statement related to the 8.5% Warrants was declared effective on June 5,


49



2018.  We may call the 8.5% Warrants at $0.01 per share if our stock trades above $8.00 per share for 15 consecutive days. The 8.5% Warrants may be exercised at the option of the holder by paying cash or by applying the amount due under the 8.5% Notes as consideration.  


We received $7,500,000 of cash for issuing the 8.5% Notes.  The relative fair value of the 8.5% Warrants was recorded as a debt discount and additional paid-in capital of $5,366,000.  For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, amortization of debt discount expense was $1,575,094 and $3,790,906, respectively, from the 8.5% Notes.  The 8.5% Notes are otherwise treated as conventional debt.


For purposes of determining the debt discount, the underlying assumptions used in the binomial lattice model to determine the fair value of the 8.5% Warrants as of April 2018, were:


Current stock price

$ 4.18

Exercise price

$ 2.35

Risk-free interest rate

2.46 %

Expected dividend yield

Expected term (in years)

2.0

Expected volatility

134 %

Number of iterations

5


SBI Debt


In July 2019, we completed a $855,000 private placement pursuant to a promissory note (“SBI Note”) with a certain accredited investor, bearing interest at 10% with principal due on October 18, 2019.  On October 18, 2019, SBI agreed to an extension to November 1, 2019. On November 1, 2019, SBI agreed to another extension of the debt to November 15, 2019.  On November 15, 2019, SBI agreed to another extension of debt to November 29, 2019 with an increase in principal amount of the note from $855,000 to $905,000.  On November 27, 2019, SBI agreed to an extension of the note to December 13, 2019.  On December 13, 2019, SBI agreed to extend the maturity date to December 20, 2019.  On December 30, 2019 SBI agreed to extend the maturity date of the note to January 31, 2020, upon the payment of $195,911, of which $40,911 was for accrued interest and $155,000 towards the outstanding principal of the note.  See Note 16 for further detail.  The change in terms of the SBI note is treated as a debt extinguishment.  The additional $50,000 of principal was treated as a debt extinguishment and included in our consolidated statement of operations.


We received $755,000 of cash for issuing the SBI Note and the difference between the cash received and the principal amount was recorded as a debt discount of $100,000 and has been fully amortized.   


15% Notes


In December 2019, we sold $300,000 promissory notes (“15% Notes”) and warrants to certain accredited investors.  The promissory notes, bear interest at 15%, with principal due January 31, 2021, and interest payable quarterly.  We may prepay the 15% Notes at any time, but in any event must pay at least six months of interest.  Included in these notes is an amount of $100,000 from a board member, a related party.  


The warrants granted to the investors are fully-vested and the number of shares underlying the warrants three time the principal amount of the Notes or nine hundred thousand warrants, with an exercise price of $0.45 per share (the “15% Warrants”).  The 15% Warrants were issued in three tranches, A, B, and C.  All the warrants have the same terms except the expiration dates.  Warrant A has an expiration date of December 31, 2020, Warrant B has an expiration date of December 31, 2021 and Warrant C has an expiration date of December 31, 2022.  


We received $300,000 of cash for issuing the 15% Notes.  The relative fair value of the 15% Warrants was recorded as a debt discount and additional paid-in capital of $158,100.  For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, amortization of debt discount expense was $2,519 and $0, respectively, from the 15% Notes.  The 15% Notes are otherwise treated as conventional debt.


50



For purposes of determining the debt discount, the underlying assumptions used in the binomial lattice model to determine the fair value of the 15% Warrants as of December 2019, were:


Current stock price

$ 0.54 - 0.67

Exercise price

$ 0.45

Risk-free interest rate

1.60 - 1.62 %

Expected dividend yield

Expected term (in years)

1.01  3.06

Expected volatility

118 - 119 %


NOTE 11.   WARRANT DERIVATIVE LIABILITY


On May 31, 2019 we received gross proceeds of $3 million by issuing three million shares of our common stock and three million warrants (“2019 Warrants”) to purchase shares of our common stock (together “2019 Units”) in a registered direct offering for $1.00 per 2019 Unit (combined the “2019 Capital Raise”).  The 2019 Warrants, issued with the 2019 Capital Raise, are accounted for as a derivative liability.  The 2019 Warrant agreements contain a cash settlement provision whereby the holders could settle the warrants for cash based on the Black-Scholes value, upon certain fundamental transactions, as defined in the 2019 Warrant agreement, that are considered outside of the control of management, such as a change of control.


The following are the key assumptions that were used to determine the fair value of the 2019 Warrants:


 

 

May 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2019

Number of shares underlying the warrants

 

3,000,000

 

3,000,000

Fair market value of stock

$

0.95

$

0.63

Exercise price

$

1.30

$

0.45

Volatility

 

133%

 

124%

Risk-free interest rate

 

1.93%

 

1.69%

Warrant life (years)

 

5.00

 

4.41


The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the fair value of the warrant derivative liability, our Level 3 financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2019

Beginning balance

$

$

Recognition of warrant derivative liability on May 31, 2019

 

2,416,422

 

Change in fair value of warrants derivative liability

 

(816,986)

 

Ending balance

$

1,599,436

$


NOTE 12.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


Legal


From time to time, the Company is a party to various litigation matters incidental to the conduct of its business.  The Company is not presently a party to any legal proceedings that would have a material adverse effect on its business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows.


NOTE 13.   DEFERRED TAXES


The income tax was $0 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.


Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are shown below. A valuation allowance has been established as realization of such deferred tax assets has not met the more likely-than-not threshold requirement. The increase in the valuation allowance in 2019 represents the increase in deferred tax assets that the Company has determined is not more likely than not of being recovered. If the Company's judgment changes and it is determined that the Company will be able to realize these deferred tax assets, the tax benefits relating to any reversal of the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets will be accounted for as a reduction to income tax expense.


51



The components of net deferred tax assets are as follows:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Net operating loss carryforwards

$

7,116,767

$

5,383,012

Equity-based instruments

 

5,810,660

 

5,004,624

Long-lived assets and other

 

491,730

 

555,138

Capital loss carryforward

 

120,318

 

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance

 

(13,539,475)

 

(10,942,774)

 

$

$


A reconciliation of our income tax provision and the amounts computed by applying statutory rates to income before income taxes is as follows:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Income tax benefit at statutory rate

$

(2,617,154)

$

(3,564,489)

State income tax benefit, net of Federal benefit

 

(455,846)

 

(620,849)

Equity-based instruments

 

146,446

 

(326,242)

Fair market value adjustment/loss on extinguishment  derivative liabilities

 

(108,416)

 

Amortization of debt discount

 

498,018

 

1,044,210

Other

 

(59,749)

 

47,895

Valuation allowance

 

2,596,701

 

3,419,475

 

$

$


As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $29 million and $22 million, respectively.  Of the current net operating loss carryforwards, $14 million expire starting in 2033 through 2037 and $15 million do not expire.


Pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code Sections 382 and 383, use of the Company's U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards may be limited in the event of a cumulative change in ownership of more than 50% within a three-year period. 


NOTE 14.   STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY


2019 Capital Raise


On May 31, 2019 we received gross proceeds of $3 million by issuing three million shares of our common stock and three million warrants (“2019 Warrants”) to purchase shares of our common stock (together “2019 Units”) in a registered direct offering for $1.00 per 2019 Unit (combined the “2019 Capital Raise”). The 2019 Warrants have an exercise price of $1.30 per share and are exercisable for five years from the date of issuance. We received cash of $2,604,355 which is net of $395,645 of issuance costs, of which $318,681 is included as amortization of debt discount and equity issuance costs and $76,964 is included as a reduction of additional paid in capital. Of the gross proceeds, we recorded $2,416,422 as a warrant derivative liability, as discussed in Note 11. We used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2019 Units to pay down the 8.5% Notes by $5,743,000, leaving $1,106,000 outstanding.


Share-based compensation


Share-based compensation expense consisted of the following:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Employee Awards

$

3,040,497

$

3,626,271

Consulting Awards

 

85,683

 

306,466

Feinsod Agreement

 

840,441

 

2,062,270

 

$

3,966,621

$

5,995,007


52



Employee Stock Options


On October 29, 2014, the Board authorized the adoption of and, on June 26, 2015, our stockholders ratified, our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan for the issuance of 10 million shares of our common stock and, in April 2018, stockholders approved an increase of 5 million shares of common stock that may be granted (the “Incentive Plan”).  The Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of up to 15 million shares of our common stock and is designed to provide an additional incentive to executives, employees, directors and key consultants, aligning our long term interests with participants.  A Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the initial 10 million shares automatically became effective in May 2016, and a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the additional 5 million shares and 900,000 shares under the Feinsod Agreement automatically became effective in June 2018 (collectively, the “Registration Statements”).  The Registration Statements relate to 15,000,000 shares of our common stock, which are issuable pursuant to or, upon exercise of, options that have been granted or may be granted under our Incentive Plan.  As of December 31, 2019, there were 986,442 shares available to issue under the Incentive Plan.


Share-based compensation costs for award grants to employees and directors (“Employee Awards”) are recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period for the entire award, with the amount of compensation cost recognized at any date equaling at least the portion of the award that is vested.  The following summarizes the Black-Scholes assumptions used to value the Employee Awards granted:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Exercise price

 

$0.55  2.37

 

$ 1.71  7.17

Stock price on date of grant

 

$0.55  2.37

 

$ 1.71  7.17

Volatility

 

 119 - 130%

 

131  140 %

Risk-free interest rate

 

 1.43  2.60%

 

2.1  2.9 %

Expected life (years)

 

3.0

 

3.0

Dividend yield

 

 


The following summarizes Employee Awards activity:


 

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted-average Exercise Price per Share

 

Weighted-average Remaining Contractual Term
(in years)

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

 

9,173,380

 

1.68

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

5,927,390

 

0.98

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(269,728)

 

0.70

 

 

 

 

Forfeited or expired

 

(3,947,262)

 

1.80

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

 

10,883,780

 

1.28

 

5.4

$

61,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at December 31, 2019

 

7,331,365

$

1.51

 

5.8

$

8,000


As of December 31, 2019, there was approximately $838,267 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested Employee Awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of twelve and a half months.


Consulting Services


As needed, we may issue warrants and options to third parties in exchange for consulting services.  Stock-based compensation costs for award grants to third parties for consulting services (“Consulting Awards”) are recognized on a straight-line basis over the contractual term.


53



The fair value of each warrant grant is estimated using Black-Scholes. We use historical data to estimate the expected price volatility. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of valuation for the estimated life of the option. The following summarizes the Black-Scholes assumptions to value the Consulting Awards granted:


 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Exercise price

 

$0.71  2.37

 

$ 3.08

Stock price, date of valuation

 

$0.71  2.37

 

$ 3.08

Volatility

 

 125 - 141%

 

134 %

Risk-free interest rate

 

 1.64  2.62%

 

2.3 %

Expected life (years)

 

2.0  5.0

 

2.0

Dividend yield

 

 


The following summarizes Consulting Awards activity:


 

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted-average Exercise Price per Share

 

Weighted-average Remaining Contractual Term
(in years)

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

 

50,000

 

2.53

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

85,000

 

1.31

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited or expired

 

(10,000)

 

1.40

 

 

 

 

Outstanding and exercisable at
December 31, 2019

 

125,000

 

1.79

 

1.1

$

0.00


We granted 25,000 shares of common stock with a fair value of $92,500 to a non-employee for consulting services, which were issued in July 2018.  Additionally, we granted 47,933 shares of common stock with a fair value of $142,500 to non-employees for consulting services, which were issued in October 2018.  During 2019, we granted 85,000 options with a fair value of $93,614 to non-employees for consulting services.


Feinsod Employment Agreement


On December 8, 2017, we entered into an agreement (the “Feinsod Agreement”) with Michael Feinsod for his continued service as our Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Feinsod received (a) 600,000 stock options that vest on the anniversary date of the agreement for the next three years, or 200,000 per year (“Time-based Options”); and (b) three tranches of 100,000 stock options that vest when our stock price has an average trading price for 20 days of $3.50, $5.00 and $6.50 (“Market-based Options”). The options have an exercise price of $3.45 per share and a ten-year life. These options were not issued under the Incentive Plan; however, the underlying shares were included in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 that automatically became effective in June 2018. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the $3.50 and $5.00 Market-based Options vested and, accordingly, the expense associated with those options was recognized immediately.


On August 6, 2019, we entered into an agreement (the “Feinsod Agreement”) with Michael Feinsod for his permanent service as our Chief Executive Officer.  Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Feinsod received 1,000,000 stock options that vest when our stock price has a trading price of equal to or above $4.51 per share for five consecutive days. The options have an exercise price of $0.83 per share and a ten-year life. These options were issued under the Incentive Plan.  The options were valued using the Monte Carlo method.  For the year ended December 31, 2019, we recognized approximately $116,000 of share-based compensation expense related to these options.  


54



The underlying assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulations to determine the fair value of options were:


 

August 6, 2019

Current stock price

$  0.83

Exercise price

$  0.83

Vesting goal

$  4.51

Risk-free interest rate

1.73 %

Expected term (in years)

10

Expected volatility

123%


DB Option Agreement warrants


In order to extend the DB Option Agreement with Infinity Capital, in March 2016 we granted Infinity Capital warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.67 per share with a five year life.  All 100,000 warrants were still outstanding as of December 31, 2019.


IPG Acquisition Warrants


In connection with the IPG acquisition in 2015, we issued to IPG 500,000 fully-vested warrants to purchase a) 250,000 shares of our common stock at $4.50 per share, (the “IPG $4.50 Warrants”), and b) 250,000 shares of our common stock at $5.00 per share (the “IPG $5.00 Warrants”) (collectively, the “IPG Warrants”). All of these warrants expired unexercised during the quarter ended March 31, 2018.


Warrants with Debt


The following summarizes warrants issued with debt activity:


 

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted-average Exercise Price per Share

 

Weighted-average Remaining Contractual Term
(in years)

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

 

3,351,700

$

0.65

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

6,000,000

 

2.35

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(3,316,786)

 

0.77

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(42,700)

 

5.00

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

 

5,992,214

 

2.26

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

2,481,000

 

0.98

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding and exercisable at
December 31, 2019

 

8,473,214

 

1.00

 

0.5

$

162,990


On May 31, 2019, we issued the 2019 Units at $1.00, which triggered the “down round” feature specified in the 8.5% Warrants.  We calculated the difference between the 8.5% Warrants’ fair value on the date the down round feature was triggered using the original exercise price and the new exercise price.  On October 18, 2019, November 1, 2019 and again on December 11, 2019, we issued additional warrants at $1.00, $0.68 and $0.45, respectively.  These triggered the “down round” feature on both the 8.5% warrants and the 2019 Units.  The difference in fair value of the effect of the down round feature is reflected in our consolidated financial statements as a deemed dividend and as a reduction to income available to common stockholders in the basic earnings per share calculation.  


55



The underlying assumptions used in the binomial lattice model to determine the fair value of the 8.5% Warrants were:


 

Pre-Trigger

 

Post-Trigger

Current stock price

$  0.95

 

$  0.95

Exercise price

$  2.35

 

$  1.00

Risk-free interest rate

2.21 %

 

2.21 %

Expected dividend yield

 

Expected term (in years)

0.89

 

0.89

Expected volatility

123%

 

123%


 

Pre-Trigger

 

Post-Trigger

Current stock price

$  0.70

 

$  0.70

Exercise price

$  1.00

 

$  0.68

Risk-free interest rate

1.55 %

 

1.55 %

Expected dividend yield

 

Expected term (in years)

0.47

 

0.47

Expected volatility

114%

 

114%


 

Pre-Trigger

 

Post-Trigger

Current stock price

$  0.67

 

$  0.67

Exercise price

$  0.68

 

$  0.45

Risk-free interest rate

1.61 %

 

1.61 %

Expected dividend yield

 

Expected term (in years)

0.36

 

0.36

Expected volatility

113%

 

113%


The underlying assumptions used in the binomial lattice model to determine the fair value of the 2019 Warrants were:


 

Pre-Trigger

 

Post-Trigger

Current stock price

$  0.63

 

$  0.63

Exercise price

$  1.30

 

$  1.00

Risk-free interest rate

1.56 %

 

1.56 %

Expected dividend yield

 

Expected term (in years)

4.62

 

4.62

Expected volatility

115%

 

115%


 

Pre-Trigger

 

Post-Trigger

Current stock price

$  0.70

 

$  0.70

Exercise price

$  1.00

 

$  0.68

Risk-free interest rate

1.55 %

 

1.55 %

Expected dividend yield

 

Expected term (in years)

4.58

 

4.58

Expected volatility

114%

 

114%


 

Pre-Trigger

 

Post-Trigger

Current stock price

$  0.67

 

$  0.67

Exercise price

$  0.68

 

$  0.45

Risk-free interest rate

1.61 %

 

1.61 %

Expected dividend yield

 

Expected term (in years)

4.47

 

4.47

Expected volatility

113%

 

113%


Fall 2017 Capital Raise


During the year ended December 31, 2017, in a private placement we raised $4 million of equity by issuing four million shares of our common stock and four million warrants (“Fall 2017 Warrants”) to purchase shares of our common stock (together “Units”) for $1.00 per Unit.  The Fall 2017 Warrants had an exercise price of $0.50 per share and were exercisable for two years.  If our common stock closed above $5.00 for ten consecutive days, we could call the warrants, giving the warrant holders 10 days to exercise.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, we called the warrants and all were exercised.  In consideration for the sale of the Units, we received $3,750,000 in cash and extinguished $250,000 of 12% Notes.


56



NOTE 15.   NET LOSS PER SHARE


Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period.  Diluted net loss per share is computed similarly to basic loss per share, except that it includes the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities are exercised.


Outstanding stock options and common stock warrants are considered anti-dilutive because we are in a net loss position.  Accordingly, the number of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and fully diluted net loss per share are the same.


The following summarizes equity instruments that may, in the future, have a dilutive effect on earnings per share:


 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

Stock options

 

12,833,780

 

10,073,380

Warrants

 

11,773,214

 

6,217,214

Accrued stock payable

 

42,736

 

 

 

24,649,730

 

16,290,594


NOTE 16.   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS


Beginning in early 2020, there has been an outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), initially in China and which has spread to other jurisdictions, including locations where we do business. The full extent of the outbreak, related business and travel restrictions and changes to behavior intended to reduce its spread are uncertain as of the date of the Report as this continues to evolve globally. Therefore, the full extent to which coronavirus may impact our results of operations, liquidity or financial position is uncertain.  Management continues to monitor the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the Company and the economies in which we operate.  We anticipate that our liquidity may be materially impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.


On January 8, 2020 we entered a $975,000 deed of trust (the “Mortgage Loan”) secured by a first mortgage lien on the property located in Denver, Colorado.  The Mortgage Loan matures on December 31, 2020 and accrues interest at a rate of equal to the greater of 5.25% in excess of the Prime Rate or 10% per annum, payable on a monthly basis.  This loan was paid in full on March 20, 2020 with the sale of our building.   


On January 24, 2020, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Dalton Adventures, LLC (the “Seller”), pursuant to which we agreed to acquire the assets of the Seller and which constitutes the business of SevenFive Farm, a cultivation facility in Boulder, Colorado.  The purchase price to be paid for the assets is equal to 1.4 times the Seller’s gross revenue for the 12-month period prior to the closing; provided that the purchase price will not be lower than $3,000,000.  The purchase price will be paid by issuing to the Seller shares of common stock of the Company equal to the purchase price divided by the volume weighted average per share price of our shares for 30 consecutive trading days ending on the second trading day prior to the closing (the “VWAP”); provided that if the VWAP exceeds $0.85 per share, then the VWAP will equal $0.85 per share for purposes of the forgoing calculation.  The Seller may require us to repurchase in cash 25% of the shares issued to the Seller at the closing at a repurchase price equal to the same VWAP used to determine the number of shares issued to the Seller at closing.  The closing is subject to approval of the transaction by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, which was received on May 13, 2020, as well as other customary closing conditions.


On February 18, 2020, we entered into a promissory note exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which the original SBI Note was exchanged for a new convertible promissory note (the “Convertible Note”).  The Convertible Note has a principal amount of $934,000, an interest rate of 10% per annum and a maturity date of February 18, 2021.  The Convertible Note may be converted at the option of SBI into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price equal to 80% of the Market Price; provided that the conversion price shall in no event be less than $0.45 per share.  


In February and March 2020, we issued and sold unsecured promissory notes (the “Unsecured Notes”) with an aggregate principal amount of $2,031,000 to certain investors in exchange for $525,000 of new funding and the cancellation of outstanding indebtedness of $1,506,000 represented by prior promissory notes issued by us in September 2019.  The Unsecured Notes have an annual interest rate of 15% and mature on January 31, 2021 and March 1, 2021.  Interest is due on a quarterly basis.  In connection with the issuance of the Unsecured notes, each holder of Unsecured Notes received three warrants (i.e., a 2020 A Warrant, a 2020 B Warrant and a 2020 C Warrant) to acquire shares of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.45 per share.


57



On March 20, 2020 we sold our greenhouse office building located in Denver, Colorado, to certain individuals for a sale price of $1,499,000 and net proceeds of approximately $600,000.


On April 7, 2020, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with The Organic Seed, LLC, doing business under the name Cannasseur (the “Seller”), pursuant to which we agreed to acquire the assets of the Seller which includes a recreational retail dispensary, a 12,000 square foot light deprivation greenhouse, and a manufacturing facility based in Pueblo West, Colorado.  The Agreement provides the purchase price to acquire Cannasseur is $2,350,000 (the “Purchase Price”). The purchase price will be paid by issuing to the Seller shares of common stock of the Company equal to the purchase price divided by the volume weighted average per share price of the Company’s shares for 30 consecutive trading days ending on the second trading day prior to the closing (the “VWAP”); provided that if the VWAP exceeds $0.55 per share, then the VWAP will equal $0.55 per share for purposes of the foregoing calculation; and if the VWAP is less than $0.45 per share, then the VWAP will be adjusted to equal $0.45 for the purposes of the foregoing calculation. The closing is subject to approval of the transaction by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, as well as other customary closing conditions.


NOTE 17.   SEGMENT INFORMATION


Our operations are organized into two segments: Operations Consulting and Products; and Capital Investments and Real Estate.  All revenue originates, and all assets are located in the United States.  Segment information is presented in accordance with ASC 280, “Segments Reporting.” This standard is based on a management approach that requires segmentation based upon the Company’s internal organization and disclosure of revenue and certain expenses based upon internal accounting methods. The Company’s financial reporting systems present various data for management to run the business, including internal profit and loss statements prepared on a basis not consistent with GAAP. The following information is presented net of discontinued operations. For more information see Note 3.


Year ended December 31


2019

 

Operations

 

Investments

 

Total

Services

$

1,787,863

$

$

1,787,863

Rent and interest

 

 

95,437

 

95,437

Product

 

1,783,046

 

 

1,783,046

Total Revenues

 

3,570,909

 

95,437

 

3,666,346

Costs and expenses

 

(3,372,174)

 

(71,723)

 

(3,443,897)

 

$

198,735

$

23,714

 

222,449

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

(11,009,549)

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(10,787,100)


2018

 

Operations

 

Investments

 

Total

Services

$

1,186,624

$

$

1,186,624

Rent and interest

 

 

18,749

 

18,749

Product

 

531,883

 

 

531,883

Total Revenues

 

1,718,507

 

18,749

 

1,737,256

Costs and expenses

 

(1,932,598)

 

 

(1,932,598)

Investment in Desert Created

 

 

(1,005,955)

 

(1,005,955)

 

$

(214,091)

$

(987,206)

 

(1,201,297)

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

(14,934,013)

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(16,135,310)


 

 

December 31,

Total assets

 

2019

 

2018

Operations

$

441,841

$

134,786

Investments

 

402,988

 

300,000

Corporate

 

2,135,395

 

9,447,044

 

$

2,980,224

$

9,881,830


58



ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE


None.


ITEM 9A.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures


We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2019, the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2019.


Internal Control over Financial Reporting


Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer and effected by the Board, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:


·

Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

·

Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures of are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

·

Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.


Because of inherent limitations, our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


Assessment of Internal Control over Financial Reporting


Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on management’s assessment, management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.


Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting


There have been no changes in our existing internal control structure over financial reporting during 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


ITEM 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION


None.


59



PART III


ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE


Our current officers and directors are listed below. Directors are generally elected at an annual stockholders’ meeting and hold office until the next annual stockholders’ meeting, or until their successors are elected and qualified. Executive officers are elected by directors and serve at the Board’s discretion.


Name

Age

Position

Michael Feinsod

49

Executive Chairman of Board and Director

Steve Gutterman

50

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Peter Boockvar

50

Director

Mark Green

45

Director

Seth Oster

51

Director

Jessica Bast

42

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer


Michael Feinsod was appointed a director and elected Executive Chairman of the Board on August 4, 2014. Mr. Feinsod is the Managing Member of Infinity Capital, LLC, an investment management company he founded in 1999. Since January 2014, Mr. Feinsod has been an investor in the cannabis industry. Mr. Feinsod was a director of The Kingstone Companies, Inc. from 2008 through June 2015. From 2006 through 2013, he served in various executive positions at Ameritrans Capital Corporation, a business development company. Mr. Feinsod served as an officer and director of Elk Associates Funding Corporation, a Small Business Investment Company, from December 2006 until April 2013. In April 2013, in connection with a settlement agreement, the United States Small Business Administration was appointed as the receiver of Elk Associates Funding Corporation. Mr. Feinsod served as an investment analyst and portfolio manager at Mark Boyar & Company, Inc. He is admitted to practice law in New York and served as an associate in the Corporate Law Department of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. Mr. Feinsod holds a JD from Fordham University School of Law and a BA from The George Washington University. We believe that Mr. Feinsod’s corporate finance, legal and executive-level experience, as well as his service on the boards of other public companies, give him the qualifications and skills to serve as one of our directors.


Steve Gutterman was appointed a director and as our Chief Executive Officer on December 13, 2019.  Mr. Gutterman has more than two decades of experience leading high growth businesses in highly regulated industries. Most recently, Mr. Gutterman served as President of Harvest Health & Recreation, one of the largest cannabis multi-state operators in the US, where he led the company’s public offering and led its global operations. Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer of market research company Mobile Accord and before that as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of E*TRADE Bank, a $35 billion federally regulated thrift. Mr. Gutterman holds a JD/MBA from Columbia University and BA Cum Laude in Political Science from Tufts University. We believe that Mr. Gutterman is qualified to act as one of our directors due to his past experience serving as the President of a multi-state cannabis company.


Peter Boockvar was appointed a director on June 26, 2015. Mr. Boockvar is the Chief Investment Officer of Bleakley Advisory Group, New Jersey based wealth management firm with approximately $6 billion in assets under management. Mr. Boockvar manages the Investment Committee and is the portfolio manager of two investment strategies. He has 26 years of investing experience after initially training as a corporate bond analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette. He is also the Editor of The Boock Report, a macro economic and market newsletter that covers all areas of the globe. Prior to this he was the Chief Market Analyst with The Lindsey Group, a macro economic and market research firm. The firm is run by Larry Lindsey, a former Federal Reserve Governor and senior economic advisor to former President George W. Bush. Mr. Boockvar spent a brief time at Omega Advisor, a New York based hedge fund run by Leon Cooperman, as a macro analyst and portfolio manager. From October 1994 to December 2012, he was an employee and partner at Miller Tabak + Co where most recently he was the equity strategist and a portfolio manager. Mr. Boockvar served as a director of Ameritrans Capital Corporation, a business development company, from May 2008 thru July 2013. He also served as a director of Elk Associates Funding Corporation, a Small Business Investment Company, from May 2008 until April 2013. In April 2013, in connection with a settlement agreement, the United States Small Business Administration was appointed as the receiver of Elk Associates Funding Corporation. He is a CNBC contributor and appears regularly on their television network. Mr. Boockvar graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BBA in Finance from The George Washington University.  We believe that Mr. Boockvar’s extensive knowledge of financial systems and investment company experience gives him the qualifications and skills to serve as one of our directors. 


60



Mark Green was appointed a director on January 27, 2017.  Mr. Green has over 18 years of investing experience across public and private markets, spanning several business cycles. In various leadership positions at industry leading firms focused on investment banking, capital markets, private equity and investment management, Mr. Green has been instrumental in the development of several successful platforms and ventures and has built an extensive network of industry contacts and relationships. Mark Green is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Chatham Road Capital, a credit-focused investment firm that seeks to capitalize on market imbalances and inefficiencies in the public and private markets.  The firm’s investment philosophy is based upon fundamental and technical analysis, a comprehensive understanding of the capital markets and disciplined execution on investment ideas.  Mr. Green oversees all investment activities, portfolio and risk management, and business development.  Between 2010 and the beginning of 2017, Mr. Green served as a Managing Director of Leucadia National Corporation, a diversified holding company, and Jeffries LLC, a subsidiary of Leucadia, where he managed real estate principal investment activities and the commercial real estate debt business. From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Green was a founding member of the U.S. real estate finance group at UBS, where he oversaw the commitment of approximately $10 billion of principal debt and equity investments. From 2005 to 2006, he was a Managing Director at Eurohypo AG, and from 2000 to 2005, he was an Executive Director at CIBC World Markets. Mr. Green holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS Cum Laude from Skidmore College. Mr. Green has appeared as a guest speaker at Columbia University, New York University and the Urban Land Institute on various occasions, and is a founding member of Columbia Business School’s Real Estate Circle, a real estate industry group consisting of top executives. We believe that Mr. Green is qualified to act as one of our directors due to his significant real estate and land use experience.


Seth Oster was appointed a director on August 12, 2019.  Mr. Oster has over 25 years of experience leading corporate communications, marketing and public affairs efforts at high levels of the federal government and in the private sector. He currently serves as Global Chief Communications Officer at leading talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency (UTA). He has previously held positions as the top communications executive for Paul Allen’s Vulcan, Inc, accounting and consulting giant KPMG, and publicly traded companies, including Napster and Stamps.com.  Mr. Oster also has an extensive background in politics—having served in both the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government. Mr. Oster was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009 to lead public affairs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and earlier in his career was a top aide to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. Mr. Oster is a graduate of The George Washington University. We believe that Mr. Oster is qualified to act as one of our directors due to his significant experience leading corporate communications, marketing and public affairs efforts in the federal government and in the private sector.


Jessica Bast was appointed as our Principal Financial and Accounting Officer on February 18, 2020.  Prior to her appointment as Principal Accounting Officer, Ms. Bast served as our Vice President/Controller beginning September 11, 2017.  In addition, Ms. Bast was Technical Accounting Research Manager at Pinnacle Agricultural Distribution from July 2016 to September 2017, she was Controller of Active Fashion Group from May 2015 to May 2016, and she was Audit Manager of Hein & Associates, LLP (now Moss Adams) from September 2004 to April 2015. Ms. Bast holds a Bachleor of Science degree in Accounting from Metropolitan State Unversity and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Colorado.


Family Relationships


There are no family relationships among any of our officers or directors.


Involvement in Legal Proceedings


Based on information submitted by the directors and executive officers, none of the directors or executive officers is involved in, or has been involved in, legal proceedings during the past ten years that are material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of any director or executive officer.


Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance


Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our stock (collectively, “Reporting Persons”) to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock.  Reporting Persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Other than as disclosed herein and based solely on a review of the reports furnished to us, or written representations from reporting persons that all reportable transaction were reported, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, our officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders timely filed all reports and did not miss any filings as required to file under Section 16(a).


61



Code of Ethics Policy


The Board has established a corporate Code of Ethics, as defined by Item 406 of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act, and applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and all persons performing similar functions. Among other matters, the Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that:


·

Company business is conducted in an ethical, moral and legal manner;  reports, documents and other public communications made by the Company are delivered in a timely, fair, complete, accurate and understandable manner;

·

mechanisms to monitor and promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations are established and maintained;

·

business transactions are properly authorized and completely and accurately recorded on the Company’s books and records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and established Company financial policies;

·

employees work together in order to provide a mechanism for members of the organization to inform senior management of deviations from policies and procedures governing honest and ethical behavior.


Our Code of Ethics may be found at www.generalcannabis.com/code-of-ethics.


Corporate Governance


Director Independence


Mr. Peter Boockvar, Mr. Seth Oster and Mr. Mark Green are considered as “independent” as such term is defined by the natural securities exchanges.


Board Meetings and Committees


During 2019, the Board of Directors met six times, the Audit Committee met six times, the Compensation Committee met one time and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) met one time. Each director who was on the Board during this timeframe attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings held during his term of service.


Audit Committee


Our Audit Committee includes each Mr. Mr. Boockvar and Mr. Green.  The Audit Committee, among other things:


·

reviews the annual audited consolidated financial statements with management and the independent auditors and determines whether to recommend to the Board of Directors that they be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K;

·

reviews proposed major changes to our auditing and accounting principles and practices;

·

reviews and evaluates our system of internal control;

·

reviews significant financial reporting issues raised by management or the independent auditors; and

·

establishes procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters as well as the confidential and anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.


The Board has determined that Mr. Boockvar is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and that Mr. Boockvar and Mr. Green are “independent directors” as defined under the rules of the national securities exchanges. Mr. Boockvar serves as chair of the Audit Committee.


Compensation Committee


The Compensation Committee oversees our executive compensation and recommends various incentives for key employees to encourage and reward increased corporate financial performance, productivity and innovation. The Compensation Committee is responsible for: (a) assisting the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of our compensation plans, policies and programs, including assessing our overall compensation structure, reviewing all executive compensation programs, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, and determining executive compensation; and (b) reviewing the adequacy of the Compensation Committee charter on an annual basis.


62



Mr. Boockvar, Mr. Oster and Mr. Green are the members of the Compensation Committee, and Mr. Green serves as chair of the Compensation Committee. During the year ended December 31, 2019, no executive officer of the Company served as a member of the compensation committee (or any other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Company’s Compensation Committee. Our Chief Executive Officer, upon request, may attend selected meetings of the Compensation Committee.


Nominating and Corporate Governances Committee


The purpose of the Nominating Committee is to identify suitable qualified candidates to be proposed for appointment or election to the Board and to develop corporate governance policies for the Board. The members of the Nominating Committee are Mr. Boockvar and Mr. Oster each of whom the Board has determined is an “independent director” as defined under the rules of the national securities exchanges. Mr. Oster serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee.


Committee Charters


The Charters of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee are available on our website at https://www.generalcann.com/investor-relations/#board.


Role in Risk Oversight


Companies face a variety of risks, including credit risk, liquidity risk, and operational risk. The Board of Directors believes an effective risk management system will allow the Company to (1) make timely identifications of the material risks that the Company faces, (2) communicate necessary information with respect to material risks to senior executives and, as appropriate, to the Board or Audit Committee, (3) implement appropriate and responsive risk management strategies consistent with the Company’s risk profile, and (4) integrate risk management into Company decision-making.


The Board has designated the Audit Committee to take the lead in overseeing risk management. The Audit Committee discusses with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies.


The Board encourages management to promote a corporate culture that incorporates risk management into the Company’s corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. The Board also works, with the input of the Company’s executive officers, to assess and analyze the most likely areas of future risk for the Company.


Attendance at Annual Meetings of the Stockholders


We have no policy requiring Directors and Director Nominees to attend its annual meeting of stockholders; however, all Directors and Director Nominees are encouraged to attend.


Indemnification of Officers and Directors


Our Articles of Incorporation provide that we may indemnify any and all of our officers, directors, employees or agents or former officers, directors, employees or agents, against expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them, in connection with the defense of any legal proceeding or threatened legal proceeding, except as to matters in which such persons shall be determined to not have acted in good faith and in our best interest.


Stockholder Communications


Stockholders may send communications to our directors as a group or individually, by writing to those individuals or the group: c/o the Chief Executive Officer c/o General Cannabis Corp, 6565 E. Evans Avenue, Denver, CO 80224. The Chief Executive Officer will review all correspondence received and will forward all correspondence that is relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the Board or the business of the Company to the intended director(s). Examples of inappropriate communication include business solicitations, advertising and communication that is frivolous in nature, relates to routine business matters (such as product inquiries, complaints or suggestions), or raises grievances that are personal to the person submitting the communication. Upon request, any director may review communication that is not forwarded to the directors pursuant to this policy.


63



ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


The following table provides certain information regarding compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each of our named executive officers in the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.


Summary Compensation Table


Name & Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary
($)

 

Bonus
($)

 

Stock
Awards
($)

 

Option
Awards
($)(2)

 

All
Other
Compensation
($)

 

Total
($)

Steve Gutterman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

2019

 

17,708

 

 

 

129,053

 

 

146,762

(Joined December 13, 2019)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Feinsod (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Chief Executive Officer

 

2019

 

204,750

 

 

 

131,654

 

 

336,404

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Bast

 

2019

 

134,222

 

 

 

66,039

 

 

200,261

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

2018

 

109,051

 

 

 

46,504

 

 

155,555

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Frichtel (1)

 

2019

 

32,667

 

 

 

41,849

 

106,476

 

180,992

Former Chief Executive Officer

 

2018

 

195,917

 

 

 

125,554

 

 

321,471

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Andrews(4)

 

2019

 

172,764

 

50,000

 

 

151,496

 

 

374,260

Former Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

2018

 

166,322

 

 

 

129,198

 

 

295,520


                                                  

(1)

On January 7, 2019, Mr. Frichtel retired as Chief Executive Officer and provided his resignation to the Board of Directors. On January 7, 2019, the Board appointed Michael Feinsod, the Chairman of the Board, as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

(2)

Represents equity-based compensation expense calculated in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification Section 718CompensationStock Compensation, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model as set forth in Notes to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

(3)

On January 7, 2019, Mr. Feinsod was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  On August 5, 2019, Mr. Feinsod was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  On December 16, 2019, Mr. Feinsod resigned as Chief Executive Officer, but has remained the Executive Chariman of the Board of Directors.

(4)

On December 31, 2019, Mr. Andrews retired as Chief Financial Officer and provided his resignation to the Board of Directors.


Employment Agreements


Steve Gutterman – In connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Gutterman dated December 13, 2019.  The term of the employment agreement will continue until December 13, 2023 unless terminated earlier as provided in the employment agreement. The employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $425,000 and Mr. Gutterman is eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 250% of Mr. Gutterman’s base salary, with the bonus amount dependent on the level of achievement by the Company of certain performance metrics. In light of the uncertainty and adverse economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on the business of the Company, Mr. Gutterman agreed to a 50% reduction in his base salary, effective April 29, 2020. Mr. Gutterman entered into an amendment dated April 29, 2020, to his prior employment agreement with the Company dated December 13, 2019, in order to reflect the salary reduction,


In connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gutterman was also granted an option to purchase 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock, with 250,000 of the shares underlying the initial stock options being vested on the date of grant, and with the remaining 1,000,000 of the shares underlying the initial stock options vesting as to one-quarter of the shares on each yearly anniversary of the date of grant. Mr. Gutterman is also entitled to receive an additional option to purchase 50,000 share of the Common Stock each fiscal quarter beginning on the first fiscal quarter of 2020.  The employment agreement provides that if we terminate Mr. Gutterman’s employment at any time without cause (as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Gutterman will be entitled to receive, subject to his execution of a general release of claims in favor of the Company, an amount equal to 12 months of his then current annual base salary.


Michael Feinsod –  On December 13, 2019, Mr. Feinsod resigned as Chief Executive Officer.  On August 5, 2019, the Board appointed Mr. Feinsod as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Feinsod has held the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 7, 2019. In connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, we entered into an amendment of Mr. Feinsod’s prior employment agreements with the Company dated January 21, 2019 and December 8, 2017 (the “Amendment”).


64



Pursuant to the Amendment, Mr. Feinsod was granted  an option (the “Stock Option) to purchase 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), with an exercise price equal to $0.83 per share, which was the closing price of the Common Stock on the OTCQX on the date of grant.  The Stock Option shall vest in full on the first date on which the closing price for Common Stock equals or exceeds $4.51 per share for five (5) consecutive trading days.  


In connection with his appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Feinsod on January 21, 2019. The new employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $210,000. Mr. Feinsod is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on his achievement of pre-established performance goals and other criteria established by the board of directors.


In addition, on December 8, 2017, we entered into an agreement with Mr. Feinsod for his continued service as Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors, which was previously filed by the Company with the SEC on a Form 8-K on December 14, 2017 (the “Executive Chairman Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Executive Chairman Employment Agreement, Mr. Feinsod received (a) 600,000 stock options that vest on the anniversary date of the agreement for the next three years, or 200,000 per year (Time-based Options); and (b) three tranches of 100,000 stock options that vest when our stock price has an average trading price for 20 days of $3.50, $5.00 and $6.50 (“Market-based Options”). The options have an exercise price of $3.45 per share and a ten-year life. These options were not issued under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.


In light of the uncertainty and adverse economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on the business of the Company, Mr. Feinsod agreed to a 100% reduction in his base salary, effective April 24, 2020. Mr. Gutterman entered into an amendment dated April 24, 2020, to his prior employment agreement with the Company dated December 8, 2017, in order to reflect the salary reduction.


The table below reflects all outstanding equity awards made to any named executive officer that were outstanding at December 31, 2019.


OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS


 

 

Option Awards

Name

 

Grant Date

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable

 

Option
Exercise
Price($)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

Steve Gutterman

 

December 13, 2019

 

250,000

 

1,000,000

 

$ 0.63

 

December 13, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Bast

 

October 2, 2019

 

 

23,080

 

0.67

 

October 2, 2024

 

 

July 29, 2019

 

 

25,000

 

0.55

 

July 29, 2024

 

 

June 4, 2019

 

15,000

 

15,000

 

0.97

 

June 4, 2024

 

 

April 24, 2019

 

18,070

 

 

1.66

 

April 24, 2024

 

 

January 21, 2019

 

16,580

 

 

2.37

 

January 21, 2024

 

 

December 23, 2018

 

2,695

 

 

1.71

 

December 23, 2023

 

 

October 12, 2018

 

5,120

 

 

3.37

 

October 12, 2023

 

 

June 27, 2018

 

6,000

 

 

3.71

 

June 27, 2023

 

 

March 30, 2018

 

7,500

 

 

2.21

 

March 30, 2023

 

 

December 21, 2017

 

5,000

 

 

4.23

 

December 21, 2022

 

 

September 11, 2017

 

25,000

 

 

1.45

 

September 11, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Andrews

 

June 4, 2019

 

52,500

 

 

0.97

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

December 23, 2018

 

12,500

 

 

1.71

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

October 12, 2018

 

25,000

 

 

3.37

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

September 20, 2018

 

30,000

 

 

4.02

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

June 27, 2018

 

30,000

 

 

3.71

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

March 30, 2018

 

35,000

 

 

2.21

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

December 21, 2017

 

25,000

 

 

4.23

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

September 15, 2017

 

300,000

 

 

1.39

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

June 20, 2017

 

15,000

 

 

1.92

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

March 31, 2017

 

7,500

 

 

2.41

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

January 24, 2017

 

25,000

 

 

2.69

 

June 30, 2020


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Compensation of Directors


The following table shows information regarding the compensation earned during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 by our Board of Directors for service on the board of directors.


Name

 

Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash

 

Stock
Awards

 

Option
Awards

 

Total

Michael Feinsod

 

$15,000

 

 

$ 215,386

 

$ 230,386

Robert Frichtel

 

 

 

20,523

 

20,523

Peter Boockvar

 

 

 

 225,246

 

225,246

Mark Green

 

 

 

 225,246

 

225,246

Duncan Levin

 

 

 

  216,353

 

216,353

Seth Oster

 

 

 

40,255

 

40,255


Outstanding Director Option Awards at Fiscal Year End


The following options granted as director compensation were outstanding as of December 31, 2019: Michael Feinsod3,673,080; Robert Frichtel 0; Peter Boockvar1,975,000; Mark Green775,000; Duncan Levin400,000; and Seth Oster 175,000 .


ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS


The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of May 5, 2020: (i) by each of our directors, (ii) by each of the Named Executive Officers, (iii) by all of our executive officers and directors as a group, and (iv) by each person or entity known by us to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of any class of our outstanding shares. As of May 5, 2020, there were 40,281,881 shares of our common stock outstanding.


 

 

Common Stock Beneficially Owned

Named Executive Officers and Directors:

 

Number of 
Shares

 

Percentage of 
Shares

Steve Gutterman(1)

 

250,000

 

*

Jessica Bast(2)

 

115,965

 

*

Brian Andrews(3)

 

557,500

 

1%

Michael Feinsod(4)

 

6,249,980

 

14%

Peter Boockvar(5)

 

1,825,000

 

4%

Mark Green(6)

 

625,000

 

2%

Seth Oster(7)

 

78,692

 

*

All current directors and executive officers as a group ((6) persons)

 

9,452,137

 

20%


                                         

*

Indicates less than 1%.

(1)

Includes options to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock.

(2)

Includes options to purchase 115,695 shares of common stock.

(3)

Includes options to purchase 557,500 shares of common stock.

(4)

Includes 996,800 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Feinsod and Infinity Capital, options to purchase 4,844,180 shares of common stock, and warrants to purchase 409,000 shares of common stock.  As the managing member of Infinity Capital, Mr. Feinsod may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of common stock that are held by Infinity Capital

(5)

Includes options to purchase 1,825,000 shares of common stock.

(6)

Includes options to purchase 625,000 shares of common stock.

(7)

Includes warrants to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock.


ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE


Transactions with Related Persons


None


Director Independence


Mr. Peter Boockvar, Mr. Seth Oster and Mr. Mark Green are considered as “independent” directors under the applicable definition of the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market.  


66



ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES


Audit Fees


Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and the review of financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Audit-related fees relate to procedures performed in conjunction with our Form S-1 and Form S-8 filings.  The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by our principal accountants, Marcum LLP and Hall and Company, Inc., were as follows:


 

 

2019

 

2018

Audit

$

162,028

$

218,000

Audit-related

 

24,000

 

52,150

Tax

 

 

   Total

$

186,028

$

270,150


Pre–Approval Policy of Services Performed by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms


The Audit Committee pre-approves all auditing services and permitted non-audit services, if any, including tax services, to be performed for us by our independent auditor, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act, which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. The scope of the pre-approval includes pre-approval of all fees and terms of engagement. The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.


PART IV


ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES


The following Exhibits are filed with this Report:


Exhibit Number

 

Exhibit Name

1

 

Securities Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to our Form 8-K filed on August 3, 2015)

2.1

 

Articles of Merger (Acquisition of shares in Advanced Cannabis Solutions) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to our registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-163342)

2.2*

 

Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of January 24, 2020, by and between the Company and Dalton Adventures, LLC

2.3*

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2020, between the Company and the Organic Seed, LLC

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-163342)

3.2

 

Articles of Amendment (name change) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to our Form 8-K filed on June 18, 2015)

3.3

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K filed on February 1, 2017)

10.1

 

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to our Form 8-K filed on April 6, 2016)

10.2

 

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Form 8-K filed June 4, 2019)

10.3†

 

Executive Chairman of the Board and Director Agreement between the Company and Michael Feinsod dated August 4, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014)

10.4

 

Form of Employee Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed on July 16, 2015)

10.5

 

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed on August 3, 2015)


67



 

10.6

 

Option for the Company to Purchase Note and Equity Interest (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed on November 9, 2015)

10.7

 

Form of Amendment to Option to Purchase Note and Equity Interest (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2016)

10.8

 

Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2016)

10.9†

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2017, among the Company and Michael Feinsod (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2017)

10.10†

 

Form of Time-Based Options Award (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2017)

10.11†

 

Form of Performance-Based Options Award (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2017)

10.12†

 

Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2018)

10.13

 

Agreement with Flowhub Holdings, LLC Safe dated November 5, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed on November 9, 2018)

10.14

 

Form of First Amendment to Secured Promissory Note (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed May 6, 2019)

10.15

 

Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed June 4, 2019)

10.16

 

Promissory Note Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed July 24, 2019)

10.17

 

Form of Promissory Note (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed July 24, 2019)

10.18†

 

Amendment to Agreements, dated August 6, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed August 6, 2019)

10.19

 

Form of Securities Exchange Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed September 17, 2019)

10.20

 

Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed September 26, 2019)

10.21

 

Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate (Commercial) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Form 8-K filed November 20, 2019)

10.22

 

Deed of Trust Note dated December 31, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed January 14, 2020)

10.23

 

Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing dated January 8, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed January 14, 2020)

10.24

 

Form of Unsecured Promissory Note (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K filed February 24, 2020)

10.25

 

Form of 2020 A Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed February 24, 2020)

10.26

 

Convertible Promissory Note (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Form 8-K filed February 24, 2020)

10.27

 

Promissory Note Exchange Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Form 8-K filed February 24, 2020)

10.28†*

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 13, 2019, between Steve Gutterman and the Company

10.29†*

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated April 29, 2020, between Steve Gutterman and the Company

10.30†*

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated April 24, 2020, between Michael Feinsod and the Company

14.1

 

Code of Ethics

21.1*

 

Subsidiaries

23.1*

 

Consent of Hall & Company

23.2*

 

Consent of Marcum LLP

31.1*

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002 of Principal Executive Officer

31.2*

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002 of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

32.1*

 

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002 of the Principal Executive and Financial Officers

101

 

XBRL Interactive Data Files


(*)   Filed herewith.

(†)   Denotes management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement


68



SIGNATURES


In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Steve Gutterman

 

Principal Executive Officer

 

May 14, 2020

Steve Gutterman

 

 

 

 


In accordance with the Exchange Act, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Steve Gutterman

 

Principal Executive Officer and Director

 

May 14, 2020

Steve Gutterman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jessica Bast

 

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

May 14, 2020

Jessica Bast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Michael Feinsod

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

May 14, 2020

Michael Feinsod

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Seth Oster

 

Director

 

May 14, 2020

Seth Oster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Peter Boockvar

 

Director

 

May 14, 2020

Peter Boockvar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mark Green

 

Director

 

May 14, 2020

Mark Green

 

 

 

 


69