TREES Corp (Colorado) - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 10-K

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

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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

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☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

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Commission file number:  000-54457

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TREES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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

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 ◻   No ⌧

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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 ⌧   No ◻

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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 ⌧   No ◻

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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.

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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. ◻

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.  ☐

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

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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, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), on June 30, 2022, was $12,919,668.

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As of April 15, 2023, the Registrant had 118,664,094 issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

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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 they 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:

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.

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

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The following description of the business of TREES Corporation 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,” “TREES,” and the “Company” in this Report refer to TREES Corporation.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

Business Summary

TREES Corporation is a cannabis retailer and cultivator in the States of Colorado and Oregon.

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We presently operate eight (8) cannabis dispensaries as follows:

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We also operate five (5) cultivation facilities in Colorado as follows:

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Our principal business model is to acquire, integrate and optimize cannabis companies in the retail and cultivation segments utilizing the combined experience of entrepreneurs and synergistic operations of our vertically integrated network.

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Business Strategy and Recent Transactions

As the cannabis industry becomes more mature, we focus on (1) identifying licensed cannabis assets that we can acquire, (2) executing our business strategy to continue to generate cash and meet our financial commitments, and (3) moving with an urgency that reflects our conviction and confidence in our ability to create customer loyalty and advocacy. To that end, during the years ended 2022 and 2021, we implemented the following significant actions in support of our continued growth:

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Allyson Feiler, a principal owner of the Green Tree Entities, was elected to our Board of Directors of the effective December 12, 2022.

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The Notes will bear interest at an annual rate of 12% and will mature on September 16, 2026 (the "Maturity Date”).   Investors have the option to convert up to 50% of the outstanding unpaid principal and accrued interest of the Notes into Common Stock at a fixed conversion price equal to $1.00 per share. The Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $0.70 per Warrant, subject to adjustment as provided in the Warrants, at any time prior to the earlier of the Maturity Date and an Acquisition (as defined in the Warrants). Payment on the Notes is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company pursuant to a Security Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors.

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We determined the sale of our operations consulting and products segment represented a strategic shift that had a significant effect on our results of operations and, as a result, we have presented the disposal as 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

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of TREES and its wholly-owned subsidiary companies, each a Colorado corporation or limited liability company:

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Competitive Strengths

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

Experience. Our management teams have extensive experience with a proven track record of success in developing, launching, and managing grow operations and retail dispensaries.

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.

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

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. However, there is no aspect of our business that is protected by patents or copyrights.

Retail. We will compete with a variety of different operators across the states in which we operate. In most of such states, there are specific license caps that create high barriers to entry. However, in some markets, such as Colorado, there are few caps on licenses creating a more open marketplace.

Cultivation. The Colorado cultivation market is highly fragmented. There are over one million cannabis plants cultivated for cannabis sales each year, and a typical 15,000 to 20,000 square foot grow facility contains approximately 5,000 to 7,500 plants.

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Government and Industry Regulation

Cannabis continues to be 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.

Considering the conflict between federal laws and state laws regarding cannabis, the 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”). The policies of the Obama administration concerning federal law enforcement regarding cannabis, notwithstanding the rescission of the Cole Memo (see below), continued during the Trump administration and we expect them to be continued during the Biden administration.

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 is renewed annually by Congress and is current through September 30, 2021. 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, 2021, 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.”

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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 our work with our law enforcement partners throughout Colorado.”

It is unclear at this time whether the Sessions Memo will be rescinded by the Biden administration; nor is it clear whether the Biden 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 currently cultivate, distribute, and 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.

Recent legislative proposals have been introduced:

None of the above proposals have been enacted; and while the Biden administration appears to have a more friendly position toward legalization of cannabis generally than the Trump administration, it cannot presently be determined what position the current administration will take on either of these proposals.

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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:

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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:

In general, the decision to open, close, or refuse any particular account or relationship should be made by each financial institution based on several 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.

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

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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 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 Company 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.

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Human Capital

As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately 150 full-time employees. Executing our strategic vision requires that we attract and retain the best talent. The Company must appropriately reward high-performers and offer competitive benefits.  The Company offers comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance for employees, their spouses or domestic partners, and their dependents. We also provide retirement programs, life insurance, family assistance, short-term disability and paid vacation and sick time. As a people-first company, our values help us achieve our purpose of cultivating an inclusive environment by hiring world-class individuals dedicated to fostering a culture that champions diversity, ensures equity, and celebrates inclusion. We provide opportunities for our employees to drive our strategy by creating programs that raise awareness, allowing courageous conversations and a more inclusive culture.

Corporate Contact Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 215 Union Boulevard, Suite 415, Lakewood, Colorado 80228; Telephone No.: (303) 759-1300. Our website is http://www.treescann.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.treescann.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.

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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.

We 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 considering 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:

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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.

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

We generated net losses of approximately $9.5 million and $8.9 million, respectively, in the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. As of December 31, 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $93.4 million. We will need to generate and sustain increased revenues in future periods 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:

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 several 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.

The cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and possession of marijuana continues to be illegal under U.S. federal law. The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution establishes that the US Constitution and federal laws made pursuant to it are paramount and, in case of conflict between federal and state law, the federal law must be applied. Accordingly, federal law applies even in those states in which the use of marijuana has been legalized. Enforcement of federal law regarding marijuana would harm our business, prospects, results of operation, and financial condition.

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 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 conflicts 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

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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.

Considering such conflict between federal laws and state laws regarding cannabis, the 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 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”).

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 is renewed annually by Congress and is current through September 30, 2023. 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 March 11, 2022, 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 our work with our law enforcement partners throughout Colorado.”

It is unclear at this time whether the Sessions Memo will be rescinded by the Biden administration, and/or the Cole Memo reinstated; nor is it clear whether the Biden administration will strongly enforce the federal laws applicable to cannabis or what types of activities will be targeted for enforcement. US Attorney General Merrick Garland has indicated his desire to reinstitute a version of the Cole Memo; however, this has not yet occurred. Any significant

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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 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.

The potential regulation of cannabis by the US Food and Drug Administration could subject us to additional costs and regulatory requirements.

Should the federal government legalize cannabis, it is possible that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would seek to regulate it under the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938. Additionally, the FDA may issue rules and regulations including good manufacturing practices, related to the growth, cultivation, harvesting and processing of medical cannabis. Clinical trials may be needed to verify efficacy and safety. It is also possible that the FDA would require that facilities where medical-use cannabis is grown register with the FDA and comply with certain federally prescribed regulations. If some or all of these regulations are imposed, the impact they would have on the cannabis industry is unknown, including what costs, requirements and possible prohibitions may be enforced. If we are unable to comply with the regulations or registration as prescribed by the FDA it may have an adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

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

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future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will have be material adverse effects on our business.

Our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected by pandemic infectious diseases, particularly COVID-19.

Pandemic infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and its variants, such as Omicron, 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 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 because 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.

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.

The recreational cannabis industry is highly dependent upon consumer perception regarding the safety, efficacy and quality of the recreational cannabis produced. Cannabis is a controversial topic, and consumer perception of our products may be significantly influenced by scientific research or findings, regulatory investigations, litigation, media attention and other publicity regarding the consumption of recreational cannabis products. There can be no assurance that future scientific research, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other research findings or publicity will be favorable to the recreational cannabis market or any particular product, or consistent with earlier publicity. Future research reports, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other publicity that are perceived as less favorable than, or that question, earlier research reports, findings or publicity could have a material adverse effect on the demand for our products and our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. Dependence upon consumer perceptions means that adverse scientific research reports, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other publicity, regardless of accuracy or merit, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Further, adverse publicity reports or other media attention regarding the safety, efficacy, and quality of recreational cannabis in general, or our products specifically, or associating the consumption of recreational cannabis with illness or other negative effects or events, could have such a material adverse effect. Such adverse publicity reports or other media attention could arise even if the adverse effects associated with such products resulted from consumers’ failure to consume such products appropriately or as directed.

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.

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We operate an agricultural business and are subject to weather and climate conditions.

Our business involves the growing of recreational cannabis, an agricultural product. Such business will be subject to the risks inherent in the agricultural business, such as insects, plant diseases and similar agricultural risks. Further, to the extent that our products are grown outside, we are subject to weather and climate conditions. Extended cold streaks, rain or snow, or generally cold weather or climate, could materially adversely affect our cannabis plants. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that natural elements will not have a material adverse effect on any future production of our products.

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, specifically, 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.

Unfavorable tax treatment of cannabis businesses

Under Section 280E of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (“Section 280E”), “no deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by Federal law or the law of any state in which such trade or business is conducted.” This provision has been applied by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to cannabis operations, prohibiting them from deducting expenses directly associated with the sale of cannabis. Although the IRS issued a clarification allowing the deduction of certain expenses that can be categorized as cost of sales, the scope of such items is interpreted very narrowly and include the cost of seeds, plants, and labor related to cultivation, while the bulk of operating costs and general administrative costs are not permitted to be deducted. Section 280E therefore has a significant impact on the retail side of cannabis, but a lesser impact on cultivation, processing, production, and packaging operations. A result of Section 280E is that an otherwise profitable business may, in fact, operate at a loss, after taking into account its U.S. income tax expenses.

We may be limited in our ability to utilize, or may not be able to utilize, net operating loss carryforwards to reduce our future tax liability.

We have federal and state net operating loss carryforwards that may be limited or expire unused.  The Company is currently evaluating whether there have been one or more ownership changes pursuant to IRC 382 and 383.  If we determine there were one or more ownership changes under these rules, the use of our U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards may be limited and/or otherwise expired unused.  Any such limitation or expiration could materially affect our ability to offset future tax liabilities with net operating losses.

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

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

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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 roll-up business 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:

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.

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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.

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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 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 operating locations could be targets for theft and our physical security measures may not prevent all security breaches

Our operating locations could be targets for theft. While we have implemented security measures at our operating locations and we continue to monitor and improve security measures, our cultivation and processing facilities could be subject to break-ins, robberies, and other breaches in security. If there is a breach in security and we fall victim to a robbery or theft, the loss of cannabis plants, cannabis oils, cannabis flowers and cultivation and processing equipment could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

To the extent that our business involves the movement and transfer of cash which is collected from locations and deposited into financial institutions, there is a risk of theft or robbery during the transport of cash. We may engage a security firm to provide security in the transport and movement of large amounts of cash. While we have taken steps to prevent theft or robbery of cash during transport, there can be no assurance that there will not be a security breach during the transport and the movement of cash involving the theft of product or cash.

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

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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 COVID-19. 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.

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 retail 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, 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.

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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 certain business sectors, may inhibit our growth, and may expose us to additional risk and financial liabilities. Moreover, insurance against risks such as environmental pollution or other hazards encountered in our operations is not generally available on acceptable terms. We might also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards which may not be insured against or which we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause us to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon its financial performance and results of operations.

We may be subject to product liability claims

We face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims, regulatory action, and litigation if its products are alleged to have caused significant loss or injury. In addition, the sale of our products would involve the risk of injury to consumers due to tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination. Previously unknown adverse reactions resulting from human consumption of marijuana alone or in combination with other medications or substances could occur. We may be subject to various product liability claims, including, among others, that our products caused injury or illness or death, include inadequate instructions for use or include inadequate warnings concerning possible side effects or interactions with other substances. A product liability claim or regulatory action against us could result in increased costs, could adversely affect our reputation with its clients and consumers generally, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. There can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain or maintain product liability insurance on acceptable terms or with adequate coverage against potential liabilities. Such insurance is expensive and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all. The inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage on reasonable terms or to otherwise protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of our current or potential products.

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.

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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, 2022, the closing price of our Common Stock has ranged from a low of $ 0.12 per share to a high of $10.35 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:

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.

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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, national securities exchanges in the United States, including Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange, have historically refused to list cannabis related businesses, including cannabis retailers, that operate primarily in the United States; there is no indication that this proscription will change any time soon.  Accordingly, we continue to be listed on the OTCQB, which as an over-the-counter market, is subject to greater volatility and less stability than would be the case on a national securities exchange. Our existing operations, and any future operations or investments, may become the 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.

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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 have incurred and will continue to incur increased costs due to operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.

As a public company we have incurred, and particularly after we are no longer a smaller reporting company, we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the OTCQB Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, particularly as we hire additional financial and accounting employees to meet public company internal control and financial reporting requirements and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

We are evaluating these rules and regulations and cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs. These rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.

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Pursuant to Section 404, we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting. However, while we remain a smaller reporting company with less than $100 million in revenue, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we will be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, including through hiring additional financial and accounting personnel, potentially engage outside consultants, and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404. If we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Lakewood, Colorado, pursuant to an operating lease. As of April 6, 2023, the Company also leases 8 retail dispensary locations, 5 cultivation facilities, and one production facility.

The following table sets forth the Company’s significant properties within each reporting segment:

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

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

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In July 2021, we were served with a Complaint in the District Court, County of Denver, Colorado, by plaintiff 2353 SB, LLC (“Plaintiff”).  We entered into a lease with Plaintiff for the premises at 2353 South Broadway, Denver, CO with a term of three (3) years to commence on November 1, 2020. Monthly lease payments were to be $12,866.66.  In 2020, we made initial payments (first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and security deposit) of $39,633.32; but subsequently did not take possession of the premises and have made no further payments in respect thereof, as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The lease contains a ‘force majeure’ clause which includes a provision that neither party is liable for failure to perform its obligations under the lease which have become practicably impossible because of circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the applicable party, including ‘pandemics or outbreak of communicable disease.

We have taken the position that our failure to take possession and make any further payments under the lease is directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are vigorously defending this action and believe that the above-referenced force majeure clause presents a complete defense to Plaintiff’s claims.

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We filed a motion to dismiss or a motion for summary judgment in the alternative. Plaintiff filed a response and cross-motion for summary judgment thereafter. In October 2022, the court denied the motion to dismiss on the basis that Plaintiff sufficiently pled facts that raise a plausible claim for relief, notwithstanding our possible defenses, but has not specifically made any rulings on either party’s motion for summary judgment. On November 14, 2022, we timely filed a formal answer to the complaint, denying each of Plaintiff’s substantive claims. We also asserted appropriate affirmative defenses, including the force majeure clause of the lease, which provides that we are not liable under the lease in the event of a variety of events outside our control, including “pandemics.” In addition, we have asserted a counterclaim against Plaintiff for breach of contract to recover the initial payments made under the lease as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. The trial is currently scheduled for September 2023.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

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PART II

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

Market Information

TREES Corporation Common Stock (CANN) is listed for trading on the OTC Market’s OTCQB.

Holders

As of April 15, 2023, we had approximately 81 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.

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ITEM 6. RESERVED

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

Management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (annual report), which include additional information about our accounting policies, practices, and the transactions underlying our financial results. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including various claims and contingencies related to lawsuits, taxes, environmental and other matters arising during the normal course of business. We apply our best judgment, our knowledge of existing facts, circumstances, and actions that we may undertake in the future in determining the estimates that affect our consolidated financial statements. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis using our historical experience, as well as other factors we believe appropriate under the circumstances, such as current economic conditions, and adjust or revise our estimates as circumstances change. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results may differ from these estimates. 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, events or circumstances after the date of this Report is filed. TREES Corporation and its subsidiaries are referred to collectively as “TREES” “the Company,” “we, “us” or “our” in the following discussion and analysis.

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Going Concern

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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 $2,583,833 as of December 31, 2022 is not sufficient to absorb our operating losses and retire our notes payable of $17,802,932 and other obligations as they come due.  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 in obtaining additional capital and (b) actions presently being taken to further implement our business plan to reduce costs and generate additional revenues provide the 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.

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Results of Operations

The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, are 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.

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Consolidated Results

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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

The full year impact of the retail operations acquired in the Trees Acquisition acquired at the end of 2021 resulted in the significant increase in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in retail revenue was partially offset by lower revenue in the Cultivation segment due primarily to a significant decline in the wholesale prices of marijuana flower. See Segment discussions below for further details.

Costs and expenses

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Cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses both increased year over year primarily due to the full year impact of the retail operations acquired in the Trees Transaction acquired at the end of 2022. See Segment discussions below for further details. One-time bonus payments of $767,000 as part of employment agreements for two former owners of the Green Tree Entities also contributed to the increase in selling, general and administrative costs.

Stock-based compensation included the following:

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Stock-based awards are issued under our 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on November 23, 2020 and our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on June 26, 2015. Expense varies primarily due to the number of stock awards granted and the share price on the date of grant. The decrease in expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to December 31, 2021 is due to the decrease in the number of stock-based awards granted.

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Professional fees consist primarily of accounting, consulting and legal expenses and have remained consistent from 2021 to 2022.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2022 due to an impairment of intangible assets in the Cultivation segment in 2021. As a result of the impairment, the depreciable base of the intangible asset was significantly reduced resulting in the lower amortization.

Other Expense

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Amortization of debt discount increased during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to December 31, 2021 due to the senior convertible promissory notes with warrants (“12% Notes”) issued in September 2022 and the rollover and repayment of the 10% Notes. Interest expense increased during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to December 31, 2021 due to the additional borrowings from the issuance of the 12% Notes. The gain (loss) on warrant derivative liability reflects the change in the fair value of the 2019 Warrants. The loss on extinguishment of debt during 2022 relates to the rollover and repayment of the 10% Notes. The loss on extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2021 was due to the modification of warrants that occurred on the 15% Warrants during the third quarter of 2021. The loss on impairment of assets in 2022 is due primarily to goodwill and intangible impairments at our Trees Oregon locations included in our Retail Segment. The loss on impairment of assets in 2021 is due to goodwill and intangible impairments in our Cultivation Segment.

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Retail

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With the addition of the Trees Englewood dispensary on September 2, 2021 and the addition of Treees Portland and Trees Waterfront on December 30, 2021, we have established our retail footprint in the Colorado and Oregon markets and have become a vertically integrated company. We continued to expand our retail footprint in Oregon with the addition of the Trees MLK dispensary in January 2022 and in Colorado with the Green Man Acquisition and Green Tree Acquisition in December 2022. The dispensaries acquired in the Green Man Acquisition and Green Tree Acquisition did not have a material impact on the Retail segment results in 2022.

The increase in revenue in the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 is due to the full year impact of the Trees retail locations. The increased costs and expenses in 2022 include $2.7 million of non-cash goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges. The Retail Segment is expected to provide consistent positive cash flows which will significantly contribute to our working capital position.

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Cultivation

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This decrease in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to December 31, 2021, is due to significant declines in the wholesale price of marijuana flower. The costs and expenses include non-cash goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges of $0.3 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for discontinued operations, the impact of stock-based compensation expense, acquisition related expenses, non-recurring professional fees in relation to litigation and other non-recurring expenses, depreciation and amortization, amortization of debt discounts and equity issuance costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, interest expense, income taxes and certain other non-cash items. Below we have provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, which is net loss.

We believe that the disclosure of Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with a better comparison of our period-to-period operating results. We exclude the effects of certain items 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 comparable view of the underlying dynamics of our operations. We believe such information provides additional meaningful methods of evaluating certain aspects of our operating performance from

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period to period on a basis that may not be otherwise apparent on a GAAP basis. This supplemental financial information should be considered in addition to, not in lieu of, our consolidated financial statements.

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Liquidity

Sources of liquidity

Our primary sources of liquidity include cash proceeds from debt, cash generated from operations, the cash exercise of Common Stock options and warrants, and the issuance of Common Stock or other equity-based instruments. We anticipate our more significant uses of resources will include funding operations and additional business acquisitions.

In September 2022, we received $9,912,250 in cash, net of debt issue costs. We received the cash in a private placement with certain accredited investors pursuant to the 12% Notes and was used to repay a portion of the 10% Notes, and to fund the acquisition of the Green Tree Entities and Green Man, and to fund operations.

In September 2021, we received $1,180,000 in cash by issuing 1,180 shares of our preferred stock and 354,000 warrants to purchase Common Stock.

In February and April 2021, we received $3,960,000 in cash in a private placement with certain accredited investors pursuant to which we issued and sold 10% senior convertible promissory notes.

Sources and uses of cash

We had cash of approximately $2,583,833 and 2,054,050, respectively, on December 31, 2022 and 2021. Our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities were as follows:

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Net cash used in operating activities decreased in 2022 due to due cash generated from the full year operations of the dispensaries acquired in the Trees Transaction. The decrease was partially offset by additional costs associated with the completion of the Green Man Acquisition and Green Tree Acquisition.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 consisted primarily of $1,971,975 for the purchase Trees MLK, Green Man, and the Green Tree Entities. Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 consisted primarily of $1,439,027 for the acquisition of the first three dispensaries of the Trees Transaction. This is offset by the sale of our investment for $208,761, the sale of Next Big Crop in the amount of $150,000 and collection of notes receivables in the amount of $591,717.

Net cash provided by financing activities are primarily related to the issuance of the 12% Notes, partially offset by repayment of a portion of the 10% Notes and payments on the notes payable to the sellers in the Trees Transaction.

Capital Resources

We have no material commitments for capital expenditures as of December 31, 2022. Part of our growth strategy, however, is to acquire businesses. We would anticipate funding such activity through cash on hand, the issuance of debt, Common Stock, and 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.

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.

Goodwill and Intangibles

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill and long-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of ASC No. 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (“ASC No. 350”). ASC No. 350 requires that goodwill

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be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or on level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carry value. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgement, including the identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of goodwill to reporting units, and determination of the fair value of each reporting unit. We test goodwill annually in December, unless an event occurs that would cause us to believe the value is impaired at an interim date. See Notes 1 and 9 to our consolidated financial statements for a description of our goodwill and intangible asset valuation and impairment policies and associated impacts for the reported periods.

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

We periodically evaluate whether the carrying value of property and equipment 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 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.

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.

Debt with Equity-linked Features

We may issue debt that has 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.

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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.

Convertible Debt - 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 effective conversion price of the convertible debt instrument is less than the stock price on the commitment date. This typically occurs when the effective 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 effective conversion price and the fair value of 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.

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

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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.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

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To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of TREES Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of TREES Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, 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, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a negative working capital that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The 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 audits. 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 audits 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 audits, 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 audits 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 audits 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 audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Business Combination – Refer to Note 2 to the financial statements

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company acquired several entities as follows: Trees Englewood on September 2, 2021, Trees Portland, LLC and Trees Waterfront, LLC on December 30, 2021, Trees MLK

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Inc. on January 5, 2022, Green Tree entities on December 12, 2022, and Green Man Cannabis on December 19, 2022, in separate business combinations. Management of the Company estimated the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to cash, fixed assets, inventory, trade names, and goodwill based on the industry experience and values until the formal third-party valuation is completed. The accounting for the purchase price allocation is complex due to the significant estimation uncertainty in determining the fair values of identified intangibles. The Company’s third-party valuation was completed for Trees Englewood, Trees Portland, LLC, Trees Waterfront, LLC, and Trees MLK Inc. as of the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s third-party valuation of the rest of the entities is yet to be completed.

We deem the purchase price allocation as a significant audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions made by management to estimate the fair value of trade names and allocation to goodwill. These estimates include the impact of forecasted growth and the consideration of comparable transactions in their industry. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the use of valuation specialists.

Addressing the matter involved obtaining the purchase agreements and interpreting the terms are in agreement with the assumptions used by the Company. We obtained the Company’s purchase price allocation and tested the inputs used in their calculation. In evaluating the Company’s assumptions, we compared them to other similar transactions in their industry. For valuations completed by the third-party specialist, we evaluated the expertise, qualifications, and independence of the management’s specialist engaged to complete the evaluation. Finally, we used professionals inside our firm with specialized skills and knowledge to assess the Company’s methodology.

Goodwill — Refer to Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements

As discussed in Note 9 to the financial statements, the Company has goodwill of $18,384,974 on December 31, 2022, after recognizing impairment expense of $2,450,941 during the year then ended. The Company evaluates its goodwill at least annually or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company performed a goodwill analysis by calculating the fair value by operating segment using primarily an income approach and comparing it to the carrying amount of its goodwill. The income approach employed a discounted cash flow using a forecast developed by management. This valuation method requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to projected cash flows.

We identified goodwill as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions made by management to estimate fair value, including the impact of forecasted growth, and the difference between the fair values and the carrying values as of December 31, 2022. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialist, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions related to certain assumptions within the projected cash flows.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the financial statements. These procedures included, among others, gaining an understanding of management's process for developing the fair value estimate. We also evaluated the expertise, qualifications, and independence of the management’s specialist engaged to complete the evaluation. We used professionals inside our firm with specialized skills and knowledge to assess the Company’s methodology and assumptions used such as discount rate used. In evaluating the Company’s assumptions, we compared them to historical results.

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TREES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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TREES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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TREES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS