Sunday, January 14, 2024

First in The Nation Pilot Program for Free Product Safety Storage Bags

 I wanted to share that Sweet Relief Shop has been asked to join a Pilot Program in Maine, and the nation, by Th Office of Marijuana Policy. This program has just been established, and I was asked to provide help and insight for this solution over the last few months.

The OCP program is to provide FREE Safety Storage Bags to anyone why would like one. The bags are to keep your items safe at home from children, or even pets. They each come with both a key lock and re-settable combination lock. They are very strong, and much stronger than a "money bag" that they look like. If you or anyone, customer or not, would like one, you must fill out a 1 minute survey for the OCP, and then we are able to give one to you. Please see photos below. As always, care and safe storage of your items at home must be made by yourself, but these bags can provide that extra comfort.
I would like to thank the OCP for asking me to join their pilot program and for providing quality feedback for them. Again, this is the first of its kind in the nation, and the OCP plans for this safety program to expand to other states in the future. As always, Sweet Relief, The Maine Marijuana Shop on Rt.1, Northport, ME is among the first!







Saturday, February 11, 2023

Sweet Relief Shop in the Press, Before and After Going Recreational

Opening Day, October 9th, 2020!!!

The Press was kind enough to visit us, and share our unlikely story. It truly was an auspicious Day!

I would like to show you, our friends and customers, our story from the press and news media, through their articles. Please see them below.

Thank you for believing in us, when our chances were low, to penetrate the Recreational Adult Use Market. Now, we are here to stay, and to help find the right products for newcomers, as well as experiences stoners alike.

We want to thank those of you who have wished us success in a very difficult market to enter.

Please see the articles and links below!



HIGH TIMES quote from John Lorenz.
I really can't believe that I was quoted from a brief interview in High Times.
My life's work feels complete!

   John Lorenz, the owner of Sweet Relief in Northport, said that he isn’t worried about initial product shortages“It will take time, as well as next summer’s season and harvest, to get the program up to its full potential,” he said.


October 9th, 2020

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National Public Radio, on October 10th, 2020

NPR Correspondent Murry Carpenter came to the shop for opening day, and took some amazing photos, and made a great interview and story about us. 

Please take the link to read about us on NPR, with some awesome photos to.
This article is just about Sweet Relief. Thanks so much!!!!
You can listen to the original radio broadcast of from NPR below.

October 10th, 2020




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ABC7 News from Bangor, with Rachel Mann, did a really nice interview with us, at the shop. Please see this excerpt, it is just awesome.

October 9th, 2020.

 
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The Free Press, had a Local Mid-Coast Maine Article. Unfortunately, this article will not open currently. It is my Favorite, and has a great picture of Ploy and myself outside the shop.
Thanks to Ethan Andrews for coming to the shop, and making such a fantastic article.
I will get this posted some how.


September 9th, 2020

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Politico
    
When the phone rang at about 10am, on September 9th, 2020, I hung up on a caller who said he was from Politico, when he asked to interview me for a story. I thought it was a friend pulling my chain. But when the second call came through about five minutes later, I apologized, and answered a few questions from Paul Demko, Politico's Marijuana News Correspondent. The article is below, and I ended up with a short quote!

Sep 09, 2020 




View in browser

 

POLITICO Pro's Morning Cannabis newsletter logo

BY MONA ZHANG, PAUL DEMKO AND NATALIE FERTIG

QUICK FIX

 Maine marijuana regulators issued the state's first adult-use licenses, setting the stage for the October launch of its recreational marijuana market nearly four years after voters approved legalization.


 

THE STATE OF MARIJUANA

MAINE GRANTS FIRST ROUND OF ADULT-USE LICENSES — Maine has issued the first five licenses for its recreational marijuana market, which is slated to begin sales on Oct. 9. Three cultivation facilities, two dispensaries and one testing lab received the first round of licenses. There are nearly 400 other applications in the pipeline.

Maine voters passed an adult-use referendum four years ago, but implementation has been delayed by the opposition of former Republican Gov. Paul LePage and more recently the coronavirus pandemic. Product is expected to be sparse initially in the adult-use market as cultivation facilities ramp up their operations. The entrenched medical market is also likely to continue attracting many shoppers.

Northport’s Sweet Relief, which has been serving medical customers for four years, received one of the two initial dispensary licenses for the recreational market.

“This is a two-man show. My wife and I do everything,” said Johnny Lorenz, the shop’s owner “There’s no board. There’s no trustees. There’s no corporate lawyer.”

Lorenz said he’s already reached out to one of the newly licensed cultivators for the recreational market to talk about supplying product.

“I’m going to need everything that can possibly come from them and it won’t be enough,” Lorenz said.

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     Owen Kingsley, from News Channel WABI 5, came to Sweet Relief Shop just after we were granted one of the First Two Recreational Permits in the State. This was my favorite interview, and you can see the video news report right from the link. Please check it out.     
Thanks so much Owen!!!!!!!

SEPTEMBER 11th 2020

https://www.wabi.tv/2020/09/11/marijuana-shop-in-northport-prepares-to-open-to-adult-use-sales-next-month/

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     Melissa Bodnar, with Maine News Channel WGME13 came to Sweet Relief for a short interview. We showed her around, and had a great time doing the interview, please take a look. I left the original link below. Have a look, the video is awesome!!!

September 9th, 2020


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   The SUN Journal, with Penelope Overton, of Portland, wrote a fantastic article on September 9th, 2020. The link is below. This one is really informative!

September 9th, 2020

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         Mainebiz added Sweet Relief to a neat article about the first Recreational Shops in the State. This was published on September 9th, 2020. Sweet Relief was one of the original two stores statewide, along with Theory Wellness in South Portland.

September 9th 2020

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      Maine's I-95 95.7 Radio had a nice Shout out for Sweet Relief Shop.
Thanks so much Guy's and Gals. Please come by the store sometime. The full link is below. 

"These are just the first two of more active licenses that will be granted in the future for adult use marijuana establishments to begin sales in October."

September 8th, 2020



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Cannabis Business Times added Sweet Relief to a short article about Maine recreational licensing, and the early licensing. Please see the original link below. Thanks guys!
We appreciate the Shout Out!

September 8th 2020



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The Bangor Daily news gave a small shout out to us!
Thanks so much for the addition to your nice article.
Unfortunately, you must be a member of Bangor Daily to read the article
But the link is provided below.

September 11th, 2020


Fox New WFVX 22, ABC 7 from Bangor came to Sweet Relief for an interview.
Please see the original link below. The article can be listened to from the link!

September 9th, 2020


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This link no longer works, but Cannabis Dispensary Magazine
gave Sweet Relief a great shout out for all our hard work. Thanks so much.
September 12th, 2020

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Top Shelf News added Sweet Relief to an article on September 12th, as one of the first two retail stores in the state of Maine. The article is no longer visible, but the link I have is below.

September 12th, 2020

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There is some cool information of REDDIT about Sweet Relief.
Please have a look. Very cool.


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Bangor Daily News

The Bangor Daily articles are not available any longer unless you are subscriber.
Sorry about that.  They covered Sweet Relief Shops initial approval from the Northport Planning Board, which paved the way for us to open Recreationally as early as we Did!

 September 9th, 2020.


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WGME 13, Maine News Television,  January 14th, 2021
They added a great quote, from my experiences in the Adult Use Program. Thanks so much!
Please open the link to read their insightful article.
This quote is from January 2021, during the Pandemic. 
“There's Downeast travel again. If 3 million people head to Acadia again every year for lodging and restaurants and food, they will pass my location,” said Lorenz.

Lorenz says, "One of the reasons business is going so well is because a lot of people don't like using medical marijuana cards. He says this points to more people looking for recreational marijuana."

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On September 9th, 2020 MJ Biz Daily
MJBizDaily added some awesome quotes from an interview about the first day
 of opening Recreational sales in Maine. Please see the original link below.


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The Portland Press Herald, on October 9th, 2020, had a few great quotes from Johnny,
and added them along witch some nice pictures to their article about opening day.
Please take the link below. Thanks so much.
October 9th, 2020