Sapphire Risk Advisory Group LLC

05/26/2026

Rhode Island: Governor McKee Nominates Michelle Reddish to Serve as Chairperson of Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission

Governor McKee Nominates Michelle Reddish to Serve as Chairperson of Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission Published on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 PROVIDENCE, RI — Today, Governor Dan McKee announced his nomination of Michelle A. Reddish, MS, MPH, to serve as chairperson of the Rhode Island Canna...

05/23/2026

It still makes us sad to hear about things like this in the industry.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/pawn-shop-owner-pleads-guilty-purchasing-trafficking-millions-dollars-stolen-goods.

05/21/2026

Michigan: A recently released video from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office shows two hooded individuals driving a Jeep straight through the entrance of a cannabis store in Michigan. Once inside, they began dousing the interior with gasoline.

This was not a theft attempt. It was targeted destruction.

Fortunately, the store’s sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire, allowing the business to reopen. Still, it raises important questions about the extent of damage, especially smoke exposure to cannabis products.

Watching the footage, one question stands out: why were there no physical barriers like bollards or reinforced planters to prevent vehicle access in the first place?
This is exactly where a trained security professional adds real value.
Whether you are developing a new facility or operating an existing one, an annual on-site risk assessment can identify vulnerabilities before they become costly incidents. Simple, strategic upgrades—often overlooked—can prevent significant financial loss and operational disruption.

Proactive security is not just about compliance. It is about protecting your people, your product, and your long-term viability.

https://www.the-independent.com/tv/news/michigan-cannabis-store-robbery-fire-video-b2976772.html

05/18/2026

Special congratulations to one of our Texas license applicant clients, GB Farms Texas Investments, LLC. In addition to several other Texas application clients, they were selected for a potential Texas cannabis license.

This achievement will always be special for Tony Gallo and the entire Sapphire Risk Advisory Group and Sapphire Blue Sky Ventures teams :)

https://www.dps.texas.gov/news/dps-releases-corrected-tabulation-texas-compassionate-use-program-expansion

05/14/2026

Rhode Island: There are no “do-overs” in cannabis?

A new Rhode Island House Bill, 2026—H 8544, has been introduced by Representative Scott Slater. Rhode Island Bill H 8544 (2026) is a newly introduced amendment to the Rhode Island Cannabis Act. The bill was introduced on May 13, 2026, and has been referred to the House Corporations Committee.

What H 8544 appears to do (plain English):

• Modernize parts of Rhode Island’s cannabis licensing structure

• Address issues created by the recent federal court challenge to Rhode Island’s residency requirements

• Potentially reset portions of the licensing process moving forward

Bottom line for applicants:

1️⃣ The previous 2025 application round is likely dead

2️⃣ A new application round is likely coming and soon

3️⃣ 2025 Applicants should expect to formally reapply. However, most 2025 applicants will not be starting from scratch.

For Sapphire Risk Advisory Group clients who submitted during the 2025 Rhode Island application round, the majority of the application foundation has already been built — including operational planning, security strategy, floor plan integration, compliance narratives, and regulator-focused documentation.

That matters because in cannabis licensing, details matter… and timing matters even more. There are no “do-overs” in cannabis. The next round will likely move fast, and applicants who are already prepared will have a significant advantage.

If you are interested in upgrading your 2025 Rhode Island application submission or thinking of applying as a new applicant and need an experienced team with a proven record behind you, contact Tony Gallo at [email protected] or 512-422-7600.

We have been helping cannabis business owners win licenses for over 13 years, so we must be doing something right 😊

chrome-extensio://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8544.pdf

05/14/2026

After 13+ years in the cannabis industry, one thing has become very clear:

Winning cannabis licenses is not about luck. It is about experience, strategy, operational readiness, and understanding exactly what regulators are looking for.

Sapphire Risk Advisory Group has helped cannabis operators across the country develop regulator-ready applications, security programs, operational plans, and compliance strategies that withstand scrutiny.

From highly competitive merit-based states to complex local approvals, we have been in the trenches helping clients navigate one of the most challenging industries in America.

At this point… we must be doing something right. 🙂

Thank you to all of the clients, partners, attorneys, consultants, and operators who continue to trust Sapphire with their cannabis licensing and operational projects. For over 13 years, we have been here to help businesses build defensible applications that regulators respect, insurance carriers appreciate, and operators can rely on.

Contact Tony Gallo at [email protected] / 512 422 7600 when you are ready to win ....

05/13/2026

We have been doing this for over 13 years, so we must be doing something right :)

05/12/2026

The cannabis industry talks a lot about growth, opportunity, and partnerships.

But one of the biggest problems still holding this industry back is the lack of
TRUST.

Too many operators, investors, consultants, and dealmakers have experienced:

• Broken promises

• Misleading quotes

• Hidden agendas

• Bad faith negotiations

• “Experts” who disappear when things get difficult

And every time it happens, it hurts the entire industry.

- Deals fall apart. Investors become hesitant.

- Operators become guarded.

- Relationships weaken.

- Good people leave the industry entirely.

For over 13 years, Sapphire Risk Advisory Group and Sapphire Blue Sky Ventures have built our reputation on one simple principle:

HONESTY MATTERS

We have never believed in overselling opportunities, making unrealistic promises, or telling clients what they want to hear just to win business. Whether it is a cannabis license application, a security consulting project, an operational assessment, or a business deal, we believe transparency and integrity are non-negotiable.

Sometimes the truth is not the easiest conversation to have, and we have lost business because of that honesty. But in this industry, credibility is everything. The cannabis industry does not just need more capital or more licenses. It needs more trustworthy people. That is how this industry grows the right way.

05/11/2026

Florida:
Florida’s recent MMTC Recommended Order is a powerful reminder that winning a cannabis license is no longer about simply submitting a “good application.” It is about building a defensible, regulator-ready operational plan that can survive intense comparative scrutiny.

In April 2023, the Florida Department of Health received 74 applications for just 22 available MMTC licenses. What followed was a lengthy and highly scrutinized review process that ultimately reinforced one major reality in cannabis licensing: DETAILS MATTER. We were fortunate to have worked on many of the winners.

A few major takeaways from this 133-page decision:

• Operational specificity and ex*****on readiness carried significant weight.

• Financial strength, cultivation planning, infrastructure, and real-world cannabis experience clearly mattered.

• Evaluator discretion played a major role, leading to challenges over scoring consistency.

• Similar applications did not guarantee similar scores when compliance timelines, operational details, and supporting documentation differed.

• Florida once again proved that cannabis licensing is a competitive comparative process — not a checklist exercise.

At Sapphire Risk Advisory Group, this is exactly why we focus on building operationally credible, inspection-ready, regulator-focused applications from day one. For over a decade, our team has helped cannabis operators secure licenses across the country by developing detailed security strategies, compliance-driven operational plans, facility design guidance, and regulator-ready application support that withstands scrutiny.

The days of vague narratives and generic templates are over. Regulators increasingly want to see businesses that are financially sustainable, operationally executable, and prepared to open compliantly on day one.

For operators pursuing opportunities in emerging markets like Virginia and beyond, this Florida case is absolutely worth studying.

Contact Tony Gallo at [email protected] / 512-422-7600 when you are ready to enter this great industry or grow within it.

https://www.doah.state.fl.us/ROS/2025/25001076.pdf

05/09/2026

TEXAS: The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced a correction to the tabulation methodology for awarding conditional licenses under the cannabis Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) expansion process ie: they had a basic math mistake :)

This correction affects some businesses that were previously awarded conditional TCUP licenses or spots on the TCUP license eligibility list during Phase I and Phase II of the expansion selection process.

Using the corrected tabulation methodology, the following organizations will be conditionally awarded TCUP licenses, subject to additional due diligence, including review of disciplinary history, financial suitability, litigation history, and any other information required by the department.

Sapphire Risk Advisory Group is proud of the success our Texas clients achieved throughout the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) expansion process. From application strategy and security design to operational planning and regulatory readiness, our team worked alongside clients every step of the way. And it showed in the results !!!

https://www.dps.texas.gov/news/dps-releases-corrected-tabulation-texas-compassionate-use-program-expansion

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today announced a correction to the tabulation methodology for awarding conditional licenses under the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) expansion process. This correction affects some businesses that were previously awarded conditional TCU...

05/06/2026

Virginia: Good or Bad news for the cannabis industry in the state?

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-raids-spanberger-ally-office-federal-corruption-probe-targets-cannabis-business

Sapphire Risk Advisory Group - "Hard to say at this time"

The FBI raided the office of Virginia Democratic state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, a key ally of Gov. Spanberger, in a corruption and ma*****na probe.