High Times Extends Offering To June

High Times is celebrating the four-year anniversary of its IPO filing by once again extending the offering. This time it’s being extended to June 30, 2022. Not that anyone can buy any stock. The company was told by the SEC that it couldn’t sell any more shares until it posted updated financial information, which it hasn’t.

The extension was filed on April 1 and listed the Chair Adam Levin as the Chief Executive officer. Now, this may just be an oversight, but in January Paul Henderson, the company’s President and interim Chief Financial Officer was appointed to the position of CEO and a director on the Company’s board of directors. Mr. Henderson was also to continue in his roles as President and interim Chief Financial Officer. There is no mention in this offering extension that Henderson is the CEO. 

The filing states that an “Investor acknowledges and agrees that there is no ready public market for the Shares and that there is no guarantee that a market for their resale will ever exist. The company has no obligation to list any of the Shares on any market or take any steps (including registration under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) with respect to facilitating trading or resale of the Shares. Investor must bear the economic risk of this investment indefinitely and Investor acknowledges that Investor is able to bear the economic risk of losing Investor’s entire investment in the Shares.”

IPO Extensions

Many of High Times investors wonder how this can keep going on year after year. Well, according to the SEC guidelines, “Continuous or delayed offerings are permitted, although Regulation A limits the types of delayed offerings permitted under the exemption and is not available for at-the-market offerings.” 

But surely there is some time frame around this? A company can’t just keep on offering open in perpetuity right?

The SEC won’t comment but does point to this – “Before the end of such three-year period, an issuer may file a new offering statement covering the securities. The new offering statement must include all the information that would be required at that time in an offering statement relating to all offerings that it covers. Before the qualification date of the new offering statement, the issuer may include as part of such new offering statement any unsold securities covered by the earlier offering statement by identifying on the cover page of the new offering circular, or the latest amendment, the amount of such unsold securities being included. The offering of securities on the earlier offering statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of qualification of the new offering statement. Securities may be sold pursuant to this paragraph (d)(3)(i)(F) only if the issuer is current in its annual and semiannual filings pursuant to Rule 257(b) (§ 230.257(b)), at the time of such sale.”

That last sentence is why High Times can’t currently sell any more shares. The company hasn’t posted any financial information since 2019. Last year, the company’s CEO Peter Horvath hinted that those documents would be coming shortly and even suggested that April 20th would be a fine day for that to happen. That day came and went as did Mr. Horvath.

Having said that, High Times has been busy beyond the publication of news, although to be fair, it doesn’t publish very much fresh news daily. 

High Times Dispensaries

High Times had announced in 2020 that it was getting into the dispensary business, which was certainly hopeful news to these investors. The company announced it was buying dispensaries from Harvest Health & Recreation, which was then acquired by Trulieve (OTC: TCNNF). These investors were hopeful that the stock if it ever went public, would benefit from the revenue of these dispensaries. High Times had said it would be opening branded stores licensed to be named High Times and according to the website, there are six locations in operation. All the stores are located in California. 

Of the six dispensaries, Four are still licensed with the owner Ryan Kunkel and the Have A Heart brand. The other two – the Shasta Lake location does list High Times Holding Corp. as the owner and Synergy located in Redding is also listed as a HighTimes property with Levin and Henderson listed as the contacts. the information on who holds the licenses comes from Cannabiz Media. The company also owns Mountain High Delivery. In Michigan, High Times branded products are sold.

The question for investors is how much revenue will the company get from stores that are only using the name and not actually owning the license. Still, it is revenue that investors are likely hoping will boost the value of the company. 

Events

High Times has also resurrected its famous Cannabis Cup. However, while the company lists four upcoming events, it isn’t clear if there is an in-person event at any of these. Michigan has definitely stated it is a virtual awards program.  There are four states listed as hosting a Cannabis Cup, but the website only states the date of an awards ceremony for each state.

Events had been the big moneymaker for High Times in the past. These were all-day affairs with music and vendors that attracted thousands of party-goers. The events brought in millions of dollars, but that was before Levin took over. Now “judges” pay for the backpack full of products to try and rate, so really the only companies that can win are companies that sponsor the backpack. In the past, it was more like a country fair with experts judging the products and now it is public crowdsourced judging. 

While the Cannabis Cup in-person events have seemed to retreat, the Emerald Cup was happy to step in and take its place. Based in Northern California, this group hosts a Harvest Ball following the harvest season. The actual awards will be given this May in Los Angeles. The group has said that having a festival at harvest time was hard on the farmers and so it decoupled the awards from the ball. These winners are judged from a group of experts – like the Cannabis Cup of the past. 

Another new entrant to this type of cannabis competition is Hall of Flowers. Starting as a brand showcase, the HOF team also gives out awards. This could be the new version of the modern cannabis cup and if so, steals what had been a major moneymaker for High Times.

In Closing

There are several Reddit boards hosted by disgruntled High Times investors. These are small investors that believe their money has gone up in smoke. They receive little communication from the company they invested in and one Reddit author has claimed to have started a class-action suit against the company. It’s anyone’s guess whether the stock will trade or not, but it does seem like High Times manages to survive no matter what. In other words – don’t count them out. 

Debra Borchardt

Debra Borchardt is the Co-Founder, and Executive Editor of GMR. She has covered the cannabis industry for several years at Forbes, Seeking Alpha and TheStreet. Prior to becoming a financial journalist, Debra was a Vice President at Bear Stearns where she held a Series 7 and Registered Investment Advisor license. Debra has a Master's degree in Business Journalism from New York University.


10 comments

  • Jeffrey Hudson

    April 26, 2022 at 8:18 am

    I’ve already made the determination that my High Times investment was premature, unwise and unrecoverable. It’s the easiest way to move forward.

    Reply

  • Joseph Reed

    June 28, 2022 at 1:19 pm

    They sold me a good bunch of Nothing.

    Reply

  • Keith Bower

    July 14, 2022 at 4:21 am

    I completely disagree with Jeffrey Hudsons comments above. I suspect he might have something to gain by telling investors to blame themselves and move on.

    In my opinion, there should be a class action law suit. I believe they purposely miss-lead investors regarding their true intentions to go public and continue to do so. If what they’ve done is legal, our laws do not protect us from what I consider to be possible fraud. However, suspending their ability to sell stock is a step in the right direction.

    I believe a successful law suit is the only way we will ever see any of our money again. Angry, YES!!

    Reply

  • G.Powell

    October 15, 2022 at 12:48 pm

    The best advice about any stock is “buy and hold”

    Reply

    • Debra Borchardt

      October 17, 2022 at 8:01 am

      Especially if there is no market to sell your stock!

      Reply

  • Rob P.

    October 21, 2022 at 8:26 am

    I see this article says High Times can’t sell any more shares as of mid 2019, but their High Times Investor website is still up and running. I purchased some of their stock in April 2021, not realizing they were ordered to stop selling.

    Reply

    • Debra Borchardt

      October 21, 2022 at 10:58 am

      You should share this information with the SEC. They were told to stop selling shares since the financials had not been updated.

      Reply

  • Seth Robbins

    November 6, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    High Times funds mis-management. They simply do not give a damn about any of their investors. A financial update once in a while would be great. Seems like a Ponzi scheme to me, all the way around. Not sure how this is legal at all? Thanks for the information though.

    Reply

  • Edward "muddy"Miller

    February 7, 2023 at 12:57 pm

    I’m the little guy with 500 shares. I am a 65yo self employed drywall/plaster finisher & money comes hard. Currently 2/7/23 I’m on forced retirement with OA (osteoarthritis) & need 2 knees – 2 shoulders replaced with some neck work. I am so PISSED OFF! 1st. at myself & 2nd with High Times! I sure could use my 5500$ that has been setting since 2018. If anyone knows of a Class Action Lawsuit email me at muddy@themudmasters.com Thank you. Muddy (God HT SUCKS!)

    Reply

  • Janice Leone

    February 7, 2024 at 12:28 pm

    As of February 2024 high times investor website still up and running. I am down and out 20 grand. The SCC filed a lawsuit and received much money none of which will be going to the investors that were scammed

    Reply

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