Zoned Properties Inc. (OTCQB: ZDPY)

Zoned Properties Inc. (OTCQB: ZDPY) is a technology-driven property investment company focused on acquiring value-add real estate within the regulated cannabis industry in the United States. The company aspires to innovate within the real estate development sector, focusing on direct-to-consumer real estate that is leased to best-in-class cannabis retailers.

The company is redefining the approach to commercial real estate investment through its standardized investment process backed by its proprietary property technology. Zoned Properties has developed a national ecosystem of real estate services to support its real estate development process, including a commercial real estate brokerage and a real estate advisory practice.

With a decade of national experience and a team of experts devoted to the emerging cannabis industry, Zoned Properties is addressing the specific needs of a modern market in highly regulated industries. The company targets commercial properties that face unique zoning or development challenges, identifies solutions that can potentially have a major impact on their commercial value and then works to acquire the properties while securing long-term, absolute-net leases.

Zoned Properties targets commercial properties that can be acquired and rezoned for specific purposes, including the regulated and legalized cannabis industry. It does not grow, harvest, sell or distribute cannabis or any substances regulated under United States law.

The company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Portfolio

The company’s investment properties are located in Arizona, Michigan and Illinois, with 100% occupancy and a weighted average lease term over 10 years. Each of the company’s leased properties is occupied by a commercial cannabis tenant. The company is expecting rental revenue from its property investment portfolio of greater than $2.5 million in calendar-year 2024.

Zoned Properties maintains a portfolio of properties that it owns, develops and leases. As of February 2024, the company leases land and/or building space at the six properties in its portfolio to licensed and regulated cannabis tenants in areas with established cannabis regulations and zoning procedures. Four of the leased properties are zoned and permitted as regulated cannabis retail dispensaries, and two of the leased properties are zoned and permitted as regulated cannabis cultivation and processing facilities.

The company considers the two cultivation sites in its portfolio as legacy properties and may consider selling or leveraging those properties to unlock equity and create capital availability in the future. The Zoned Properties investment thesis has evolved over the years as the cannabis industry has emerged, and the company is currently focused on investing capital into direct-to-consumer properties, located in state-markets with robust cannabis consumer demand in the industry.

Zoned Properties is in pursuit of property acquisitions that can be characterized as consumer-facing, retail dispensary properties that are positioned to be leased to retail dispensary cannabis tenants under net leasing structures. As of September 2023, the company has agreements in place to acquire new investment properties with new cannabis tenants located in Arizona, Missouri and Illinois. The company plans to initiate and target its investment process in Ohio and Maryland.

With a strategic shift in focus to direct-to-consumer real estate that is leased to best-in-class cannabis retailers in the industry, the company will continue to utilize its competitive edge when identifying excellent investment properties. Zoned Properties has a full pipeline of acquisition prospects and continues to utilize an extremely disciplined capital allocation approach.

Market Opportunity

According to MJBizDaily, a publication that has covered the North American cannabis business since 2011, combined U.S. medical and recreational cannabis sales were estimated at approximately $33.6 billion at the end of 2023, largely driven by the opening of new adult-use markets.

The publication projects that combined U.S. retail cannabis sales will reach upwards of $53.5 billion by 2027, according to an analysis published in its volume of cannabis market research, the MJBiz Factbook.

As of February 2024, 38 U.S. states had legalized medical, recreational or other limited use of cannabis. The Pew Research Center reports that, in January 2023, there were more than 11,000 licensed cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. In addition, global research firm IBISWorld reports that more than 40,000 U.S. localities have adopted regulations governing cannabis usage, production, processing and/or dispensing.

Management Team

Bryan McLaren is the Chairman and CEO of Zoned Properties. Previously, he worked as a Sustainability Consultant for Waste Management Inc., where he led the strategic development and operational implementation of zero-waste programs for clients. He was also appointed as a city Sustainability Commissioner. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in sustainable development from Northern Arizona University, an executive master’s degree in business leadership from Arizona State and an MBA with a specialty in sustainable development.

Berekk Blackwell is the President and COO of Zoned Properties. He previously spent time in developing domestic and international markets for Kahala Brands, a conglomerate of over 15 QSR franchises, including Cold Stone Creamery and Blimpie Subs. He later worked on developing QSR concepts for Revamp Corp. in Tokyo. After returning to the U.S., he served as president of Daily Jam, a limited-service breakfast and brunch chain. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration in finance from Fort Lewis College.

Patrick Moroney is the Director of Real Estate Acquisitions for Zoned Properties. Previously, he was one of the most successful Associate Brokers at Kidder-Mathews, focusing primarily on the regulated cannabis industry. He also worked as a commercial real estate broker rep at Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers International. He graduated from Arizona State University, after which he spent four years as a local sports broadcaster in Georgia and Iowa.

Kyle Gere is the Director of Advisory Services at Zoned Properties. He has years of licensing experience across multiple U.S. states in the medical and recreational cannabis markets. Since 2015, he has been involved in cannabis real estate transactions in Arizona and Michigan, managing a portfolio of medical marijuana properties. He attended Northern Arizona University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in both management and marketing.