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Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies) [Line Items]  
Nature of Operations [Policy Text Block]

Nature of Operations


General Cannabis Corp, a Colorado Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “GCC”) (formerly, Advanced Cannabis Solutions, Inc.), was incorporated on June 3, 2013, and provides services and products to the regulated cannabis industry. On June 6, 2018 we began trading on the OTCQX® Best Market after upgrading from the OTCQB® Venture Market.  Our operations are segregated into the following four segments:


Security and Cash Transportation Services (“Security Segment”)


We provide advanced security, including on-site professionals and cash transport, to licensed cannabis cultivators, cannabis processing facilities and retail shops, under the business name Iron Protection Group (“IPG”) in California and Colorado, and security services to non-cannabis customers in Colorado, such as hotels, apartment buildings and retail, under the business name Mile High Protection Services (“MHPS”), which we acquired in August 2017.


Operations Consulting and Products (“Operations Segment”)


Through Next Big Crop (“NBC”), we deliver comprehensive consulting services to the cannabis industry that include obtaining licenses, compliance, cultivation, retail operations, logistical support, facility design and construction, and expansion of existing operations.  During 2018, 60% of NBC’s revenue was with one customer.


NBC oversees our wholesale equipment and supply business, operated under the name “GC Supply,” which provides turnkey sourcing and stocking services to cultivation, retail and infused products manufacturing facilities. Our products include building materials, equipment, consumables and compliance packaging.  There are generally multiple suppliers for the products we sell; however, there are a limited number of manufacturers of certain high-tech cultivation equipment.


Consumer Goods and Marketing Consulting (“Consumer Goods Segment”)


Our apparel business, Chiefton, has two primary revenue streams.  Chiefton Supply strives to create innovative, unique t-shirts, hats, hoodies and accessories. Our apparel is sold through our on-line shop, cannabis retailers, non-cannabis retailers, and specialty t-shirt and gift shops.  Chiefton Design provides design, branding and marketing strategy consulting services to the cannabis industry, which frequently includes sourcing and selling customer-specific apparel and accessories.


Capital Investments and Real Estate (“Investments Segment”)


As a publicly traded company, we have access to capital that may not be available to businesses operating in the cannabis industry.  Accordingly, we may provide debt or equity capital through (a) loans or revolving lines of credit, (b) leasing real estate we own, or (c) investing in businesses using cash or shares of our common stock.

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of GCC and its four wholly-owned subsidiary companies: (a) 6565 E. Evans Owner LLC, a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2014; (b) General Cannabis Capital Corporation, a Colorado corporation formed in 2015; (c) GC Security LLC (“GCS”), a Colorado limited liability company formed in 2015; and (d) GC Corp., a Colorado corporation, originally formed in 2013 under ACS Corp. In 2015, the name was changed to GC Corp. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.


The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Although these estimates are based on our knowledge of current events and actions we may undertake in the future, actual results may ultimately differ from these estimates and assumptions. Furthermore, when testing assets for impairment in future periods, if management uses different assumptions or if different conditions occur, impairment charges may result.

Going Concern

Going Concern


The consolidated financial statements 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 approximately $8.0 million is not sufficient to absorb our operating losses and retire our debt of $6,849,000.  The warrants associated with this debt, if exercised, would provide sufficient funds to retire the debt; however, there is no guarantee that these warrants will be exercised.  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 obtaining additional capital and (b) actions presently being taken to further implement our business plan and generate additional revenues provide 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.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits with banks, and investments that are highly liquid and have maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.  We maintain our cash balances in financial institutions that, from time to time, may exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ($250,000 as of December 31, 2018).

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventory


Our inventory consists of finished goods, including apparel and supplies for the cannabis market. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market (net realizable value), using average cost to determine cost. We monitor inventory cost compared to selling price in order to determine if a lower of cost or market reserve is necessary.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment


Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost.  The cost of maintenance and repairs, which are not significant improvements, are expensed when incurred.  Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets:  thirty years for buildings, the lesser of five years or the life of the lease for leasehold improvements, and three to five years for furniture, fixtures and equipment.  Land is not depreciated.

Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

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 Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets


Intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships and marketing-related intangibles. Our intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of two years.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-lived Assets


We periodically evaluate whether the carrying value of property, equipment and intangible assets 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 discounted 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.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investments


We use the equity method for investments when we are able to exercise significant influence over, but do not control, the investee, and are not the primary beneficiary of the investee’s activities.  We include our portion of an equity-method investee’s net income or loss within other expense on the consolidated statements of operations.  In the event that the cost basis in an investment exceeds the fair value of the underlying business, we record an impairment charge to reduce our carrying value to the estimated fair value.


We record investments that do not qualify for treatment under the equity method at fair value, unless there is no readily determinable fair value.  We record at cost equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair value and assess for impairment at each reporting period.  We are able to switch to fair value at our option.

Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Debt


We issue debt that may have 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.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements


Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, as follows:


Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.


Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.


Our financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, investments, accounts payables and tenant deposits. The carrying values of these financial instruments approximate their fair value due to their short maturities.  The carrying amount of our debt approximates fair value because the interest rates on these instruments approximate the interest rate on debt with similar terms available to us.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition


During the first quarter of 2018, we adopted the following accounting principles related to revenue recognition: (a) FASB ASU 2016-12 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606);” (b) FASB ASU 2016-11 “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815);” and (c) FASB ASU 2016-10 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).”  Due to the nature of our contracts with customers, adopting the new accounting principles did not have a significant impact on our prior period results of operations, cash flows or financial position.


Our service and product revenues arise from contracts with customers.  Service revenue includes (a) Security Segment, (b) Operations Segment consulting revenue, and (c) Consumer Goods Segment revenues from design consulting, including customer-branded apparel designed and fulfilled by Chiefton.  Product revenue includes (a) Operations Segment product sales and (b) Consumer Goods Segment Chiefton-branded apparel.  The majority of our revenue is derived from distinct performance obligations, such as time spent delivering a service or the delivery of a specific product.


We may also enter into contracts with customers that identify a single, or few, distinct performance obligations, but that also have non-distinct, underlying performance obligations.  These contracts are typically fulfilled within one to three months.  Only an insignificant portion of our revenue would be assessed for allocation between distinct (contractual) performance obligations and non-distinct deliverables between reporting periods and, accordingly, we do not record a contract asset for completed, non-distinct performance obligations prior to invoicing the customer.


We recognize revenue when the following criteria are met:


The parties to the contract have approved the contract and are committed to perform their respective obligations – our customary practice is to obtain written evidence, typically in the form of a contract or purchase order.


Each party’s rights regarding the goods or services have been identified – we have rights to payment when services are completed in accordance with the underlying contract, or for the sale of goods when custody is transferred to our customers either upon shipment to or receipt at our customers’ locations, with no right of return or further obligations.


The payment terms for the goods or services have been identified – prices are typically fixed, and no price protections or variables are offered.


The contract has commercial substance – our practice is to only enter into contracts that will positively affect our future cash flows.


Collectability is probable – we typically require a retainer for all or a portion of the goods or services to be delivered, as well as continually monitoring and evaluating customers’ ability to pay.  Payment terms are typically zero to fifteen days within delivery of the good or service.


Customer deposits are contract liabilities with customers that represent our obligation to either transfer goods or services in the future, or refund the amount received.  Where possible, we obtain retainers to lessen our risk of non-payment by our customers.  Customer deposits are recognized as revenue as we perform under the contract

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Share-based Payments


NonemployeesWe may enter into agreements with nonemployees to make share-based payments in return for services. These payments may be made in the form of common stock or common stock warrants. We recognize expense for fully-vested warrants at the time they are granted. For awards with service or performance conditions, we generally recognize expense over the service period or when the performance condition is met; however, there may be circumstances in which we determine that the performance condition is probable before the actual performance condition is achieved. In such circumstances, the amount recognized as expense is the pro rata amount, depending on the estimated progress towards completion of the performance condition. Nonemployee share-based payments are measured at fair value, based on either the fair value of the equity instrument issued or on the fair value of the services received. Typically, it is not practical to value the services received, so we determine the fair value of common stock grants based on the price of the common stock on the measurement date (which is the earlier of the date at which a commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instruments is reached, if there are sufficient disincentives to ensure performance, or the date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete), and the fair value of common stock warrants using Black-Scholes. We use historical data to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected stock option life and expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the


stock option. For awards that are recognized when a performance condition is probable, the fair value is estimated at each reporting date. The cost ultimately recognized is the fair value of the equity award on the date the performance condition is achieved. Accordingly, the expense recognized may change between interim reporting dates and the date the performance condition is achieved.


Awards of common stock with a service or performance condition, where the ultimate number of shares to be issued is uncertain, are classified as liabilities.  All other nonemployee awards are classified as equity.


Employees – We issue options to purchase our common stock to our employees, which are measured at fair value using Black-Scholes. We use historical data and other relevant factors to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected stock option life and expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the stock option.  We recognize expense on a straight-line basis over the service period, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, resulting in a compensation cost for only those shares expected to vest.  Awards to employees are classified as equity.


Market price-based awards – We may issue share-based payments that vest when certain market conditions are met, such as our common stock trading above a certain value for a specific number of days.  We recognize expense for market price-based options at the estimated fair value of the options using the binomial lattice model over the estimated life of the options used in the model, or immediately upon the market conditions being met.  We use historical data to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected stock option life and expected forfeiture rate.  The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the stock option.

Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Shipping and Handling


Payments by customers to us for shipping and handling costs are included in revenue on the consolidated statements of operations, while our expense is included in cost of goods sold. Shipping and handling for inventory is included as a component of inventory on the consolidated balance sheets, and in cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations when the product is sold.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes


We recognize deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the income tax and financial reporting carrying amount of our assets and liabilities. We monitor our deferred tax assets and evaluate the need for a valuation allowance based on the estimate of the amount of such deferred tax assets that we believe do not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria. We also evaluate whether we have any uncertain tax positions and would record a reserve if we believe it is more-likely-than-not our position would not prevail with the applicable tax authorities. Our assessment of tax positions as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, determined that there were no material uncertain tax positions.

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reportable Segments


Our reporting segments consist of:  a) Security and Cash Transportation Services; b) Operations Consulting and Products; c) Consumer Goods and Marketing Consulting; and d) Capital Investments and Real Estate.  Our Chief Executive Officer has been identified as the chief decision maker.  Our operations are conducted primarily within the United States of America.

Related Parties [Policy Text Block]

Related Parties


Related parties are any entities or individuals that, through employment, ownership or other means, possess the ability to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Company.  We disclose related party transactions that are outside of normal compensatory agreements, such as salaries or board of director fees.  We consider the following individuals / companies to be related parties:


·


Michael Feinsod – Chairman of our Board of Directors (“Board”).


·


Infinity Capital West, LLC (“Infinity Capital”) – An investment management company that was founded and is controlled by Michael Feinsod.


·


DB Arizona – A company that borrowed $825,000 from GC Finance Arizona.  Prior to our purchase in June 2017, we did not possess the ability to influence DB Arizona and DB Arizona did not have the ability to influence us.  We include DB Arizona as a related party due to our relationship with Michael Feinsod and Infinity Capital, and their relationship with DB Arizona.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Issued Accounting Standards


FASB ASU 2018-07 “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” - In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07. This update is intended to reduce cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for share-based payments issued to non-employees (for example, service providers, external legal counsel, suppliers, etc.). The ASU expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, which currently only includes share-based payments issued to employees, to also include share-based payments issued to non-employees for goods and services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees and employees will be substantially aligned. This standard will be effective for financial statements issued by public companies for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of the standard is permitted. The standard will be applied in a retrospective approach for each period presented. We do not currently expect this ASU to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


FASB ASU 2017-04 “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (Topic 350)” – In January 2017, the FASB issued 2017-04.  The guidance removes “Step Two” of the goodwill impairment test, which required a hypothetical purchase price allocation.  A goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill.  The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted.  We do not currently expect this ASU to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


FASB ASU 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)” – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which will require lessees to recognize almost all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability.  For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Classification will be based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in current lease accounting, but without explicit bright lines.  Lessor accounting is similar to the current model, but has been updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. As of December 31, 2018, we do not have any material leases, so adoption of this ASU will not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Accounting Standards Update 2018-07 [Member]  
Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies) [Line Items]  
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

FASB ASU 2018-07 “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” - In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07. This update is intended to reduce cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for share-based payments issued to non-employees (for example, service providers, external legal counsel, suppliers, etc.). The ASU expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, which currently only includes share-based payments issued to employees, to also include share-based payments issued to non-employees for goods and services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees and employees will be substantially aligned. This standard will be effective for financial statements issued by public companies for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of the standard is permitted. The standard will be applied in a retrospective approach for each period presented. We do not currently expect this ASU to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Accounting Standards Update 2017-04 [Member]  
Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies) [Line Items]  
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

FASB ASU 2017-04 “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (Topic 350)” – In January 2017, the FASB issued 2017-04.  The guidance removes “Step Two” of the goodwill impairment test, which required a hypothetical purchase price allocation.  A goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill.  The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted.  We do not currently expect this ASU to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]  
Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies) [Line Items]  
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

FASB ASU 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)” – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which will require lessees to recognize almost all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability.  For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Classification will be based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in current lease accounting, but without explicit bright lines.  Lessor accounting is similar to the current model, but has been updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. As of December 31, 2018, we do not have any material leases, so adoption of this ASU will not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial position.