11. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Option Summary

The following is a summary of stock option activity during the six months ended March 31, 2023:

	Number of Option Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price ($)
Balance, September 30, 2022		1,418,938			19.11
Options granted		50,000			3.27
Options expired		(44,600	)		6.05
Options canceled/forfeited		(134,656	)		12.73
Options exercised		—			—
Balance, March 31, 2023		1,289,682		$	19.61

Fair Value Option, Disclosures

The Black-Scholes model utilized the following inputs to value the options granted during the six months ended March 31, 2023:

Fair value assumptions Options:	March 31, 2023
Risk free interest rate	2.65% - 4.23%
Expected term (years)	5.50 - 5.77
Expected volatility	180.09% - 194.90%
Expected dividends		0	%

The Company recognized stock based compensation expense relating to stock options of $1,487 and $2,503 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 and $3,145 and $4,915 for the six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

Schedule of Restricted Stock Summary

The following table summarizes the performance-based restricted stock units at the maximum award amounts based upon the respective performance share agreements. Actual shares that will vest depend on the attainment of the performance-based criteria.

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value Per Share		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2022		5,448,548		$	4.93	$	17,326
Granted		390,552			2.55
Vested		(1,539,776	)		4.59
Forfeited		(4,048	)		29.34
Outstanding at March 31, 2023		4,295,276		$	4.81	$	11,941