Here’s what’s happening:
- A top New York lawmaker who supports a progressive cannabis bill said she was “really encouraged” by talks with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) office and said REC legalization could happen this year. With Cuomo facing calls to resign, his likely successor, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul(D), has called legalization “long overdue.”
Marijuana Moment, Cheddar - In Arizona, there’s a rush on rural REC licenses. (Paywall)
AZCentral - Vanita Gupta, President Biden’s nominee to be associate attorney general, disowned a previous position that all drugs should be decriminalized.
Washington Post - Following the news that MSO Curaleaf is expanding to Europe, CEO Joseph Bayern discussed his plans to go global with Business Insider. Barron’s has more. (Paywall 2x)
- Track and trace software from Metrc has been experiencing outages in California, “causing a lot of heartburn” for PotCos.
MJBiz - Business Insider peeks at the money fueling the psychedelic renaissance. (Paywall)
- The American Bar Association Journal discussed the opportunity for law firms to get involved in cannabis.
- A push for potency caps is gaining momentum in Colorado.
Denver Post - Clubhouse has become a cannabiz networking hub.
Forbes - After a string of dispensary robberies, a Portland Ore. budtender was fatally shot in December. Willamette Week tells the story.
- Keith Stephenson, founder of the country’s oldest Black-owned dispensary, Purple Heart Patient Center in Oakland, discussed his struggle to reopen since it was looted last year.
High Times - Jackie Bryant calls Seth Rogen’s Houseplant a celebrity cannabis brand that’s “worth the hype.” The website crashed due to excessive demand.
Forbes, Hollywood Reporter
