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Hi all,

In case you missed it, check out Monday’s story on California’s big hemp questions. How the state addresses Delta-8 and other hemp-derived intoxicants will be felt throughout the country’s largest market.  

In today’s newsletter:

• Eaze driver strike averted

Happy 4/20 weekend.

Let’s get to it,

Alex

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California’s largest delivery service, Eaze, and more than 500 workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers announced they had reached a tentative deal to avoid the largest work stoppage in industry history. After nine months of negotiations, workers had threatened to walk off days before the annual 4/20 rush.

A key issue had been the per mile reimbursement rate received by drivers which the company cut last year.  While terms of the deal were not disclosed, a driver who had been involved in the negotiations described it as a “middle ground…that recognizes our costs and contributions.”

Read WeedWeek‘s coverage of the standoff.

Federal:

• Ahead of 420, Congressional Democrats are calling for federal reform.
  Marijuana Moment

Business:

• Nancy Whiteman, co-founder of leading edibles maker Wana Brands, said she was stepping down from the day-to-day role of CEO to focus on philanthropy. She’ll be replaced by CMO Joe Hodas, but remain involved in the closing of Canadian-player Canopy Growth’s acquisition of Wana, California-based Jetty Extracts and MSO Acreage.
  Cannabis Business Times
• California’s bestselling brand, Stiiizy, was sued in Illinois over hemp-derived products. Stiiizy president Tak Sato called the suit “baseless.”
  Law360
• Tech shops are looking to avoid last years 4/20 outage which affected online menu provider Dutchie and many of its client shops.
  MJBiz
• As High Times-branded shops shutter in California, it’s opening its first in Colorado, in partnership with longtime Denver operator High Level Health.
  Westword
• West coast 420 events are struggling this year, while east coast events boom.
  Green Market Report
• HR and staffing company Vangst acquired the temp staffing division of recruitment firm CannabizTeam.
• U.S. law schools need more cannabis courses, ABA Journal finds.
• Canna Law Blog discusses five key considerations before accepting foreign investment.

State and local:

• CBS News spoke to Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers about the Florida REC ballot initiative supported by the MSO.
• A New York industry group said a dramatic rise in the number of licensed shops would be “disastrous” for the shops that are already licensed.
  N.Y.Post
• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced a lottery system to award MED licenses.
  AP
• The Nevada Independent checks in on the state’s new consumption lounges.
• New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he would not sign a REC bill passed by the state house. It now goes to the state senate.
  Forbes
• In Maryland, thriving Black-woman owned shop Mary & Main has encountered suburban resistance.
  Washington Post
• Alabama Political Reporter has a story on a court filing asking for a “special master” to vet license applicants instead of the regulator.
• MJBiz highlights the failure of Arizona’s social equity program.
• Iowa’s MED program turned 10.
  Des Moines Register
• Cincinnati CityBeat looks into Ohio lawmakers’ struggle to develop a REC plan.
• Massachusetts dispersed its first grants to equity businesses.
  MassLive

International:

• Germany’s Bavaria state banned now-legal pot smoking at Oktoberfest and in beer gardens.
• Canada’s industry is “praying” for tax reform in the federal budget.
  MJBiz
• Nine have been arrested in the alleged European “JuicyFields’ cannabis ponzi scheme.
  Agence France Presse

Business:

• Blüm Holdings, formerly Unrivaled, has dramatically reduced its losses but still owes nearly $500M.
  Green Market Report
• Stock blog Acquirer’s Multiple argues Glass House wins on cost of production.
• Beverage brand Cann has a new partnership with Barstool Sports.

Local:

• Sonoma Co. supes approved tax cuts from growers and manufacturers.
  Press-Democrat
• Some Long Beach operators will get a tax cut.
  Press-Telegram
• In Lake County, a licensed grower alleges the county isn’t following its own regulations.
  Lake County Bee

Company milestones:

• Wrestler Ric Flair’s Drip brand part of the Carma HoldCo house of brands, is landing in California in partnership with Green Dragon, (Not the Eaze subsidiary.).
• SoCal retailer Sweet Flower has a new shop in Fresno.
  The Business Journal
• Sales and marketing platform Petalfast announced a partnership with value brand Halfpipe.

Job Moves:

• Statehouse Holdings named Felicia Snyder independent board chair. Matt Hawkins with, investor Entourage Effect Holdings, stepped down from the board.

Upcoming:

• San Diego 420 festivities include a roller skating party.
  OBRag
• And here’s the plan in West Hollywood’s Emerald Village.
  Los Angeles Magazine