Hi all,

Hope you’re enjoying summer’s end. The weed news never stops.

In the newsletter:

• Calif. hemp bill dies in legislature

Read up,

Alex

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A bill supported by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and much of the California cannabiz to regulate hemp-derived intoxicants through the cannabis supply chain died in the legislature.
WeedWeek, Marijuana Moment

Opponents of the bill included patients advocates, purveyors of hemp-infused beverages, and small farms trade group Origins Council, which argued its members would be undersold by cheaply grown hemp.

It was a loss for the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), which argued the bill was necessary to protect consumers from unregulated hemp products and that manufacturers and consumers would benefit from using hemp-derived cannabinoids to power licensed edibles.

Amy O’Gorman Jenkins, a lobbyist with ties to CCIA, called killing the bill a “terrible misstep,” writing:

“Since 2021, we’ve seen a nearly 20% decline in cannabis tax revenues, while an untaxed and untested hemp market sidesteps every critical measure the state has put in place to regulate this plant. Everyone should be alarmed by this outcome—the result of misinformation and special interests —which will have reverberating implications for an industry on the brink.”

Meanwhile:

• S.B. 1059, which aims to resolve a conflict between state and local taxes in some cities, including LA, cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

In case you missed it:

• Amid pesticide questions, Catalyst stays with Stiiizy
  WeedWeek

Federal:

• Rescheduling and the Farm Bill have sparked a lobbying blitz in Washington.
  MJBiz

Business:

• The five big MSOs that claim to have “declared their freedom” from industry hated tax rule 280E are likely to face a grueling, high-risk battle with the IRS, MJBiz reports. 
• Leading MSO Curaleaf quietly relocated its headquarters from New York to Stamford Conn. It was originally based in Massachusetts.
  Hartford Business Journal
• MSO TerrAscend secured a $140M loan.
• Molson Coors sold four craft breweries to Canadian operator Tilray.
  Denver Post
• MSOs Curio Wellness and Ascend Wellness announced a manufacturing and distribution partnership to expand to new states.
• Pot stocks are rallying.
  New Cannabis Ventures

State and local:

• Massachusetts’ long-struggling regulatory agency has a new acting commissioner who’ll serve for at least two weekly meetings.
  Commonwealth Beacon
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis(R) called Tallahassee-based MSO Trulieve, which has poured tens of millions into the state’s upcoming REC initiative, a Canadian company. Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers pushed back.
  Tallahassee.com
• Donald Trump, who has teased support for Florida’s initiative, said he would weigh in soon. Republican operative, dirty trickster, and longtime legalization supporter Roger Stone “guaranteed” a Trump victory if he endorsed it. Congressman Matt Gaetz (Fla.), one of the most vocal Republicans in favor of reform, and a close Trump ally, said he would vote against the ballot initiative.
  Marijuana Moment
• A panel in Las Vegas discussed the stalemate between the gambling and weed industries.
  Nevada Independent
• A court ruling could undermine New York’s crackdown on unlicensed product.
  Green Market Report
  
• Rolling Stone asks if a New York City weed hustler can go legit.
• North Dakotans are set to get their third chance to vote on REC, in November.
  AP
• Ohio REC sales exceeded expectations in their first week.
  Fox
• Dallas residents will vote on decriminalization in November.
  Dallas Morning News
• Delaware’s REC license application window opens next week.
  DelawareOnline
• Missouri Norml said there’s “no rational explanation” for the state to allow higher levels of vitamin E acetate in vape cartridges. The additive, which was mostly found in unlicensed products, is generally blamed for the 2019 vape crisis which killed dozens and hospitalized hundreds. 
• The first lawsuit challenging Minnesota licensing has been filed.
• A Colorado lawsuit highlights the industry’s ongoing testing scandal.
  MJBiz

Health and science:

• A study found cannabis use raised the risk of head and neck cancers.
  Springer Medicine
• The U.S. FDA declined to approve MDMA therapy for PTSD, saying more study is needed.
  NY Times

Fun and interesting:

• Not Another Weed Event is looking for sponsors.
• The Pink Pony Club was ready at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco.
  @outsidelands

State:

• A California judge rejected a lab’s plea to stay open after the DCC closed it for pesticide violations.
  Green Market Report

Business:

• Seed Junky dropped its lawsuit against Cookies — it’s not clear if there was a settlement. Cookies faces at least two other pending lawsuits.
  Green Market Report
• Jesse Redmond of Water Tower Research posted that Glass House is considering offering direct to consumer hemp from its SoCal farm.
• California’s most innovative companies are giving up on the legal market, SFGate reports.
• Vape brand Jetty Extracts partnered with distributor Nabis. Jetty had previously worked with Kiva Sales & Service.

Recalls etc.:

• After a recent recall, the DCC warned about products and packaging that could be attractive to children.

Crime:

• The state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force seized more than 2.2M illegal packages in a DTLA raid. Many resembled candy and other snack foods.

Books:

• Adam Bierman, co-founder and former CEO of MedMen, the now defunct MSO, has a book coming out: Weed Empire: How I battled gangsters, investment banks, and the Department of Justice to build the cannabis industry in America.
• The new novel Moon Over Humboldt by Jim Hight is “a love letter to this place in all its rough-around-the-edges glory.”
  Lost Coast Outpost

Company milestones:

• Mary Jones soda expanded to Michigan and debuted 100 mg shooters in California.
• Wiz Khalifa’s brand, Khalifa Kush, which he launched in Florida with Trulieve announced a Las Vegas partnership with retailer Planet 13.

Upcoming:

• The Emerald Cup is this weekend in Oakland. Among the festivities, Elvy Musikka will celebrate the 36th anniversary of her enrollment in the federal (?!?!?) cannabis program at CBCB in Berkeley.
• Cannifest returns to Eureka (Humboldt Co.) on September 7 and 8.
  Kymkemp

Community:

• Torrey Holistics in San Diego is collecting jars of peanut butter for a food drive.
  The Coast