Hi all,

It was great to see so many of you in Chicago. Wild to see so many of the same faces, and some new ones too.

In the newsletter:

• Calif. hemp wars heat up

Wishing those of you affected by the hurricanes warmth, comfort and safety.

Alex

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A hemp industry group and several businesses asked a California judge to block the enforcement of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) hemp ban. As previously reported, the industry argues the ban doesn’t qualify for the emergency rulemaking process Newsom cited when announcing the ban in September.
Reuters, WeedWeek

• Similar fights are underway in states including Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia.

Despite Gov. Newsom’s ban on intoxicating hemp products, SFGate found that hemp-derived products are still being sold in Bay Area smoke shops.

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And in case you missed it, “What happened to Statehouse?”
WeedWeek

Federal:

• Activists from the progressive Parabola Center called on Trump and Harris to stop pandering and offer “concrete plans for an equitable industry.”
  Marijuana Moment
• Canna Law Blog paid tribute to retiring Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Congress’s greatest ever cannabis advocate.

Business:

• Commercial landlords are softening their stance on cannabis businesses, MJBiz reports.
• Eaze, the largest delivery service in California, is reportedly shutting down after investor and Silicon Valley eminence Jim Clark purchased its assets at auction. It’s not clear what will happen to retail subsidiary Green Dragon which has substantial store counts in Florida and Colorado.
  SFGate
• Illinois operator Cannect Wellness raised $7M.
  BizJournals
• Another California company laid low: Gold Flora which includes the company formerly known as The Parent Company, learned that a “limited purpose receivership” has been granted to resolve a dispute between it and the former directors of subsidiary Left Coast Ventures.
• A prominent ketamine co-founder warned the industry puts profits over patients.
  Double Blind

State and local:

• As the state prepares to vote on REC, Florida businesses shut down ahead of Hurricane Milton. This Florida Man did a Hurricane dab.
  MJBiz
• Massachusetts regulators fined MSOs Ascend Wellness and Curaleaf for allegedly “ignoring consumer safety practices.” Grant-Smith Ellis also reports that a fight is brewing between cities and regulators over local control.
• Massachusetts legislators are also wading into the laws governing its regulator which has been in a state of chaos.
  NBC
• A Missouri appeals court heard a case on how products are taxed.
• A federal appeals court heard a challenge to Mississippi’s ad ban.
  Law360
• Two years after legalizing, Vermont regulators want to “take a breath” and reassess how to keep the industry “sustainable and Vermont-centric.“
  Cannabis Business Executive
• Nebraska advocates are pushing back on allegations of fraud and malfeasance related to their signature collecting for the state’s upcoming MED ballot initiative.
  Nebraska Examiner
• Delaware received many applications to open MED shops.
  DelawareOnline

Health and science:

• There’s a federal initiative underway to secure domestic supplies of cannabis and opium poppies.
  NY Times
• Another NY Times article on the “little-known risks” of cannabis was criticized by many in cannabis circles.

Fun and interesting:

• The former drummer of thrash metal band Pantera has a new brand: Dimebag Darrell’s Cannabis From Hell.
  CelebStoner

State:

• Attorneys with ArentFoxSchiff posted on what to expect with California’s forthcoming “Amsterdam-style” coffeehouses.

Business:

• Brand West Coast Cure issued a voluntary recall for several products due to “potential adulteration.” The brand, which is also fighting a pesticide related lawsuit, will be dropped by large retailer Catalyst,  Catalyst CEO Elliot Lewis said on social media.
• Lowell Farms reached a deal to manage two LA shops. It’s the brand’s first foray into direct retail.
• The Press Democrat has a two-part report on Sonoma Co’s equity process which has ruptured the cannabis community.
• Harborside founders Steve and Andrew DeAngelo didn’t rule out buying their original Harborside Oakland store back from Pelorus Group, which has asked the a judge to put owner Statehouse Holdings into receivership.
  Green Market Report
• Former employees of the Higher Level dispensary in Fresno have filed a lawsuit, claiming they were fired because of their gender and age. The lawsuit comes amid claims that the dispensary, was bought out against Fresno city code.
• Tim Dodd, CEO of retailer Sweet Flower, posted a 2021 ad from now defunct rival MedMen attacking his company. It has not aged well.

Local:

• Sacramento’s plan for a smoking lounge pilot program moved forward.

 

 

 

 

 

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