Cookies inks deal with tobacco company

THE BIG IDEA

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I’m looking forward to an east coast trip this week. If you see me at Benzinga in Miami, say hi.

In the newsletter:

California’s CEQA crunch
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WHAT YOU MISSED IN WEEDWEEK CALIFORNIA PRO

The CEQA crunch

California’s industry is on a collision course with the California Environmental Quality Act.

The system isn’t ready.

PLUS:

Cookies’ big new tobacco deal

Ugly data from Monterey Co.

And more!

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LATEST PRESS RELEASE

Happy Cabbage Analytics Acquires ZolTrain to Enhance Cannabis Retailer Profitability

San Francisco, Denver (Newsworthy.ai) Monday Apr 3, 2023 @ 1:00 PM Pacific — Happy Cabbage Analytics, the cannabis industry’s first retail optimization platform, has announced its acquisition of ZolTrain, a brand activation platform designed for cannabis brands and retailers to...

Read the full press release here

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FORMER MICHIGAN MED REGULATOR CHARGED IN BRIBERY SCHEME

Former Michigan House Speaker and chair of the state’s MED licensing board Rick Johnson (R) was charged in connection with a cannabis bribery scandal. Two lobbyists and a business owner were also charged, with more indictments expected.
Detroit Metro Times, Crain’s Detroit Business

Federal prosecutors allege Johnson was “the heart of this corrupt scheme” to accept bribes in exchange for licenses.

Business owner Dalaly “is accused of giving Johnson at least $68,000 in cash and other benefits, including flights on his private plane, in exchange for a license to operate a medical cannabis dispensary, which federal authorities have not yet named.”
Bridge MI
All four charged are cooperating in the ongoing investigation.
The Michigan MED board was disbanded when the REC market arrived.

Read the story

QUICK HITS

Federal:

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will speak at a 4/20 event at the Capitol.
Marijuana Moment

Business:

An ruling in the federal case of The Hacienda Company, which used to own Lowell Farms, suggests a “trend away from ‘zero tolerance’ cannabis bankruptcy relief,” Canna Law Blog writes.
MSO Green Thumb Industries‘ plan to open stores adjacent to Circle K convenience stores is reportedly in litigation. It’s not clear who’s suing who.
MJBiz
March was another grim month for pot stocks.
New Cannabis Ventures
AI-recruiting software Engin Sciences landed a $2.5M Series A led by Gotham Growth Partners.
A lawsuit alleges MSO Jushi tried to keep a competitor out of a Massachusetts town.
Green Market Report
A federal judge in Nevada ordered Instagram celeb Dan Bilzerian’s Ignite brand to pay $1.6M to a consulting firm, dismissing a lawsuit between the two.
Law360
Las Vegas nightlife impresario Robert Frey is opening a cannabis museum in Manhattan’s SoHo with backing from Merida, a major industry investor.

State and local:

Growers say they’re being taxed out of business by a formula that calculates the fair market value of flower, rather than its actual wholesale price.
Nevada Current
California’s new law preventing companies from firing employees for cannabis use when they’re not on duty, has created an issue with impaired employees on duty. In Washington state, both branches of the legislature have signed a similar law.
OC Register, Human Resources
New Mexico REC sales topped $300M in their first year.
Ganjapreneur
Ananda Consulting’s Hirsh Jain and lawyer Jeffrey Schultz compared the California and New York markets.
Seeking Alpha

Environment:

Based on a situation in Oakland, Slate makes the environmental case for indoor growing.
Scientists developed a pesticide exposure test for weed workers.
Cannabis Equipment News

Job moves: