Update

1. Last week's newsletter discussed a lawsuit California filed against Lowell Herb Co. alleging the company engaged in commercial activity without a license at one facility over a four-month period. Lowell responds that it is working with authorities to resolve the matter. "We have never released a product to the market that has not been tested in a State-licensed testing facility," the company added.

• Most notably, Crapo proposed a product potency cap of 2% THC for companies seeking bank access. A cannabis lobbyist called it "unworkable and unrealistic."
  MJBiz
• Crapo, who seemed to indicate interest, if not support, for banking reform in September, reiterated his opposition to legalization.
  Politico

• Trump signed a federal funding bill which extended protections to state legal MED, but not REC activity. As he has done in the past, he added signing statements reserving his right to ignore those protections.
  Forbes
• The law also raised the federal tobacco age to 21.
  CNN

1. Tom Angell runs through marijuana's 10 biggest victories of 2019.
   Forbes

• Chicago city council rejected a proposal to delay REC sales by six months. The proposal had support from some members of the council's Black Caucus who believed the delay would help ensure diversity among dispensary owners.
  NBC
• Politico reported the delay also had support from MSOs MedMen and Green Thumb Industries which have dispensaries in the suburbs but will not be able to open in the city before mid-2020.

• She also released a proposal which would allow consumption in businesses which derive 80% of revenue from tobacco-related products, such as cigar bars and hookah lounges.
  Chicago Sun-Times

Quick Hit

1. Ohio officials want to tighten the rules surrounding transfers in MED business ownership.
   Cincinnati.com

• Though a comprehensive plan has not been developed, the industry seemed open to the idea. State Assemblyman Ron Bonta, who has long been involved in cannabis issues, said the proposal "delivers a clear message that the status quo is not working."
• The office argued taxing more potent products at a higher rate could reduce harmful use. ��WW California has more.
• See the office's report here.

• Canna Law Blog looks at the state's efforts to crack down on the illicit market.

Quick Hit

1. San Francisco awarded its first equity licenses.
   S.F. Chronicle

• The New Jersey Senate voted to put REC legalization on the 2020 ballot.
  NJ.com
• New York, which could legalize legislatively this year appointed Norman Birenbaum Director of Cannabis Programs. He previously held a similar position in Rhode Island.
• Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D) said he would not support REC legalization this year.
  Boston Globe
• Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) filed a petition with the state supreme court to oppose a REC initiative targetting the November ballot.
  Florida Politics
• Vermont, which has legalized REC but not regulated a state industry, appears poised to take up the issue.
  Marijuana Moment
• Arizona also appears likely to have a REC ballot initiative in November.
  NBC (local)

• Tilray, the Canadian MED company that was amog the hottest pot stocks of 2018, saw its shares dip below their July 2018 IPO price for the first time. The stock price is down about 90% from its high of almost $150 in September 2018.
  Business Insider
• MED and CBD company Green Growth Brands dropped its $310M all-stock bid to acquire vertically integrated MSO Moxie Holdings.
  Hemp Industry Daily
• A Tennessee man has hit vertically-integrated Florida company Trulieve with a federal lawsuit alleging it illegally sent unsolicited text message promotions. The company declined to comment.
  Tampa Business Journal

Quick Hits

1. For the fifth straight year, Colorado dispensaries will almost certainly rack up record sales in 2019.
   Westword
2. For the first time, the EPA approved pesticides for hemp in time for 2020 planting.
   Marijuana Moment
3. AdWeek named MedMen's "The New Normal" one of the best ads of the year.

• None of the tested samples contained vitamin E acetate, the additive linked to VAPI.

1. The Washington Post found CBD products on Amazon, despite the marketplace's ban on them.

• Researchers concluded: "This case is unique in that other possible causes of death can be eliminated. With growing use of marijuana by pregnant women and increases in newborn drug screening of umbilical cord homogenate, more cases of neonatal death due to acute marijuana toxicity could be discovered."
• MedPage Today examines the case.

• And Etsy has lots of ways to light up your Chanukah.