Hi all,

For future stories, I’m looking for ambitious new arrivals to California who know how tough the market has been and still think they can conquer it. Got any ideas? Send them along.

In today’s newsletter:

• SCOOP: Glass House “implores” judge to alter ruling in Catalyst suit

Enjoy,

Alex

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SCOOP: Glass House “implores” judge to alter ruling in Catalyst suit

Glass House Brands “implored” a California judge to reconsider a February ruling on what it needs to share with rival Catalyst in litigation between two of California’s most prominent operators.

Glass House argues that the current ruling, issued in February, would require it “to provide its most confidential, proprietary, sensitive and trade secret information — its customer list and the details of its transactions…”

Read the story

Federal:

• A bipartisan group of 20 state attorneys general called on Congress to address risks associated with hemp-derived intoxicants, but doesn’t make any specific policy recommendations for this year’s U.S. Farm Bill. Hemp lawyer Rod Kight called out what he sees as some glaring shortcomings in the language.
  Politico
• MJBiz asks whether THCA is legal. (WeedWeek previously took a look.)
• Lawyer Steve Schain writes that the new U.S. Corporate Transparency Act creates headaches for the cannabiz.
• Plaintiffs in a high profile lawsuit challenging federal prohibition argue that the current federal patchwork has “no rational basis.“
  Marijuana Moment

Business:

• MJBiz sums up an earnings season focused on cost reduction, and new attempts to undermine industry hated tax rule 280E.
• Investor Poseidon told Global Cannabis Times why it’s bullish on retail.
• Consultancy Siva Enterprises released a report on the state of the industry.
• MSO Verano introduced Cabbage Club, which it’s calling the first multi-state loyalty program.
• Phoenix Business Journal profiled Jason Vedadi, a real estate developer turned CEO of ambitious Arizona-based MSO Story Cannabis.
• David Vaillencourt, CEO of GMP Collective, discusses the value of Good Manufacturing Practices for the industry.

State and local:

• New York launched its new delinquent payment reporting program.
• Florida lawmakers are trying to expand the number of licenses reserved for Black farmers.
  Ocala Gazette
• A Kansas bill proposes one of the country’s strictest MED programs.
• Three retailers are suing the Massachusetts town of Great Barrington over community impact fees.
  MassLive

Health and science:

• Lauren Yoshiko asked neuroscientist Adie Rae about cannabis-induced psychosis.

International:

• At the Spannabis conference in Barcelona, cannabis culture encountered an unfriendly old guard.
  Forbes

Fun and interesting:

• High Hopes, a new reality show set at the Hollywood MMD, premiers 4/20 on Hulu.
• Stoner comedian and Jackass Rachel Wolfson has a new podcast: Rachel Interrupted.

State:

• Non-profits are calling for higher pot taxes to fund programs for low-income youth and to curb substance abuse.
  SFGate
• Amid scrutiny of potency inflation, data shop Headset has noticed a decrease in reported product potency.
  Green Market Report
• Bill AB 2555 would extend compassion programs for indigent MED patients.
  NORML
• The Department of Food and Agriculture discussed proposed modifications to its Cannabis Appellations Program.

Business:

• Lauren Mundell and others on social media called for a boycott of the event because of an unpaid appearance by Chris Brown who in 2009 plead guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna and has a long history of legal troubles. Hall of Flowers responded that it “regrets that a speaker was presented on stage who caused a number of our guests to feel uncomfortable, unsafe or upset.” The response appeared not to satisfy its critics.
• Green State posted a dispatch from last week’s Hall of Flowers in Ventura. And so did Cannabis Now.
• Industry platform Higher Origins warned of a phishing scam targeting California licensees.
• Stiiizy built out a replica grow for the Rolling Loud hip hop festival in LA.
• Jimi Devine profiled Luke Scarmazzo, who is back slinging weed after 14 years in  federal prison.
  LA Weekly
• An Investopedia podcast asks if tourism can save the California industry.
• L.A. Taco interviewed founder Cesar Guzmán about Don Perico, a new brand targeting Latino consumers.

Local:

• North coast industry figures weighed in on slipping revenues.
  North Bay Business Journal
• San Jose shops say the city doesn’t do enough to protect them from crime. But city council approved a motion to slash their annual licensing fee.
  NBC, Cannabis Business Times
• Santa Barbara Co. supes wrestled the “greased pig” of pot taxes and lost.
  Independent
• El Dorado Co. vineyards are upset about the expanding number of pot farms.
  CBS
• Humboldt Co. supes retracted two licenses and anticipate further market contraction.
  Mad River Union
• The cannabiz continues to cause headaches in California City (Kern Co.).
  Mojave Desert News

Crime:

• A driver delivering cannabis packaging, Peter Popovich, 63, and an armed assailant are both dead after they exchanged fire during an attempted robbery in Pleasant Hill (Contra Costa Co.). A second assailant escaped the scene and has not been identified. Police confirmed that Popovich had a concealed carry permit.
  CBS

Company milestones:

• Lehua Brands introduced new product lines for wellness-minded consumers.
• Chicago’s first Cookies dispensary opened. The shop’s owners — Cookies generally licenses its brand to operators — have a social equity license.
  Block Club Chicago
• Jerome Baker announced a partnership with remediation company Grimoire Life.
• FundCanna (a WeedWeek advertiser) was named preferred lending partner for financial services provider Greenbax Marketplace.
• 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center is the first Bay Area dispensary and eighth in California to be certified as a green business by the California Green Business Network.
  Richmond Standard

Recognition:

• Fast Company named distru Nabis ones of its most innovative logistics companies.

Upcoming:

• Last Prisoner Project, Supernova Women and Drug Policy Alliance are hosting a March 27 press conference in Oakland to call for federal descheduling, not rescheduling.
• Pistil Data is hosting a three day virtual hackathon for data analysts.
• Longtime weed journalist David Downs released the calendar of events for SF Weed Week a new event he’s hosting in the days leading up to 4/20.
• Cal Poly Humboldt is hosting a free April 5 symposium on cultivation and environmental stewardship.