Hi all,

Lets get to it:

• Gov. Gavin Newsom has “complete confidence” in DCC

Read up,

Alex

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has “complete confidence” in Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) director Nicole Elliott following an LA Times/WeedWeek investigation which found the agency unable to address alarming levels of sometimes banned pesticides detected in licensed products.

Read the story (FREE)!

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This is a tough time to be doing tough-minded journalism, and I also want to point out these  three  stories on pesticides by SFGate cannabis editor Lester Black.

Federal:

• Two Republican Congressmen challenged the basis of President Biden’s son Hunter’s conviction for buying a gun while being a user of illegal drugs. “There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws,” Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) said.
  Marijuana Moment
• The FDA and Justice Department pledged to crack down on illegal, fruit flavored e-cigarettes, which are popular with teenagers.
  WSJ

Business:

• California operator Stiiizy asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit involving its hemp-derived products.
  MJBiz
• Massachusetts fined MSO Trulieve $350,000 over the 2022 death of factory worker Lorna McMurrey.
  MJBiz

State and local:

• Massachusetts regulators determined that weed can travel across open water to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
  WJAR
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) vetoed a bill to effectively ban intoxicating hemp products, while campaigning hard against November’s REC ballot initiative.
  CBS, Marijuana Moment
• A $6.3M judgement was issued against a Natchez, Miss. testing lab.
  WJTV
• Operators applauded the end of New York’s potency tax. Meanwhile, Manhattan’s Lower East Side has mobilized for war against unlicensed shops.
  MJBiz
• Otherwise, Massachusetts regulators are in a state of constant chaos. Independent journalist Grant Smith-Ellis covers it blow by blow on LinkedIn.
  WBUR
• Colorado’s market is in crisis. And other states are nervous.
  Politico

International:

• The LA Times asks why Thailand is abandoning its legalization experiment.

Job moves:

• Longtime attorney Bob Hoban, most recently of Clark Hill, said he has stepped away from the legal profession to pursue a variety of consulting and business opportunities.

State:

• Elliot Lewis, the litigious CEO of retailer Catalyst Cannabis, said state licensing fees “sure appear to be a violation of the state constitution, a backdoor illegal tax, and a gross overreach by a government agency.”
  @catalyst_ceo

Business:

• The LA Times spoke to Kush Queen CEO Olivia Alexander about calling out MedMen.
• Data from Headset compares the LA and SF markets.
• An OG reunion.

Local:

• An opinion piece in the SFStandard called for more accountability with how the city deals with drug users.
• San Diego Co. has been much more successful than LA Co. at uprooting unlicensed shops.
  LA Times

Equity:

• Entrepreneur and activist Amber Senter posted on Instagram: “When they ask you, ‘Are equity programs working?’ Flip it on them and ask: Is legalization working?”
  @itsmeambere

Company milestones:

• Berner touted Cookies upcoming arrival in Germany.
• Intimacy brand Lavinia has a new product called Lube Launchers.
• Sunderstorm launched a new line of infused chocolates: KANHA Minis.
• Heavy Hitters debuted its “Lights On” and “Lights Out” vapes in New York.

Upcoming:

• Tech shop Meadow is hosting a July 11 screening of Frenchy Dreams of Hashish during SF Hash Week.