Hi all,

Today in the newsletter there’s no product news section. That’s because we seem to be officially in the pre-4/20 launch lull. Instead we’ve got some tips on how to best manage the high holiday for your brand.

Plus, the New Jersey market could open very soon.

Enjoy,

Alex

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AdWeek‘s T.L. Stanley talked to marketing tech firm Surfside about how to maximize 4/20 sales.

A few points of note:

• Overall, the industry can expect to see sales of 130% over a typical April day, but the 4/20 consumer tends to skew older and male with consumers aged 35-49 splurging on top shelf product. 
• “It’s [also] a good time to draw new bodies into the store,” Surfside co-founder Michael Blanche said. “Bring in those fringe customers and get more people thinking about 4/20 as a holiday they want to be involved in.”
• Surfside also recommends skipping Easter promotions. It tends to be a bad sales day. And this year it falls just days before 4/20.

Read the whole story.

Also in AdWeek:

• A new campaign from PAX Labs celebrates the unsung women of weed.

Within weeks, New Jersey could open a major new east coast REC market, one expected to top $2B after a few years.  
MJBiz

• The market, home to almost 9M people, could open with as few as five REC dispensaries, all of them existing MED operators.
• “It’s almost naive to think we aren’t going to run into some issues,” said Rob DiPisa, co-chair of the cannabis law practice at Cole Schotz in New Jersey.

Like several other states, New Jersey also seeks to support equity entrepreneurs. There are questions about whether opening the market sooner will support that goal.
New Jersey Monitor

Meanwhile Gov. Phil Murphy could allow independent pharmacies to sell MED.
NJ.com

• At present, the state has 23 open shops. 

Federal:

• Politico looks at President Biden’s “slow walk on weed.”
• Rep. Don Young (R-Ak.), a long-serving member of Congress and Cannabis Caucus co-chair died at 88.
  NORML

Business:

• Two execs discussed working with Mike Tyson on his Tyson 2.0 brand’s new ear-shaped edibles.
• New Cannabis Ventures looks at the biggest cannabis ETFs, which have evolved, but don’t yet excel.
• MG Retailer checks out MSO Columbia Care‘s new Cannabist retail concept.
• MJBiz discusses hiring workers with criminal records.
• February saw “lukewarm” sales in the midwest.
  Grown In

States:

• A new California bill would create a tax credit for licensed retailers.
• Cannabis Wire looks at the race to win the one Florida license reserved for a Black farmer.
• Oklahoma regulators have partnered with NCS Analytics on a statewide data analytics platform to monitor and regulate licensees.”
• New Mexico REC sales begin April.
  Santa Fe New Mexican
• The Kentucky House passed a MED bill.
  Marijuana Moment

Health and science:

• A genetic test is now available to determine susceptibility to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

Criminal Justice:

• There were fewer than 1,000 people charged in federal cannabis cases last year, down from 7,000 in 2012.
  Marijuana Moment

Fun and interesting:

• Respect My Region finds 20 rappers with weed products on the market.

• Mega dispensary Planet 13 said it would open its first Florida branch in a Jacksonville suburb.
  MJBiz
• MSO Cresco Labs is expanding its brand portfolio to Florida.
• Product recommendation platform Jointly raised $5M. The company is also offering to reimburse employees for weed purchases.
  MarketWatch
• CBD brand Charlotte’s Web inked an exclusive U.K. distribution deal with Savage Cabbage.
• Seth Rogen’s Houseplant brand is starting a mentorship program for equity entrepreneurs.
  High Times
• Satori Investment Partners invested an undisclosed amount in leading Oregon pre-roll brand Rebel Spirit.
• Colorado operator Schwazze said it would acquire Urban Health & Wellness, a Denver dispensary, for $3.2M.

• Mike Gorenstein returned to Canadian player Cronos Group as CEO. Canadian killjoy Rob McPherson says it’s bad news for the company.
• Ananda Strategy founder Hirsh Jain joined the board of California NORML.
• Maria Luisa Cesar has been appointed deputy director of public affairs at the California Department of Cannabis Control.
• MSO Curaleaf named Neil Davidson interim CFO. He was recently COO.
• Jamie Nitzky King got promoted to director of talent acquisition at Curio Wellness.

• @weedforblackwomen shared seven of its favorite influencers and creators.
• Cookies founder Berner posted that he’s made progress in his fight against cancer.
• Elizabeth Udell of Cookies discusses the MSO’s social media strategy.
• Pivoting off this article in The Hill, Tyler Beuerlein of fintech company Hypur distinguishes between what banking reform would and wouldn’t mean.
• @ricolamitte makes the case against banking reform happening before full legalization.
• Cannalube brand @foriawellness posted a NSFW-looking mushroom.

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