On Monday afternoon, Los Angeles consumers thirsty for some Kikoko-brand infused tea could have looked on Leafly and found eight Kikoko SKUs available at a dispensary in West Hollywood. Folks who browsed rival portal Weedmaps at the same time would have found only four Kikoko SKUs available at the shop. The dispensary’s website also listed four Kikoko products, but not all of them were the same ones listed on Weedmaps.

Brands, dispensaries, online platforms and consumers all want online menus to accurately reflect what pot shops have in stock. A head turning new partnership between Leafly and Jane Technologies thinks it can help.
WeedWeek 

Here's how.

As federal cannabis legalization gains unprecedented momentum in the U.S. Senate, a new group of more than 40 prominent companies and advocacy groups has coalesced to support the cause.
WeedWeek

• The United States Cannabis Council (USCC) aims to lead a unified push for legalization and “avoid the fragmentation that has plagued us before,” said interim CEO Steven Hawkins, who is also executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project

The group calls for 1) Descheduling cannabis 2) "Social justice and equity" and 3) a "sound regulatory environment" for the industry.

• The particulars of what regulation ends up looking like in terms of taxes, interstate trade and numerous other policy areas are questions worth billions to USCC’s members, which include several of the country’s largest cannabis companies.
• In interviews, Hawkins has revealed few details about the group’s specific regulatory priorities, or where there may be differences within the coalition.

Read the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Senate watchers say a bill to end federal prohibition could emerge within weeks. Marijuana Moment talked to legalization supporters who met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.-N.Y.) to discuss the forthcoming bill.

In her new On Brand column, Jackie Bryant looks into the rise of digital budtenders.
WeedWeek 

"Now that online sales have skyrocketed, companies are moving their marketing efforts into the digital realm. And while DMing, may not create the same sense of intimacy as an in-person interaction with a budtender, it may be just as effective."

Read the whole thing.

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"On Brand" is brought to you by Mattio Communications.

Quick Hit

1. More cannabis companies are using product drops to hype-up their offerings. (Check out our previous story on California-based Connected, a master of FOMO.) 
   MJBiz, WeedWeek

What's shaking:

• Bloomberg suggests the $7.2B GW/Jazz Pharma deal signals the start of a cannabis M&A boom.
  WeedWeek 
• Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers(D) wants to legalize REC.
  WKOW
• New Jersey legalized REC in November, but the deadline for Gov. Phil Murphy (D) to sign the bill has been pushed back again.
  NBC-Philadelphia 
• In California, folks are getting arrested for what they think are legit cannabiz jobs. Weed beat veteran Amanda Chicago Lewis investigates.
  Politico
• Eaze's equity accelerator, Momentum, introduced its new cohort of start-ups.
• Uber is buying liquor delivery service Drizly for $1.1B, but passed on Lantern, the cannabis delivery service Drizly spun off. The ride share giant's CEO indicated that it's not currently interested in weed, but said its position could change.
  Boston Globe
• Is cannabis the next great middle class job creator?
  Forbes
• WeedWeek contributor Jackie Bryant tells the heartbreaking story of Luke Scarmazzo, who is serving a 22-year federal cannabis sentence and didn't get a pardon from outgoing president Trump.
  Forbes
• A study found weed might lower blood pressure in older adults.
  Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Weedmaps recounts the story of legendary breeder Subcool.