Hi WeedWeek readers,

Everyone’s at odds in today’s newsletter. First we look at two essential business tools that still create problems for the cannabiz.

Then, stick around for a  strong social post on what legacy operators and new arrivals from the CPG world just don’t get about each other.

• Instagram and cannabis: Best of frenemies
• Insurers to the rescue? Maybe someday

As always, I appreciate your complaints, suggestions and tips: alex@weedweek.net. 

Alex

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• The Blacklist is warning consumers of benzene contamination in some California concentrates and live resin cartridges. WeedWeek hasn’t verified this.
• At Rolling Stone, Mary Jane Gibson digs into the $160M collapse of Genius Fund. The L.A. company was funded by Russian oligarch Dima Bosov, who died from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.
  Dot.LA
• Plunging wholesale prices have hit farmers in the Emerald Triangle.
  Times-Standard
• REC legalization moved forward in Ohio.
  NBC
• After a study predicted the market will reach $63.5B by 2024, Grey Journal picked its four favorite pot stocks.
• Deals that cross the U.S./Canadian border are getting more creative in their structuring.
  Bloomberg
• Nevada consumption lounges look set to open next year.
  Northern Nevada Business Weekly
• Several pot discussions would love your support in the SXSW panel picker, which closes Thursday.
• Three companies with the same ownership dropped their lawsuit challenging L.A.’s social equity program.
  Law360
• The cannabiz smells opportunity in Brazil.
  Reuters
• A judge threw out Texas’ ban on smokable hemp, opening a potential $400M market.
  Hemp Industry Daily
• New Jersey brand REEForm NJ is starting an initiative to support people locked up for pot in New Jersey.
• The U.S. Department of Energy is funding research into using hemp as insulation.
  Marijuana Moment
• Could mushrooms solve the industry’s packaging waste problem? And is mushroom beauty “the next CBD”?
  Vogue, Glossy
• Last Prisoner Project celebrated the release of Jason Szymanski, who served three years in Michigan after testing positive while on parole. 

Fun stuff:

• News and advocacy site Flower and Freedom is paying people to get high.
  Benzinga
• Thrillist digs Potli‘s infused shrimp chips.
• Pilgrim Soul CEO Shawn Gold ponders the connection between cannabis and creativity.
  Medium

• Psychedelics company Beckley Psytech raised $80M.
• Pop star Tove Lo partnered with beverage brand Cann on a caffeine and THC beverage. Separately, actor Rosario Dawson joined Cann’s board.
  AdWeek, Bloomberg
• NBA star Kevin Durant’s company Thirty Five Ventures announced a partnership with Weedmaps to destigmatize you know what. 
  N.Y.Post
• Flora Growth said it would acquire luxury accessories brand Vessel.
• Document management company C15 Solutions received an investment for an undisclosed amount from Poseidon Asset Management.
• Hydroponics retailer Grow Generation bought another company, Hoagtech Hydroponics in Washington state.
• Radiant Canna raised $6M.

• CBD company AF Life Sciences (formerly America’s Finest) appointed several prominent figures, including former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, to its advisory board.
• Trade group U.S. Cannabis Council named Bo Bryant, SVP, Government Affairs and Josh Glasstetter, Director, Communications and public affairs. 
• MSO Trulieve named Nilyum Jhala Chief Technology Officer.
• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy named Wesley “Wes” McWhite III as director of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. He was previously policy manager for the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation of New Jersey.
• Canadian operator Hexo named Valerie Malone Chief Commercial Officer. The company also priced its previously announced public offering at US$140M.
• Compliance software provider Metrc said Chief Technology Officer Jesse Naranjo would become Chief Product Officer and Zahid Ali will replace him as CTO.
• Green Hygenics Holdings named former Johnson & Johnson exec Dr. Serraino Fiory Chief Scientific Officer.
• California testing company CannaSafe announced the departure of CEO Aaron Riley who will be building out locations in Oregon and Florida under another entity. Gerry Dabkowski will replace him as CEO as part of a broader restructuring. 
• Canadian operator Delta 9 named David Kideckel EVP strategy, corporate development and capital markets.
• Attorney John W. Fraser joined Dykema as Michigan team leader. 

• Shayda Torabi, CEO of Restart CBD, highlights a mix-up in Michigan’s MED law that got a man sent to jail for 35 days, plus five years probation.
• Executive Benjamin Ballinger discussed the unproductive disconnect between legacy operators and newly arrived CPG professionals.

Do your part to make High Society possible: Get vaccinated.

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Kayla and Ashley from SweetFlower sneak a puff at the launch party for upscale California flower brand Fumé (that’s foo-may, French for smoked,) in LA. 

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Send pictures for High Society to hello@weedweek.net.

Pics should be between 600 and 1000 pixels long and wide. Each should include the name and affiliation (if relevant) of everyone pictured as well as the event’s name, date and location. Ideally submit several pics so we can pick our favorites.