Hi all,

Hope those of you who were in Las Vegas this week have a restful weekend.

Don’t forget to sign up for next Thursday’s FREE webinar where I’ll be discussing my recent coverage of leading trace and trace provider Metrc with esteemed journalist Jackie Bryant.

In today’s newsletter:

• DEA reschduling hearing begins

Enjoy,

Alex

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) long-anticipated rescheduling hearings began amid controversy, before evidentiary hearings were postponed until January.
Marijuana Moment

“Remember, everybody, this is not a trial about whether marijuana is good or marijuana is bad—because I don’t know whether it’s good or it’s bad,” DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney said. “My issues are much more narrow than that, and has to do with with addiction potential and several other little pigeon holes that I have.”

While the DEA is proposing that cannabis be moved to schedule III, an attorney representing a Connecticut agency said that the DEA’s position on the issue is not clear. The DEA has not yet provided a list of exhibits that it plans to use in the hearing.  The judge scolded the agency and directed it to provide the list this week.

Meanwhile groups of reform-supporting health professionals and veterans have sued after they were excluded from the hearings.

SEPARATELY: A federal appeals court seemed skeptical of high-profile attorney David Boies’ argument that cannabis prohibition is unconstitutional.
Reuters

Federal:

• Longtime cannabis journalist Will Yakowicz argued President Trump will be good for weed. The Wall Street Journal‘s Heard on the Street column argued the industry could remain in limbo.
  Forbes
• The National Hemp Association has four asks for reform supporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who Trump has nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
  Cannabis Business Times

Business:

• A federal judge ruled that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services incorrectly denied an H1-B visa to an Indian software developer at tech shop Treez for abetting an illegal industry.
  Cannabis Business Times
• Sales surged on Green Wednesday, according to tech shop Dutchie.
• Hemp lawyer Rod Kight argues there’s a place for THCa.
• Packaging World looks at how the industry is using automation to reduce costs.
• Genetics companies Barney’s Farm Genetics, Sensi Seeds and ILGM announced they would merge.
• Snoop Dogg’s new e-commerce site SWED.com launched, selling hemp-derived products and other merch.
• Here are the winners of The Emjays, given out this week in Las Vegas. MJBiz also honored former Wana Brands CEO Nancy Whiteman, as the third inauguree into its industry hall of fame.

State and local:

• Targeting the hemp industry, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) said the state’s senate would pursue a ban on THC products in 2025.
  The Texas Tribune
• Big changes, including homegrow, could be in store for Ohio’s new REC market.
  WOSU
• The New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association sued regulators over a “punitive” $20M fee to convert from a MED to a REC license.
  MJBiz
• Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to introduce a REC bill this year.
  Ganjapreneur
• Empire Cannabis Club, a prominent unlicensed operator in New York, filed for bankruptcy.
  Green Market Report

Crime:

• Following a scathing report from the U.S. Justice Department, the DEA can no longer conduct random bag searches at airports.

Fun and interesting:

• IV20, a terpene-infused, but THC free, vodka is now available in California.
• Security camera footage captured some California plants shaking during a 7.0 earthquake which hit NorCal this week. Stay safe!
  ABC

State:

• The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration reported collecting $263M in tax revenue for Q3, down nearly 10% year over year.

Business:

• Glass House plans to raise up to $25M through Canadian stock markets to finance its California expansion.
• Brand Cookies partnered with Klutch Cannabis to enter the Ohio market.
  Cannabis Business Times
• SFGate reports on the “death spiral” of Jay-Z’s highly touted Monogram brand and how its former owner, The Parent Company, burned through more than $500M in cash. The Parent Company is now part of Gold Flora, which is facing financial challenges.

Local:

• Long Beach City Council moved to allow home delivery businesses.
  Long Beach Post
• The feds revealed that former officials in Commerce and Baldwin Park (LA Co.) have pleaded guilty to a pot-related bribery scheme.
• A store in Fairfax (Marin Co.) won concessions that could keep it in town.
  Marin Independent Journal
• Colorado operators are hoping to lure customers with weaker weed.
  Denver Post
• Shops want to open in SLO Co.’s unincorporated coastal areas.
  New Times SLO
• Colton (San Bernardino Co.) tightened rules to crack down on illegal grows.
  Inland Empire Community News
• A letter to the editors expressed concern about a white dispensary owner in Sonoma Co., who received a equity grant from a program he labeled “anti-white,” and was arrested in October for allegedly firing a taser and waving a gun in front of customers. No one was injured.
  Sonoma News 

Recalls:

• The DCC announced recalls for several vape SKUs due to potential contamination from unspecified pesticides.