Hi all,

Great to see so many of you at Hall of Flowers. Hope everyone’s enjoying their hauls of $3 samples.

And High Society is back! Check out the bottom of today’s newsletter for a great pic from Ventura. And send your event pics for inclusion: hello@weedweek.com

In today’s newsletter:

• SCOOP: Celeb USC prof ensnared in pot shop suit

Read up,

Alex

*

Advertise in WeedWeek

Our advertising policy

*

Send tips, press releases, concerns, feedback and criticism to hello@weedweek.com

*

WeedWeek regularly links to paywalled content.

*

Are you registered to vote?

SCOOP: Celeb USC prof ensnared in pot shop lawsuit

A labor dispute between a Los Angeles dispensary and a former exec ensnared a prominent USC professor this month when a judge ordered him to turn over communications between himself and the exec, his sister.

A California judge ruled that David Belasco, an entrepreneurship professor at USC’s business school, did not have a privileged attorney-client relationship with his sister Jill Belasco, because at the time in question he hadn’t had a law license in 20 years.

Belasco teaches a “Taking The Leap: The Entrepreneurial Mindset,” which he says is the school’s largest elective course. It has featured guest lecturers including Kobe Bryant, Cindy Crawford and…

Read the story

Federal:

• In a sign that President Joe Biden (D) is leaning into weed as a campaign issue, Vice President Kamala Harris met with individuals pardoned by the Biden administration for pot convictions. NORML regional organizer (and pardon recipient) Chris Goldstein discussed the meeting with Marijuana Moment. Despite this thaw, Biden’s budget opposes REC sales in Washington D.C.
  Reuters, Marijuana Moment
• Meanwhile, some U.S. DEA officials remain skeptical of reform.
  WSJ
• Conservative-ish site The Free Press posted dueling opinion pieces on whether legalization is a good idea. Former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr co-wrote the ‘no’ argument.
• A study found a significant number of 12th graders report using D8 products. More lawmakers are catching on to hemp-derived intoxicants, and they don’t like them.
  CNN, Politico

Business:

• After MSO Trulieve touted receiving a $113M 280E refund with proprietary methods, John Hartmann CEO of MSO Ascend Wellness Holdings discussed his strategy for the industry’s least favorite line in the tax code. Hartmann declined to share details but believes it is based on a “very sound tax position.” and said the company has filed amended returns for 2020-2022.
  Green Market Report
• Most states with pro-union cannabis laws aren’t enforcing them, unions claim.
  Bloomberg Law
• MJBiz checks out the first consumption lounges in Vegas. Here’s Travel Weekly‘s take.
• E-commerce veteran Jeremy Johnson on what it’s like to work in weed retail.

State and local:

• New York industry figures allege regulators have retaliated against critics.
  NY Cannabis Insider
• Arizona’s attorney general (D) determined hemp-derived intoxicants are illegal under state law. Massachusetts looks to do something as well.
  Marijuana Moment
• In a setback for the industry, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin(R) declined to sign a bill that would allow REC sales.
  Virginia Mercury
• Washington state is doing away with its 37% MED excise tax.
  High Times

Crime:

• ProPublica and Oklahoma publication The Frontier investigate how a quadruple murder in 2022 illuminates China’s dominance of the unlicensed U.S. market.

International:

• The Netherlands is experimenting with a regulated market this summer. (Its famous coffeeshops operate in an unregulated gray market.)
  MJBiz

Fun and interesting:

• Data shop Headset shared its top 15 celebrity brands.
  CelebStoner

State:

• Testing labs AGQ Green Nature and Anresco said the Department of Cannabis Control(DCC) has stepped up product recalls.
• The state’s Cannabis Advisory Committee met for the first time this year.
  Cannabis Wire
• New DCC guidelines allow growers to reduce their canopy size and license costs along with them.
  Canna Law Blog

Business:

• Humboldt-based wellness-brand Papa & Barkley is merging into its new distributor LA-based Mammoth for undisclosed terms. Production is expected to remain up north for the foreseeable future.
  Lost Coast Outpost
• Glass House prevailed in a lawsuit with retailer Element 7 involving license transfers.
• Lauren Carpenter, CEO at retailer Embarc, posted about a favorite KPI.
• The California State Fair partnered with new review app Budist, (led by former Headset exec Jocelyn Sheltraw) to judge a broader slate of weed products this year. Budist also launched in California.
  Green State, Honeysuckle
  
• German company Döhler invested in Oakland-based Vertosa, which makes active ingredients for infused beverages.
• Tech shop Treez is now the preferred PoS vendor for Cookies.

Local:

• Five LA firefighters were hospitalized with chemical burns acquired fighting a blaze at an unlicensed cannabiz operation. All are expected to return to duty soon.
  Hoodline
• After defeating Measure A, North Coast Journal asks what’s next for Humboldt weed.
• Growing hub Santa Barbara Co. is looking to shake up pot taxes. And local growers group CARP Growers is hosting educational farm tours on April 6.
  Santa Maria Times
• Chula Vista (San Diego Co.) may change the ownership of a pot shop after a current one was indicted. Nearby Vista is developing an equity program.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, Voice of San Diego

Company milestones:

• Catalyst opened a shop in Grover Beach (SLO Co.) and is approaching 30 total.
• Originals Family Farms and Nameless Genetics announced a partnership.
  @beardbrospharms
• Jetty Extracts said it’s coming to New Jersey.
• Mary Jones introduced fizzy tablet edibles.

Job moves:

• PR exec Nicole Farah opened a new shop: Americana.

Upcoming:

• The annual Roth Capital Conference is March 17-19 in Dana Point (Orange Co.)
• The Emerald Cup provided updates on its annual awards show, now scheduled for August 17 & 18 in Oakland.

A KISS tribute act took the stage during Gelato’s After Dark Hall of Flowers party this week in Ventura, Calif.