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Lots of news today. Let’s get to it.

Alex

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California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) chief deputy director Rasha Salama will resign at the end of the month.

The news, confirmed by the agency, follows a lawsuit filed this week alleging that Salama “severely reprimanded” a direct report, (the plaintiff) for escalating concerns about product safety to law enforcement. The DCC declined to comment.

Cannabis regulators in California and other states are face mounting questions about contaminants. The lawsuit also indicates the DCC has received anonymous tips and had meetings about the powerful synthetic opiod fentanyl being found in licensed product. It’s not clear that fentanyl has actually been found in any licensed product.

This comes against a backdrop of Gov. Newsom’s executive order banning intoxicating hemp-derived products in the interest of public safety. Newsom’s announcement, focuses on the dangers of unregulated cannabinoids in hemp, not contaminants (which I incorrectly wrote last week.)

More:

• A 420-friendly doctor in Berkeley recommends smoking, not vaping.
  SFGate
• Two California testing labs withdrew their lawsuit against 13 other testing labs. The plaintiffs say they plan to refile.
  MJBiz
• The DCC issued its first recall for a product contaminated with the banned pesticide paclobutrazol.
• Chemical & Engineering News reports on the issue of potency inflation by labs.

Federal:

• Donald Trump endorsed rescheduling and banking reform. It didn’t come up in Tuesday’s debate with Kamala Harris.
  Forbes
• Plaintiffs behind the dismissed lawsuit challenging prohibition filed an appeal.
  Marijuana Moment
• New Cannabis Ventures argues banking reform “would be nice but not necessary.”

Business:

• Leading MSO Green Thumb Industries landed a $150M debt vehicle.
  Cannabis Business Times
• A report found the top four edibles brands combined have about 18% national market share.
  Green Market Report
• HR company Vangst acquired Greenforce.
• Journalists at Law360, who have racked up many, many scoops on the legal side of the cannabiz, are on strike.
• Brand Cookies announced a groundbreaking partnership with USC Athletics. USC declined to comment on Cookies’ CEO Berner’s past “pimping experiences.”
  CBS, WeedWeek

State and local:

• Florida’s REC initiative has the backing of an influential GOP state lawmaker, as Gov. Ron DeSantis rails against a “weed cartel.”
  Marijuana Moment
• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a law moving intoxicating hemp products into the cannabis supply chain.
  Asbury Park Press
• A candidate for the Texas legislature smoked weed in a campaign ad.
  The Hill
• Does Wisconsin’s powerful Tavern League lobby against weed?
  Wisconsin Watch
• Ohio REC sales exceeded $50M in their first month.
  Cincinnati Enquirer
• Canna Law Blog rounds up what’s happening in Oregon.
• Rhode Island could decide its next licensees by lottery.
  Rhode Island Current
• Business was brisk on the first weekend of sales on tribal lands in North Carolina.
  MJBiz
• Massachusetts’ top regulator was fired for unspecified “gross misconduct.” Ongoing chaos at the agency is weighing on business.
  WGBH
• Legalize Hawai’i shared a cannabis-centric voting guide.
• Hemp derived drinks are quietly catching on in places like South Dakota.
  South Dakota Searchlight

Health and science:

• The Free Press hosted a podcast debate on legalization.
• A new cannabis research institute opened in Chicago.
  Chicago Tribune
• A pharmaceutical company is suing the DEA over delays to its application to start cannabis clinical trials for Huntington’s Disease and MS.
  Business of Cannabis

Fun and interesting:

• Marketer Christina Wong shared a recipe for an Aiyu jelly fruit cup that she made during a recent visit to Sonoma Hills Farm.
  Fruit and Flower

State:

• Woody Harrelson, owner of The Woods lounge in WeHo, is lobbying Gov. Newsom to sign the cannabis cafe bill on his desk.
  Marijuana Moment
• It’s fire season. Be careful out there.

Business:

• Green Market Report reports on Glass House‘s plan to go national with hemp.
• Retailer Planet 13 said it would buy the Exhale shop near the Las Vegas strip.
• Mammoth Distribution acquired brand Papa & Barkley with an eye on national expansion.

Local:

• In Mendocino, a $3.1M grant from the Department of Fish and Wildlife aims to help 200 farmers transition from provisional to annual licenses.
• Mendocino supes voted not to allow larger grows.
  Mendocino Voice
• Long Beach is asking residents if they want events to be weed-friendly.
  Long Beach Post
• SLO Co. cops arrested 13 in connection to a spree of dispensary robberies across nine counties.
  KSBY

Job moves:

• Ted Whitney joined Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis Company as Chief Beverage Officer.

Upcoming:

• The last Meadowlands retreat in California is set for Sept. 30 – Oct. 3 in Mendocino Co.
  @meadow.sf
• Hall of Flowers, September 20-21 in Santa Rosa, with have a tradeshow and for the first time a “festival experience.“