July 11 2024,
THE BIG IDEA
Hi all,
Here’s a SCOOP with some good news for struggling operators.
- Federal judge widens path to bankruptcy relief
Stay cool,
Alex
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SCOOP: Federal judge widens path to bankruptcy relief
A federal judge’s ruling could expand access to bankruptcy protections for some cannabis businesses and their owners.
In late June, U.S. bankruptcy judge Dennis Montali denied a landlord’s motion to dismiss a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing by a San Francisco tenant whose assets…
QUICK HITS
Federal:
- House Republicans passed a bill that would block rescheduling.
MJBiz
Business:
- Green Thumb Industries is facing criticism from nonprofit Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition over its opposition to a equity bill in the big MSO’s home state.
@cannaequityil - A Cookies-branded Massachusetts social equity dispensary sued several entities claiming they failed to pay an agreed upon purchase price of $2M for a minority stake. Cookies president Parker Berling said neither Cookies nor CEO Berner are involved in the management of the companies being sued. (Cookies typically licenses its brand to partners rather than operate licensed businesses.)
Worcester Business Journal - Canna Law Blog shared tips on how to avoid misinformation online. It also discussed the impact of the Corporate Transparency Act, which took effect this year.
- A three story pot shop is coming to Times Square.
Crain’s New York
State and local:
- New York regulators approved 100 more new licenses, despite tensions.
NY Cannabis Insider - Massachusetts’ trainwreck of a regulator may be headed for receivership.
NBC, Axios - A North Dakota group wants REC on the November ballot.
AP - Maryland REC sales surpassed $1.1B in the first year.
Fox - Pennsylvania lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan REC bill.
WHTM - Oregon voters are likely to decide in November if it should be easier for cannabiz workers to unionize.
- Ohio officials haven’t yet given the green light for REC sales to begin.
Dayton Daily News - Delaware’s REC market appears on track to open in early 2025.
Delaware Public Radio
R.I.P.
- Florida’s “Patron saint” of MED Cathy Jordan died at 74.
Marijuana Moment
Fun and interesting:
- This weed costs $600+ an eighth, and you can’t smoke it.
GreenState - CelebStoner‘s Steve Bloom enjoyed Dead & Co. at The Sphere.
CALIFORNIA HITS
State:
- Laws now in effect require disposable vapes to be advertised as “one use” and impose tougher disposal requirements.
- Advocates warn that hemp bill AB 2223 would make certain vital medicines much more difficult to acquire.
SFGate - The state legislature passed a bill intended to accelerate psychedelics research.
Marijuana Moment
Business:
- California extended its contract with track and trace software provider Metrc.
- Jetty Extracts CEO Ron Gershoni discussed the concentrate brand’s national expansion strategy.
Cannabis Business Executive - Labs Anresco and Infinite, both of which were involved in the LATimes/WeedWeek pesticide investigation, responded to their critics. Nonprofit Beyond Pesticides discussed the story in a lengthy post. I discussed the story with former WeedWeek podcast co-host Donnell Alexander for his excellent West Coast Sojourn Substack.
- Despite the challenging market, sales are up in some parts of the state.
MJBiz - Oakland dispensary Blunts and Moore, the country’s first equity pot shop, closed.
Green Market Report - LA Magazine checked out Stiiizy’s DTLA factory.
Local:
- SLO Co. is loosening permitting rules and expanding delivery hours.
The Tribune
Crime:
- State parks deal with thousands of pounds of waste produced by illegal grows.
Fox
Company milestones:
- S.W.E.D., the first Snoop Dogg branded dispensary, opens July 14 in LA.
Recognition:
- The California State Fair announced (many of) the winners in its third annual cannabis contest. The announced results were based on lab test results for cannabinoid and terpene content. Forthcoming “Golden Bear” awards will be determined by a panel of judges assembled by review site Budist. The fair also allows consumption for the first time.
- Stiiizy’s Steven Schneiderman was nominated for LA Business Journal‘s emerging CFO award.
HIGH SOCIETY

Muha Meds co-founders Ali and Muhammad Garawi celebrate the opening of their second California store in LA’s Westwood neighborhood.
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