Hi all,

Happy Friday!

In the newsletter:

• Dems field first pro-legalization presidential ticket

And so much more,

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?

The cannabis and mainstream media are calling the Democratic candidates Kamala Harris/Tim Walz the first pro-legalization presidential ticket. Walz is governor of Minnesota which legalized last year. Before that Minnesota was the first state to allow hemp-derived infused beverages to be sold in mainstream outlets.
MJBiz, Washington Post

Legalization is a relatively bipartisan issue, and Donald Trump is teasing support for Florida’s November REC ballot initiative. Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) has also said he opposes criminalizing low level drug offenses.
Florida Politics, Marijuana Moment

Legalization is widely popular and in general, politicians who oppose it tend not to broadcast their opposition. However, this year Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is actively campaigning against the Florida initiative. Opposition to the initiative also got a boost from Republican billionaire Ken Griffin who is spending millions to defeat it.
Tampa Bay Times

• Opposing the REC vote is a bit of a reversal for DeSantis who quietly assisted Florida-based MSO Trulieve. Earlier this year, however, he vetoed an MSO-supported bill which would have crushed Florida’s hemp-derived industry.
  CNN

Federal:

• Seven Democratic senators called for descheduling.
• Hemp lawyer Rod Kight argues that the proposed Miller amendment to the Farm Bill would “kill the entire hemp industry” including industrial hemp.

Business:

• High Times receiver Kevin Singer is back at work in a curtailed role. Meanwhile the iconic publication has been offline for weeks and faces a proposed class action lawsuit which alleges it botched a crowdfunding program.
  Green Market Report, The Deep Dive
• Track and trace software provider Metrc launched a QR code service that it says will enhance transparency and reduce labor for retailers among other benefits.
• Snoop Dogg-founded investment fund Casa Verde led a $2M seed round in growing platform GrowLink.
  MJBiz
• Leading MSO Curaleaf said chairman Boris Jordan would serve as CEO, replacing Matt Darin who is retiring.
• MJBiz profiled Black-owned multi-state retailer Simply Pure. 

State and local:

• A U.S. Senate committee approved a spending bill that would continue to block Washington D.C. from having a REC industry.
  Marijuana Moment
• Nevada’s supreme court reversed a ruling that would have removed weed from its schedule I substance list.
  Fox5
• Michigan released a disciplinary schedule clarifying the penalties for various licensee violations.
  Crain’s Detroit
• The Boston Globe looks at the chaos inside Massachusetts’ regulator.
• Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) discussed his personal experience with cannabis and why he pardoned 175,000 convictions.
  VladTV
• REC sales began in Ohio. Bloomberg Tax breaks down the taxes consumers will pay.
  States Newsroom

Health and science:

• More people are driving high.
  @wsj

Fun and interesting:

• Cannabitch Jackie Bryant introduces her favorite luxury accessory brand.
• Nose vapes?
  @cannabis.connoisseur.007

Business:

• The former owners of Bay Area-based delivery service Eaze sued the company on the day a foreclosure auction was set to take place for its assets. The company had anticipated that its investors would be able to buy the company out of foreclosure, without disrupting operations.
  Law360
  
• The state’s infused drinks market continues to grow amid a wider industry slowdown.
  Shanken News
• Meet Tiffany Chin, Snoop’s right hand woman at Death Row Cannabis.
  Green Market Report

Local:

• A scathing report from an L.A. County civil grand jury criticized the city of L.A.’s support for equity businesses.
  Green Market Report
• You may soon be able to smoke at public events in Long Beach.
  CBS News
• Retailer Off the Charts is up for final approval to be Manteca’s (San Joaquin Co.) third and final dispensary.
  Manteca Bulletin
• An representative for landlords editorialized against Carlsbad’s (San Diego Co.) proposed ban on smoking in apartments.
  Times of San Diego
• Mendocino County named Devreaux Baker its first poet laureate.
  MendoFever

Company milestones:

• Stiiizy launched a new partnership with music festival Outside Lands, which is this weekend in SF.
  SFGate
• Mike Tyson’s brand announced a new collaboration with Lowell Farms.
  Benzinga

Equity:

• A white Sonoma County man who criticized cannabis equity grants as racist received a $40,000 social equity grant from the county.
  SFGate

Recalls etc.

• The DCC recalled an Almora brand flower product for the presence of the mold aspegillus niger.