The future is notoriously difficult to predict, especially when it involves the legislative process.

• In November, voters in all five states with cannabis on the ballot elected for reform, generally reflecting public opinion. But the next round of legalization is taking place in markets where legalization has to win approval from lawmakers.
• Numerous governors feel pressure to legalize REC, propelled by the belief that pot taxes can relieve Covid-related economic concerns. And they don't want to lose the revenue to their neighbors. But each state has its own moving parts which could delay or derail the process.
  WeedWeek 

These five states appear most likely to legalize in 2021.

Over at Green Market Report, Artery Pay executive Ashley Elsner dives into the case which led former Eaze CEO Jim Patterson to plead guilty to federal bank fraud, "in connection with credit card processing for cannabis products on the Eaze platform."

• Two associates of Patterson are currently on trial for related charges.
• Elsner argues that cannabis businesses need to care since participating in a state-legal enterprise does not excuse companies from following the law, "Cannabis protections from federal prosecution do not extend to other crimes."
• She also explains how to avoid getting into trouble.
• Eaze has not been charged, denies wrongdoing and says it cooperated with authorities.

Read the whole thing.

Separately, a federal judge in Oregon threw out a lawsuit against Eaze and a subsidiary, related to payments for billboard ads. (Paywall)
Law360

New doings:

• With New Jersey now legal, several big MSOs are targeting the northeast.
  Bloomberg 
• Marijuana Moment asks if Vice President Kamala Harris has reversed her pro-legalization stance. 
• A California bill would block employers from testing most employees for cannabis use. 
  Sacramento Bee
• THC-infused beverage sales are way up, boosted by the convenience factor.
  MJBiz
• Canadian player Canopy Growth filed a prospectus to raise $2B, believed to be the largest ever filed by a cannabis company.
  MJBiz
• Virginia lawmakers voted to legalize REC, though the market, the first in the former Confederacy, won't open until 2024.
  Politico
• Jackie Bryant visited Huckleberry Hill Farms, one of the first in California to have a tourism license.
  SFGate
• Mashable has a deep dive into "nanotech" gummies, essentially products with higher bioavailability that can accelerate onset.
• Chris Roberts investigates the strange world of digital weed NFTs.
  Forbes
• The first human study to look at MED as a treatment for PTSD has been approved.
  Forbes
• Seth Rogen's Houseplant brand, is rolling out its first U.S. products in California.
  NBC