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• “The Nike of weed”

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Forbes‘ weed reporter Will Yakowicz profiles James Kim, CEO and co-founder of Stiiizy, now generally acknowledged as the bestselling brand in California and the country. In California the company also has 50 branded dispensaries.

Yakowicz writes: “Founded in the gray market days before California legalized recreational marijuana, Stiiizy has also been dogged by lawsuits, rumors of illicit activity (all of which the company denies) and scandals, but none of that has changed the fact that in the $32B regulated cannabis industry, Stiiizy is the brand to beat.”

The CEO also responds to the swirl of controversy around the company: “Kim brushes the allegations off as all part of the “dog-eat-dog” world of legal weed, where margins are thin, regulations are tough, taxes are punitive and competitors spread false rumors. “It’s like the movie Mean Girls,” says Kim. “They’re saying I’m the biggest slut in school. Well, I’m not. And I’m tired of it.”

WeedWeek has been asking Stiiizy for an on the record interview for several years. They have yet to grant one.

Read the story

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This week Forbes also published it’s annual 42 most influential people in weed.

Federal:

• A prominent Republican pollster found there are no demographic groups opposed to legalization.
  Talking Joints Memo
• Trump’s solicitor general asked the U.S. Supreme Court for more time to weigh whether it will appeal a case involving whether cannabis users can own guns.
  Marijuana Moment

Business:

• Software company Cova released data showing 4/20 sales down from previous years. It seems not to have helped that the high-holiday coincided with Easter. Rick Bashkoff, CEO at data shop Lit Alerts, shared more data.
• Leading compliance software provider Metrc announced a more environmentally friendly RFID tag with a “full transition planned over the coming months.”
• Attorney Jean Smith-Gonnell discussed the recent whistleblower lawsuit against Metrc. Read WeedWeek‘s coverage.
• Cultivated checks out leading MSO Curaleaf’s first store dedicated to hemp products. It’s in affluent West Palm Beach, Fla.
• Curaleaf sued a former VP, who now works for rival Jushi, for allegedly violating a non-compete.
  Law360
• Media outlet Green Market Report shut down. Veteran weed beat reporter John Schroyer will remain with parent company Crain.
• “Sorry your invoice has not yet been selected for payment.” John Nathan, CEO of Bay State Extracts in Massachusetts, weighs in on the industry’s pervasive accounts receivable crisis.

State and local:

• New York is poised to be a $1.5B market this year.
• A federal investigation into a former Oregon official with ties to the industry closed without criminal charges.
  Oregonian
• Delaware’s Gov. tapped attorney Joshua Sanderlin as the state’s top regulator.
  Delaware Public Media
• Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed a bill allowing Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) to the industry. Vicente lawyer Charles Alovisetti discusses the opportunity.
• Arkansas banned hemp-derived products.
  Forbes
• A judge sent Alabama MED licensing “back to square one.“
  Cannabis Business Times
• Arizona’s once booming market saw sales decline for the second straight year.
  Merry Jane
• The Tennessee legislature passed a complex and controversial new law governing hemp-derived products.
  The Tennessean
• In Kentucky, a state auditor announced it is auditing the MED licensing process.
  WOUB (public radio)
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis(R), and his wife Casey, who may run for Governor, are facing questions about $10M in funds that passed through Casey’s non-profit and went to oppose last year’s unsuccessful REC initiative. Republican lawmakers have backed off investigating the controversy.
  NY Times
• The Texas Senate passed a bill that would block cities from putting decriminalization initiatives on local ballots.
  Marijuana Moment

Fun and interesting:

• At Budist, Claudio Miranda weighs in on the role of the cannabis critic.
• SFGate‘s Lester Black explains how 4/20 became an international party.
• “For Manuel Oyarce (@cannabonsai.book), growing cannabis bonsai trees allows him to reach a calm, flow state.”

State:

• A State Assembly committee voted 15-0 to repeal the state’s coming tax hike.
  Cannabis Business Times
• All state regulations are now available in a single PDF.
• Review site Budist named the judges for this year’s California Cannabis Awards, part of the state fair.

Business:

• SF Standard takes a look at the rise, fall and resurrection of delivery app Eaze.
• Shuttered lab BelCosta sued the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) to recover its recently suspended license.
  MJBiz
• The Black Los Angeles Cannabis Council is leading protests against the LA Department of Cannabis Regulation for lack of enforcement against illegal operators, high fees and other market challenges.
  @blaccunity
• Sonoma County and Desert Hot Springs are lowering taxes to sustain the industry.
  SFGate
• Michelin-starred SF restaurant Lazy Bear is partnering with Sonoma Hills Farm on a strain called Lazy Bear Reserve.
  Ganjapreneur

Local:

• With Hippie Hill festivities cancelled in San Francisco, Dolores Park was packed on 4/20.
  SF Standard
• Sacramento will award three more equity dispensary permits, bringing the city total to 43.
  The Observer
• Fresno city council will revote on a smokeshop crackdown after it failed to pass.
  CBS
• Fortuna (Humboldt) may allow pot shops.
  Times-Standard

Upcoming:

• A meetup tomorrow in Berkeley will celebrate NorCal’s women of cannabis.
• @biite.club is hosting a May 2 dinner at the intersection of joint rolling and Italian food, in East LA.