Hi all,

It’s been another tough week for many in SoCal.

If you’re in a position to do so, here are some ways you can help those affected by the LA fires.

Also:

• California retailer Embarc has started the United Cannabis Community Fire Relief Fund, a central GoFundMe which seeks to be a path for the industry to make a collective impact for World Central Kitchen.
• Lost a Puffco device to the fires? The company will provide a replacement. 

In the newsletter:

• What do the fires mean for cannabiz insurance?

And so much more,

Alex

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As with everything else business related, weed makes insurance more complicated. With the insurance situation in the LA fires’ devastating wake already presenting major challenges, I spoke to Charles Pyfrom, the Bay Area-based Chief Marketing Officer for leading insurer CannGen, about what the fires mean for cannabiz insurance.

Read the interview at WeedWeek

Federal:

• Trump’s pick for interim DEA boss, retired DEA special agent Derek Maltz, is a critic of the rescheduling push and considers cannabis a ‘gateway drug.’ He has also blamed weed for school shootings.
  Marijuana Moment
• While much of the industry is cozying up to Trump, He has shown no interest since endorsing Florida’s failed REC ballot initiative in September. And several of his appointees, including Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, are not 420-friendly. Ultimately, it’s up to Trump, MJBiz predicts.
• Canna Law Blog shared thoughts on the “terrible pageant” of rescheduling.
• Industry pioneer and founder of Last Prisoner Project Steve DeAngelo posted that of the 2,500+ non-violent drug offenders granted clemency by Biden, only nine were cannabis offenders.

Business:

• A former exec at MSO Verano was charged with insider trading.

State and local:

• Massachusetts is cracking down on “pennying out” the practice of giving away very cheap product samples.
  Talking Joints Memo
• Can Pennsylvania craft the perfect cannabis law?
  Pennsylvania Capital-Star
• In Florida, leading MSO Green Thumb Industries is appealing a judge’s ruling that blocked its proposal to have dispensaries paired with Circle K convenience stores.
  WUSF
• The Florida market is struggling, according to New Cannabis Ventures.
• Colorado sales reached a seven year low.
  Westword
• Maryland Gov. Wes Moore named Tabatha Robinson, New York’s equity chief, to lead the state’s regulatory agency.
• Venerable Colorado trade group Marijuana Industry Group is winding down after 15 years.
  MJBiz

Health and science:

• Researchers at UCSD found second hand cannabis smoke can be detected in children.
  UC San Diego Today
• Standards and education organization Acannability released its Cannabis Periodic Table of Molecules.

Fun and interesting:

• Podcast “All the Smoke” chopped it up over Snoop Dogg’s performance during Trump’s inauguration week.
  @allthesmoke

State:

• A group called Cannabis Aligned wants a 2026 ballot initiative that would “repeal and replace” California’s cannabis law.

Business:

• Some of the state’s biggest retailers have come together to form a new trade group the California Cannabis Operators Association (CaCOA), led by former California Cannabis Industry Association lobbyist Amy O’Gorman Jenkins. It aims to defeat an upcoming excise tax hike and regulate intoxicating hemp.
  Green Market Report
• Tiny joints have exploded in popularity.
  SFGate
• Brand accelerator Petalfast partnered with Platinum Vapes to pursue nationwide distribution.
• Blum Holdings, led by former Cookies CEO Sabas Carrillo, announced a series of deals that give it an equity stake in Cookies.
  Cannabis Equipment News
• Stiiizy has been hit with a lawsuit regarding its recent data breach.
  Law360

Local:

• Off the Charts is soft-opening Monterey (city’s) first pot shop this weekend.
  KSBW
• Redding may raise pot taxes to address the city’s deficit.
  Action News
• After years of struggle, Redondo Beach moved closer to allowing two pot shops.
  Daily Breeze
• A neighbor is trying to block a proposed Embarc shop in the city of San Luis Obispo.
  Cal Coast News

Job moves:

• Jesse Redmond of Watertower Research said he is joining Leef Brands Inc. as head of investor relations and business development.