What's next for Eaze?

THE BIG IDEA

Happy Friday all!

Here are some ways you can help those displaced 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.

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What’s next for Eaze?

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Alex

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WEEDWEEK CALIFORNIA PRO

EXCLUSIVE: What’s next for Eaze?

After completing a bankruptcy-like process, the parent of California’s largest delivery app and Green Dragon retailers in Colorado and Florida has a fresh start.

I spoke to CEO Cory Azzalino about his relationship with unions, how he’d “rebalance” California’s tax structure, the Florida market and more.

Read the WeedWeek exclusive

QUICK HITS

Federal:

Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders.
Guardian
The DEA’s judge cancelled the upcoming rescheduling hearing as lawsuits loom. It pushes the timeline back at least three months.
Marijuana Moment
A top federal drug official said ‘state cannabis monopolies‘ are the best way to protect public safety.
Marijuana Moment
Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) a new co-chair of Congress’ Cannabis Caucus discussed her priorities.
MJBiz
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is urging that a federal lawsuit filed by eight New Mexico dispensaries alleging federal agencies improperly confiscated product be thrown out.
Law360

Business:

MJBiz reports on the industry’s looming debt crisis as billions come due in 2026.
Despite Meta’s sweeping changes in favor of ‘free expression’ restrictions on cannabis content remain in place, Marijuana Moment reports.
California operator Stiiizy is notifying 380,000 customers that their personal information was compromised in an attack targeting four California shops.
SecurityWeek
The SEC fined MSO Acreage Holdings over “materially false” financial statements.
Cannabis Business Times
Security InfoWatch reports on how security is defining the industry.
These states could legalize in 2025.
Leafly
Adam Levin, founder and chairman of Hightimes Holding Corp. which acquired the iconic media brand, agreed to plead guilty in a scheme to give undisclosed payments to a stock analyst touting its crowdfunding offering. New Cannabis Ventures discusses the case.
D.C.-based industry groups National Cannabis Roundtable and U.S. Cannabis Council are merging to form the U.S. Cannabis Roundtable, led by Charlie Bachtell, CEO of MSO Cresco Labs.
Consumer web portal Leafly was delisted from Nasdaq and will now trade over the counter.
A Green Market Report report found “misogyny, racism and nepotism” at Curaleaf. The leading MSO faces at least three lawsuits alleging “a toxic work culture for women.” The company broadly denies the allegations. Former CEO Matt Darin argues he should be excluded from a suit filed by a former company officer.
The parent company of Raw rolling papers was awarded $8.7M in a copyright infringement suit.
NorCal tech consultant Daniel Cook posted an extensive critique on “the problems and hollow promises of Metrc’s Retail ID,” a new QR code system leading track and trace software provider Metrc is rolling out. Metrc did not respond to a request for comment. In November, a WeedWeek story discussed the Retail ID system.
Higher Origins
Investor Aaron Edelheit posted on “alcohol’s secular decline,” and what weed has to do with it.
Marketer Angela Pih warns “Dispensaries are not McDonald’s. We should proceed cautiously with digital kiosks.”

State and local:

Smart and Safe Florida, which lost a REC ballot initiative in November, has filed to get a similar initiative on the 2026 ballot. Consultant Daniel Sparks highlights the changes.
Tallahassee Democrat
State House News Service spoke to the new commissioner of the beleaguered Massachusetts regulator.
Despite strict laws, “Texas is awash” in intoxicating cannabis. It apparently has almost twice as many pot shops as California.
KPBS
Cultivated looks at how Michigan’s low margin market is evolving.
Republican lawmakers in Indiana introduced a REC bill.
Fox59
An Ohio woman claims she received weed with a drive-thru Burger King order.
KFOR
Two years after going REC, Connecticut is seeing its first store closures.
CTInsider

Health and science:

A new study found fewer patients picking up their anxiety meds in legal states.
The Conversation

International:

Business of Cannabis explores what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s exit will mean for the country’s cannabiz.

Fun and interesting:

Here are all the benefit concerts to help LA recover.
Rolling Stone
Remember that time on Sesame Street when Ernie sold an eighth?
The rescued “Rolls Royce Monkey” has a new name.
Underscore_SF

CALIFORNIA HITS

State:

The Department of Cannabis Control has a new portal for tracking recalls.
The state is offering some tax relief to cannabis businesses affected by the fires.

Business:

Cannabis Business Times reported on the fires’ impact on the industry.
Members of a panel created to advise the state “had more questions than answers” about using MED to treat occupational injuries.
WorkCompCentral
Three companies sued Berkeley Patients Group, considered the country’s oldest dispensary, alleging $250,000 in unpaid bills. Also in SFGate, SF is holding off on cannabis cafes for now.
Cookies and Green Monké are bringing their hemp-infused drinks to 10 states.

Local:

Sessions by the Bay, the San Diego area’s first cannabis lounge, is opening next month in National City.
San Diego Magazine
Santa Barbara Co. supes say odor control regulations are in the air. More changes could be in store for the county’s “cannabis industrial complex.“
Santa Barbara Independent, California City News
Cartoonist Terry Torgerson assessed Humboldt’s cannabis trajectory.
KymKemp
MedLeaf opened the first non-storefront retail operation in Oceanside (San Diego Co.).
The Coast News
The Twenty Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians opened its third Red Falcon dispensary on sovereign land in the Yucca Valley (San Bernardino Co.). It also has locations in Twentynine Palms (Joshua Tree) and Coachella.
Hi-Desert Star