Dear WeedWeek readers,

I hope you enjoyed your time off as much as I did and are energized for a busy fall. Definitely reach out if there’s anything that strikes you as newsworthy. Your feedback is always welcome at hello@weedweek.net.

In today’s newsletter:

• California cannabiz split on recall vote
• How brands sidestep Facebook and Google
• Can prices get even lower?

Dig in,

Alex

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When it comes to delivery services, Californians are spoiled for choice. But it can be tough to differentiate between them. Flower Company aims to set itself apart by selling legal product for legacy market prices. And a look at the company’s site suggests it has figured out how. 

From what I could tell, eighths of the most coveted brands generally sell for less on Flower Co. than at top competitors like Eaze and Emjay. But its house brands sell for way less. Ounces for $99 abound and some cost as little as $59. 

How low can prices go? I spoke to Flower Co. co-founder Ted Lichtenberger.
WeedWeek

• MSO iAnthus has “turned against its lender (and one-time savior)” Gotham Green Partners.
  Green Market Report
• As I suggested a few weeks ago, not all Democrats are on board with REC legalization.
  The News Station
• Cannabis use is at historic highs among college age students, but alcohol use has fallen. And legalization does not appear to increase youth use, according to multiple sources.
  NIH, Cannabis Wire
• Barron’s shared its favorite pot stock.
• Winners of the Illinois license lotteries, hope they’ll get those licenses.
  Grown In
• Researchers say MED won’t benefit most chronic pain patients.
• Canadian operator Flora Growth made a deal to sell hemp shoes at big online retailer Zulily. BMW also plans to use more hemp in its cars.
  Seeking Alpha
• WSJ explains how Tik Tok serves sex and drugs videos to kids.
• Tech firm Akerna says the Friday before Labor Day was the second biggest sales day of 2021, with $90.1M in receipts.  4/20 was first.
• Amid ongoing industry consolidation, Business Insider identifies seven top acquisition targets. They also put out a video on why it’s so hard to start a cannabis business.
• The feds don’t seem to care about Delta-8 scams.
  Leafly

Fun stuff:

• In episode seven, The Unrolling Show reviews value flower brands.
• Tommy Chong freestyled.
• A Minnesota farmer created a hemp maze.
  CBS-Local
• Cartoonist Brian “Box” Brown continues to criticize the Florida MED market.
• High-end vaporizer maker Storz & Bickel updated its Volcano and other products.
  TechCrunch

• Jeremy Diehl, co-founder and CTO at Green Mill Supercritical, a maker of extraction systems, warned about competitors exaggerating their capabilities.
  MJBiz
• Colorado will vote in November on whether to raise pot retail taxes from 15% to 20% to fund educational enrichment programs.
  Ballotpedia
• “Spock of cannabis” Darwin Millard posted about new technical standards for the industry.
• A study found doctors still don’t know much about MED.
• MG Retailer offers tips on guarding against 3 cyber attack risks.
• Bengal Capital explained why Kiva is the best-selling edibles brand in California.
• Frenchy Cannoli’s Facebook group is debating whether to wash live plants.
• BDSA released data on top selling brands in big states.
• Cannabis Confidential discusses why pot stocks are flailing.

• ETFMG is hosting a September 30 webinar on cannabis investing.
• The Cannabinoid Derived Pharmaceuticals Summit will be September 21-23 in Boston.
• The USA CBD Expo is October 28-30 in Chicago.
• The Grow Up conference will be November 30-December 2 in Niagara Falls, Canada.
• The Cannabis Labs Virtual Conference is on September 14.
• Law firm Burns Levinson hosts a state of the industry conference on September 28 in Boston.

• Consultant Mark Collins takes issue with a study that found younger adult cannabis users are at a greater risk of heart attack than non-users. 
  Fox
• Brander Matthew Herrold says respect for the cannabiz is coming.
• Lazy Turtle exec Rick Fitzgerald posted a video explaining Sana‘s approach to sustainable packaging.
• We look at plants. Do they look back at us?
  Double Blind

High Society will return soon. Send your party pics to hello@weedweek.net!