Tag: California

California lawmakers send wide-ranging cannabis bills to governor

September 29, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

California lawmakers approved several cannabis bills during their recently concluded session, including legislation to help social equity entrepreneurs and consumption lounge operators – plus a measure to impose major limits on labeling. Gov. Gavin Newsom has until midnight Oct. 14 to sign or veto any bill. Dozens of marijuana-related bills were introduced during the legislative session, including one to protect mainstream employees who consume cannabis. “There were the usual 40 or 50 bills that we were tracking or lobbying on… Read more.

Women of Influence: Susie Plascencia

September 27, 2023 · Cannabis Now

A multi-hyphenate talent, Susie Plascencia’s skills as an entrepreneur-storyteller-advocate make her well-equipped in her role as Brand Partner for Humo, California’s Mexican American-owned cannabis brand, which describes itself as “raza owned,” stemming from the phrase la raza (meaning “the people”) and its roots in post-revolution Mexican history. “Being a woman in the cannabis industry means overcoming numerous stereotypes on a daily basis and doing so with grace and tenacity,” she says. Additionally, Plascencia is co-founder of MOTA Glass, a Los… Read more.

California marijuana businesses beg gov to veto product label legislation

September 20, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

California marijuana companies are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a recently passed bill that’s meant to deter children from using cannabis products, claiming the legislation would instead ban many existing brands’ current logos while doing nothing to curb the illicit market. The California Assembly last week passed Assembly Bill 1207, which prohibits any cannabis product package or label deemed “attractive to children.” That includes any images of “including, but not limited to”: Cartoons, toys or robots. Real or fictional humans. Any fictional… Read more.

Women of Influence: Angela Pih Is Walking the Walk

September 19, 2023 · Cannabis Now

One of Angela Pih’s favorite aspects of the cannabis industry is its velocity. What she’s referring to is the “incredibly exciting” speed of bringing new products to market within months. With extensive experience across retail, consumer packaged goods and cannabis, Pih is head of marketing for StateHouse Holdings, a vertically integrated California-based cannabis enterprise. From the moment she engages you in conversation, it’s quite evident the woman knows what she’s talking about. One industry trajectory Pih isn’t a fan of is the… Read more.

Method Man’s Tical Official Makes New York Debut

September 15, 2023 · Cannabis Now

If someone would’ve told us that everyone’s favorite rapper lately—and one of the founding members of legendary East Coast hip-hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan—would build an empire entirely separate from his storied music career while maintaining his status as one of the greats of the genre, we would’ve said that they’re crazy. But it’s true. Method Man, the gravelly-voiced MC from New York’s Staten Island—who made a career synonymous with cannabis use or “TICAL” as he has affectionally dubbed it—has… Read more.

California Employers Could Not Ask About Past Marijuana Use Under Bill Sent To Governor’s Desk

September 15, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

California lawmakers have sent the governor a bill that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about prior marijuana use. One day after the Assembly passed an amended version of the Senate bill, the originating chamber on Thursday signed off on those changes in a vote of 30-8. It now heads to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). When employers ask applicants about past marijuana use, it “not only dissuades candidates from applying for these positions but also leads to… Read more.

California Bill To Legalize Marijuana Cafes Is Officially Going To The Governor Following Final Assembly Vote

September 12, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A California bill to legalize marijuana cafes—allowing dispensaries to offer non-cannabis food and drinks at their location if they receive local approval—is officially heading to the governor’s desk. Days after the Senate passed a slightly amended version of the legislation from Assemblymember Matt Haney (D), the Assembly concurred with the opposite chamber’s changes on Monday in a 48-7 vote. It now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). AB 374 would allow local governments to authorize cannabis consumption lounges to prepare and… Read more.

California Increasing Incentives to Get Municipalities On Board with Cannabis Licensing

September 11, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is increasing eligibility for its Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant (LJRAG) along with the award amounts for municipalities that are given grants under the program.  The LJRAG program is part of the state’s efforts to expand legal cannabis access in jurisdictions where adult-use cannabis operations do not currently exist. The Phase II funding is tied to the local jurisdiction’s issuance of local permits or licenses authorizing cannabis retail. Under the revised Phase II guidelines, eligible local jurisdictions… Read more.

California Sues Multiple Hemp Companies Claiming State Law Violations

September 10, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

California is suing several hemp brands throughout the U.S. claiming violations of the state’s Proposition 65 rules, which require products “known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity” to carry a “clear and reasonable” warning label. Although the 2018 Farm Bill effectively legalized hemp containing 0.3% THC or less at the federal level, in California’s legal system, delta-9 THC is considered a chemical “known to cause harm to the developing fetus” and having any amount present makes a product… Read more.

California Assembly Approves Psychedelics Legalization Bill With Amendments, Sending It Back To The Senate For Final Passage

September 7, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The California Assembly has approved a Senate-passed psychedelics legalization bill, sending it back to the opposite chamber for concurrence on recent amendments before the measure potentially heads to the governor’s desk. The Assembly cleared the legislation from Sen. Scott Wiener (D) in a 42-11 vote on Wednesday—a significant victory for advocates after an earlier version of the psychedelics reform measure that also passed the Senate ultimately stalled out in the Assembly last year. The bill would legalize the possession and… Read more.

California Campaign Seeks to Legalize Psychedelic Mushrooms

September 6, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Activists in California are seeking to add a psychedelic mushroom legalization question to 2024 ballots, the San Francisco Standard reports. Ryan Munevar, campaign director for Decriminalize California, told the Standard that the group originally “wanted to go for all psychedelics, but the problem was there wasn’t enough public comprehension about what else was out there.”  According to the Decriminalize California website, the campaign must collect 546,651 valid signatures by January 10.   The proposal would allow for the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, distribution, transportation, possession,… Read more.

Cannabis 101: Understanding Compassionate Care

September 6, 2023 · Cannabis Now

When it comes to the medical marijuana era—including understanding compassionate care programs—it pays to know a bit of history.  Far from being a mere historical footnote in the long march towards legalization, the advent of state-sanctioned medical cannabis markets represented a game-changing victory on multiple fronts. From a policy perspective, the success of California’s Prop 215 in 1996 set in motion a domino effect that inspired numerous other states to follow suit by subsequently enacting medical marijuana laws of their… Read more.

California Senate-Passed Psychedelics Legalization And Marijuana Employment Bills Head To Assembly Floor With New Amendments

September 2, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A California Senate-passed bill to legalize the possession and facilitated use of certain psychedelics is officially heading to the Assembly floor after being approved by a third committee in the chamber, albeit with several substantive amendments. The Assembly Appropriations Committee also cleared a separate Senate-passed measure on Friday that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about prior marijuana use. The panel adopted technical amendments, so it will need to return to the Senate for concurrence before moving to the floor. The… Read more.

At least 10 fake unions identified in California marijuana industry

September 1, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

At least 10 “labor organizations” that experts and observers have flagged as suspicious – and share characteristics in common with another “union” that state regulators declared fake in July – are signing required labor agreements with licensed California marijuana businesses, according to records obtained by MJBizDaily. The labor groups in question have inked state-mandated labor pacts with dozens of cannabis businesses across California, including some high-profile companies. This latest revelation suggests the fake-union problem in California cannabis is wider and more… Read more.

As the Lawsuits Turn: A Tale of Two Catalyst Cannabis Cases

August 26, 2023 · MG Magazine

Et tu, counselor? That might have been the thought running through the mind of Elliot Lewis, chief executive officer of Catalyst Cannabis, when he filed a motion to disqualify counsel for Glass House, the opposing party in 562 Discount Med. Inc. v. Glass House Brands. It’s an action Lewis filed in June, accusing his competitor of fraudulent business practices and unfair competition in violation of California’s Business and Professions Code §§17200. In the motion to disqualify, 526 Discount Med asserts Venable LLP, a… Read more.

Black Girl Magic Aims High

August 26, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Josephine & Billie’s is the first dispensary in South Los Angeles focused on being made-for-and-run by women of color. The store is named in honor of entertainment legends Josephine Baker and Billie Holiday, two outspoken Black cannabis enthusiasts in the early 20th century. Baker and Holiday were ostracized for their use of cannabis and became unintentional advocates before their time. The celebrated performers used their respective talents to bend the rules and open the door for future rule-defying women. Whitney… Read more.

Study: Cannabis Doesn’t Increase Heart Attack Risk

August 24, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Middle-aged adults with a history of cannabis use over the previous year did not have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack, according to the results of a recent study by researchers at the University of California in San Diego. The new study, “Associations Between Monthly Cannabis Use and Myocardial Infarction in Middle-Aged Adults: NHANES 2009 to 2018,” was published on August 7 in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Cardiology, found that a history of cannabis use over the previous… Read more.

Allowing Interstate Cannabis Commerce Would Not Risk Federal Enforcement, Local Government Groups Tell California AG

August 24, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The California attorney general’s office has been soliciting input from local government and cannabis industry groups as it works to finalize an opinion on the potential legal risks of authorizing interstate marijuana commerce under ongoing federal prohibition, documents obtained by Marijuana Moment show. At least three organizations representing local governments have so far answered the attorney general’s call, saying that they do not expect California would be at “significant risk” of facing federal enforcement action if officials were to authorize… Read more.

California probes alleged fake union at Jay Z-linked marijuana company

August 23, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

California labor regulators are investigating another complaint involving an alleged “fake union” that’s signing required labor agreements with regulated marijuana companies in violation of state law. According to a complaint from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed July 26 at the state Agricultural Labor Relations Board, an organization called the National Agricultural Workers Union – which signed labor peace agreements with licensees doing business under the Caliva brand name – is in fact a sham union with no members and no intent… Read more.

Why Does Weed Still Cost So Much?

August 23, 2023 · Cannabis Now

If you’ve purchased cannabis in the US anytime over the past several months, years or even decades, you’ve likely noticed that while specials come and go, the rough price of an eighth of an ounce of weed has hovered reliably around the $40 mark. In some states, the average price is closer to $50, and top-shelf (or rapacious retailers) might demand $60, but everything still seems pegged towards expecting to withdraw a few Andrew Jacksons whenever it’s time to pick up a bag. It’s been this… Read more.

California cities, counties cut marijuana taxes to aid struggling companies

August 22, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

An increasing number of county and local elected officials across California are acknowledging a longtime cannabis industry grievance – legal companies’ taxes are too high – and cutting local levies on retail sales, business operations or both. At least 14 cities and counties in the state – including key consumer markets such as Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as less-populated, production-focused areas like Calaveras and Humboldt counties – have reduced or eliminated local sales, business or cultivation taxes… Read more.

Perfect to a Tee

August 16, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Historically speaking, the golf course has been a place for men. After all, it’s an easy excuse for leaving a chaotic household or the office for half the day. Not many sports provide four hours of uninterrupted play where one can develop close connections with friends and business colleagues. One of the most mentally challenging games, golf tests one’s ability to think strategically and get out of challenging situations.  Now, more women than ever are picking up the clubs and… Read more.

Tiffany & Co.

August 14, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Leading Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Cannabis, the most highly anticipated celebrity launch of the year, is Tiffany Chin. Of Course She is. When the world’s most famous hip-hop star and successful businessman, actor and cannabis activist personally taps you to launch his highly anticipated new brand, chances are it’s because you’re the best. And make no mistake, Tiffany Chin is precisely that. Ask Snoop about his head of cannabis ventures at his new Death Row Cannabis brand.  Chin’s career took… Read more.

Los Angeles mayor expected to pick new chief for city’s cannabis agency

August 9, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is shaking up leadership at several city agencies, including an expected management overhaul at L.A.’s cannabis regulatory agency – which oversees a roughly $1 billion marijuana market. A listing for an executive director for the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) has been posted on the city’s employment website for several weeks, increasing speculation that interim director Michelle Garakian is on the way out. The deadline for candidates to submit their applications is 4 p.m. PT Aug. 18.… Read more.

Are Delayed Tax Payments a Viable Capital Allocation Strategy?

August 8, 2023 · MG Magazine

Notorious Mafia kingpin Al Capone never filed a federal income tax return, claiming he had no taxable income. Before he was convicted of tax evasion in 1931, he boasted, “They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money.” The rationale might resonate with cannabis companies in the United States, which manufacture and sell a federally illegal product but are expected to pay federal, state, and local taxes anyway. In fact, companies nationwide have been racking up tax debt at an alarming rate.… Read more.

Brett Heyman’s Colorful World

August 3, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Celebrated cult accessories designer Brett Heyman creates the beau monde of bongs with her luxury cannabis lifestyle brand, Flower by Edie Parker. The former director of public relations at Gucci fuses flower with fashion to create a range of covetable cannabis accouterments that look equally at home in an art gallery as they do on your coffee table.  Heyman launched Flower in 2019 as a natural expansion for her successful Edie Parker handbag and homewares brand. The two are synergistically united in… Read more.

LA’s Celebrity Cannabis Party Scene Is a Vibe

July 30, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Living in California, everybody wanna visit for women, weed and weather From all around the world for the women, weed and weather Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 collab with Dr. Dre, “The Recipe,” perfectly describes the vibe when it comes to Los Angeles, coolest city in the Golden State, mecca for the world’s best cannabis. In recent years, Los Angeles has transformed itself to become SoCal’s go-to hub for all things cannabis culture, as more and more celebrities are getting into the… Read more.

Emily Eizen, Cannabis Artist

July 29, 2023 · Cannabis Now

By creating psychedelic-inspired works that defy convention, Emily Eizen, a queer multimedia artist and model, seamlessly merges cannabis and art while showcasing the beauty, freedom and diversity of the cannabis community. Eizen says her relationship with cannabis began while studying political science at George Washington University in DC. Her social justice advocacy started off strong, holding the freshman chair position for the campus LGBTQ+ organization and meeting President Barack Obama. However, she says the culture shock of moving from a… Read more.

Big Name Marijuana Brands Dive Into Intoxicating Hemp Products

July 24, 2023 · Green Market Report

Historically, marijuana companies avoided the hemp market. There’s a small but growing trend of marijuana companies expanding into hemp-derived goods that can still get consumers high. At least four high-profile companies have already made the leap in varying forms, including California-based Cookies, New York-based Curaleaf, Mike Tyson’s celebrity brand Tyson 2.0, and California cannabis brand Jeeter. The Products Cookies in late June launched a hemp-based THCA product line of flower, vape cartridges, and edibles that can be legally shipped across… Read more.

Cannabis brand Cookies sued by another investor group

July 22, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

More Cookies investors have sued the cannabis industry darling, claiming the prominent California-based marijuana brand mismanaged their $15.5 million through “multimillion dollar kickbacks and other self-dealing” that benefited company founders at investors’ expense, court documents filed this week show. But what could be a more troubling sign for Cookies as well as the struggling marijuana industry, Cookies allegedly ran out of money last summer when it missed a key valuation and then “burned through most of” an additional $23 million… Read more.

Psilouette Founder Derek Chase on Taking Risks in Psilocybin Products

July 21, 2023 · Green Market Report

Chase sees opportunity in the limited enforcement actions by the DEA. The limited legality of most psychedelic products hasn’t stopped some people from trying to get an early advantage. Case in point, Derek Chase founded L.A.-based entheogenic wellness company Psilouette to take advantage of what he called a “lucky period” for the industry. Green Market Report’s Executive Editor Debra Borchardt recently interviewed Chase to get more insight on why now was the time to found the company and where he sees the regulated… Read more.

Don’t Like Unions, Make a Fake One Up! – California Cannabis Companies Create Fake Unions to Cut Labor Costs

July 20, 2023 · Cannabis.net

According to state regulators on Monday, a dozen cannabis businesses in California, including the collapsed distribution giant Herbl, are facing the possibility of license revocation. As first reported by MJ BIZ, these businesses had previously signed agreements with a labor union that has now been deemed illegitimate. Under California law, marijuana businesses must enter into a labor peace agreement with a legitimate and "bona fide" labor organization to obtain a state license. However, critics argue that some cannabis businesses nationwide are… Read more.

New Mexico Regulators Revoke Cannabis License for Selling Products from California

July 19, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

An Albuquerque, New Mexico cannabis retailer last week had their license revoked for selling cannabis products from California. On July 13, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department ordered Paradise Distro LLC to terminate sales immediately.   It is the first time state regulators have revoked a cannabis business license in the state.   In a statement, Regulation and Licensing Department Superintendent Linda Trujillo said the “revocation should serve as a warning to those selling or receiving out-of-state cannabis products.” According to the Licensing Department, Cannabis… Read more.

New Markets Within California Staggeringly Slow to Open

July 17, 2023 · Green Market Report

Across 15 theoretically legal markets in the state, only 18 of the possible 129 stores have opened. The California marijuana business landscape remains one of the toughest in the nation, and over the past three years one of the areas in which industry advocates had placed much of their hopes – repealing city-level bans on cannabis commerce – has made barely any gains, despite a flurry of victorious pro-marijuana ballot measures and ordinances. At least 50 California cities moved to… Read more.

California’s Persisting Cannabis Dystopia Part 2

July 13, 2023 · Cannabis Now

In Northern California’s Trinity County—inland from Humboldt and more rugged—a recent brutal police raid on cannabis farmers at a local homestead provides an all too vivid example of what the stakes are when the legal sector fails small operators. Racist Raids in Trinity County?On May 2, Trinity sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant in the Trinity Pines community near the town of Hayfork. The Sheriff’s Office said over 16,000 plants were seized in the operation, along with 7,500 pounds of… Read more.

UC San Diego Researchers Gifted $1.5M to Study Effects of DMT on the Brain

July 13, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The University of California, San Diego Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative has received a $1.5 million gift to study the effects of DMT on the brain. Philanthropist Eugene Jhong gifted the funds to the university for the research. Jon Dean, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the UC San Diego Department of Anesthesiology and director of the Division of DMT Research at the UC San Diego Psychedelic Health and Research Initiative, is one of the principal investigators of the study. In… Read more.

California cannabis companies tied to fake union could lose their licenses

July 11, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

At least a dozen California cannabis businesses that signed required agreements with a labor union now deemed illegitimate – including collapsed distribution giant Herbl – are at risk of losing their licenses, state regulators said Monday. California law requires marijuana businesses to sign a labor peace agreement with a “bona fide” labor organization before they are issued a state license. But in an apparent effort to flout worker-friendly marijuana legalization laws and benefit businesses seeking labor cost savings, cannabis businesses across the… Read more.

Wrigley wins lawsuit to keep Skittles name off marijuana products

July 11, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

The makers of the popular marijuana strain Zkittlez, which borrowed its name from a trademark owned by confectioner Wrigley, will discontinue the product line after bowing to legal pressure from the candy giant. In a settlement proposed on June 28, Mendocino County, California-based Terphogz agreed to stop using names, websites and advertising slogans that too closely resemble what Wrigley uses to sell its Skittles candy. The Wrigley Co., headquartered in Chicago, is a subsidiary of Mars Wrigley. Representatives of Wrigley and Terphogz… Read more.

The Cannabis Industry Wants To Turn July 10 Into A ‘Hashish Holiday’

July 10, 2023 · Yahoo!News

Now that recreational pot has been legalized in 23 states, the cannabis industry is borrowing a marketing trick from the booze industry: “hangover holidays.” Or, in this case, “hashish holidays.” Most people are aware that marijuana buffs celebrate each April 20, or “420.” And the day before Thanksgiving ― aka “Weed Wednesday” ― is reportedly a big sales opportunity for dispensaries. But Monday, July 10, marks another, lesser-known “holidank” for cannabis consumers: “710,” when enthusiasts are encouraged to get high via cannabis wax, vaping, resins or dabs. The name of… Read more.

Another change at the top: Marijuana MSO MedMen taps Ellen Deutsch as CEO

July 8, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

California-based marijuana multistate operator MedMen Enterprises hired Ellen Deutsch as CEO and Amit Pandey as chief financial officer. One of the few women installed in the top role at a marijuana MSO, Deutsch “succeeds interim CEO Edward Record” effective immediately, according to a news release. Deutsch is at least the fifth CEO to lead MedMen since January 2020. “Ellen’s leadership and strong operational experience in the public cannabis sector will prove invaluable as we complete our restructuring plan and transition into a new phase… Read more.

Cannabis workers in California, Missouri vote to join Teamsters

July 8, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters grew its membership of cannabis workers again, this time in California and Missouri. Teamsters Local 1932 in San Bernardino, California, added 81 workers at Growpacker, a Desert Hot Springs-based cannabis bottling facility, according to a news release. Employees at another San Bernardino cannabis company, Captain Jack’s Dispensary, voted in February to join Local 1932. In 2021, cultivation facility workers at nearby Tikun Olam also voted to join Local 1932. “This is the fifth group of California cannabis workers who have joined the Teamsters this… Read more.

Herbl collapse signals wider fallout in California marijuana industry

July 6, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

California-based marijuana distribution giant Herbl is going to the courts in a bid to recover some of the roughly $10 million it claims retailers owe the company, which fell into receivership in June. At the same time, according to court and investor documents, at least one of Herbl’s former brand partners – Sunset Connect – is suing to recover a six-figure debt the San Francisco maker of pre-rolls claims that Herbl owes and refuses to pay, records show. The unprecedented struggle over… Read more.

California Courts Have Sealed 90 Percent Of Eligible Marijuana Cases, State Attorney General’s Report Shows

July 5, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

California courts have sealed, resentenced or dismissed about 90 percent of eligible marijuana convictions for activity that was legalized under a 2016 voter-approved initiative, a new report from the state attorney general’s office shows. As of April 6, the state’s judicial system has processed relief for 206,052 of out an estimated 227,650 cannabis cases that were identified as eligible following the passage of records reform legislation that the governor signed in 2018. The new report, released last month by Attorney… Read more.

The Only Constant Is Change

July 4, 2023 · MG Magazine

Here we are, going through another quirky cycle in the cannabis industry. During times of change and downturn, many pause to reflect where they are—and where they’ve been. I found myself doing exactly that as I took a two-week break from a crazy twelve months of heavy travel in my first year with Grove Bags. With so many others sharing their challenges and frustrations with the current state of the industry, I suppose this moment inevitably would have come for… Read more.

Cannabis’ Undeniable LGBTQ+ Connections Run Deep

July 2, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Cannabis and Proposition 215—the Compassionate Use Act of 1996—are intimately intertwined with the LGBTQ+ community. The reward was born from the guts of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s, a public health crisis in full view of an indifferent government. The moment compelled action. Amidst illness, the community found health. Amidst division, it found unity with voters at the ballot. Prop 215 protects a series of rights to possess, use, obtain and cultivate marijuana for medical purposes with a… Read more.

California Cannabis Growers Destroyed Own Operation, Undermined Loan, Lawsuit Claims

July 1, 2023 · Green Market Report

California industrial agriculture firm and investor Roots Properties has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against a pair of cannabis companies that it said undermined a six-figure loan agreement through “intentional sabotage” of their own grow operation, from which 90% of the profits were supposed to go to Roots. According to the lawsuit, Island View Ranch LLC and Island Breeze Farms LLC struck an investment deal with Roots Properties for $400,000 in loans and another $350,000 line of credit, from… Read more.

Glass House Responds to “Black Marketeer” Allegations with Lawsuit

June 29, 2023 · MG Magazine

A dispute between California cannabis competitors has resulted in dueling lawsuits containing extraordinary allegations of black marketeering and reckless disregard for the truth. In a complaint filed June 20 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Glass House Brands Inc. claims Long Beach-based Catalyst Cannabis Co and two of the company’s principals defamed Glass House by alleging the company is “the biggest black marketeer in American history,” among other unsavory accusations. Catalyst, under the company name 562 Discount Med Inc., filed an… Read more.

Green Qween Embraces the LGBTQ+ Community with Style

June 28, 2023 · MG Magazine

While cannabis stores in much of the country need to serve a broad customer base within a defined radius, retailers in mature, saturated markets like Los Angeles and Toronto are standing out by tailoring their spaces to the needs of specific consumer groups. Green Qween is one such store. Operated by and for the LGBTQ+ community, the dispensary is proving people will travel for an experience that aligns with their values. Located in downtown Los Angeles near the uber-hip Ace Hotel, the… Read more.

Arts District Cannabis Reopens in Los Angeles

June 28, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Located in the heart of Los Angeles’ Arts District, the impossibly popular Coast to Coast Cannabis dispensary will open its doors at 542 Alameda Street, on July 1, as the newly relaunched Arts District Cannabis.  The rebranded dispensary will officially reopen its doors hoping to bridge the gap between cannabis and art, using its platform to feature local, rising artists and creatives. The space was originally the Cirrus Gallery, which art dealer and publisher Jean Robert Milant opened in 1970.… Read more.

How big is California’s legal marijuana market? Think a small nation

June 27, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Even with the recent financial and tax woes roiling California’s marijuana industry, there’s little doubt that it remains the world’s largest cannabis market. The state will ring up nearly $5.9 billion in legal recreational and medical marijuana sales in 2023, the recently published MJBiz Factbook estimates. To put that in perspective, marijuana sales in California could support the economy of a small island nation. For example, the gross domestic product for the Caribbean island nation of Barbados will total $6.1 billion in 2023, according to the International… Read more.

Workers at California Cannabis Distribution Company Vote to Join Teamsters Union

June 23, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Workers at southern California-based cannabis distribution company Amuse on Wednesday voted to join the Teamsters Local 630.   In a statement, Elias Valenzuela Jr., a driver and member of the organizing committee who was previously a member of the United Auto Workers, said that “almost everyone” signed up when organizers first started handing out authorization cards, describing the process as “really quick.”  Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region vice president and Food Processing Division director, said the union is expanding its reach… Read more.

California Assembly Committee Approves Bill To Legalize Marijuana Cafes That Already Passed Senate

June 22, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A California Assembly committee has approved a Senate-passed bill to legalize marijuana cafes, allowing dispensaires to offer non-cannabis food and drinks at their location if they receive local approval. About a month after the legislation from Sen. Ben Allen (D) cleared the Senate, the Assembly Business and Professions Committee advanced it on Tuesday in a 15-2 vote. The measure now heads to the Governmental Organization Committee before potentially moving to the floor. The bill is largely consistent with a separate… Read more.

Should You Check-In or Carry-On Your Weed? – Airline Staff Caught Stealing Massive Amounts of Cannabis from Checked Bags

June 21, 2023 · Cannabis.net

Federal prosecutors have uncovered an extensive operation involving a group of United Airlines employees who have allegedly been engaged in the theft of marijuana from checked luggage at San Francisco International Airport for several years. The San Francisco Standard reports that the Justice Department charged two baggage handlers, Joel Lamont Dunn and Adrian Webb, with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance as part of this illicit scheme. According to court documents, Dunn and Webb orchestrated the involvement of at least three other… Read more.

Big California marijuana distributor Herbl collapses, brands left unpaid, sources say

June 21, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Herbl, a major licensed California marijuana distribution company, is in receivership after falling behind on a key loan, a source close to the situation confirmed to MJBizDaily on Tuesday. The collapse of Herbl – which reportedly handled $700 million worth of product sales in 2022 – is the most prominent failure of a cannabis company in the state to date and has major implications across the industry. Potentially tens of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices are due to brands across the state, which… Read more.

Six Years, Six CFOs At MedMen As Bowman Becomes Latest To Leave

June 19, 2023 · Green Market Report

After the markets closed on Friday, MedMen Enterprises Inc.  (CSE: MMEN) (OTCQX: MMNFF) announced the resignation of Ana Bowman as Chief Financial Officer, effective June 29, 2023. Bowman has served as CFO since 2022 and MedMen has begun a formal search for a new CFO. “We thank Ana for her leadership and guidance during MedMen’s restructuring. Ana was instrumental in helping us achieve positive adjusted EBITDA for the last two quarters,” said Ed Record, MedMen’s CEO. “We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”… Read more.

California Lawmaker Cautions That Senate-Passed Psychedelics Legalization Bill Faces ‘Challenging Road’ In Assembly

June 17, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A California Senate-passed bill to legalize the possession of certain psychedelics and facilitated use of the substances is up against a “challenging road” toward passage in the Assembly, the sponsor said on Wednesday. At a virtual event hosted by the Psychedelic and Entheogen Academic Council (PEAC), Sen. Scott Wiener (D) said that while the reform legislation advanced through his chamber, “it’s not guaranteed to pass” in the Assembly. “But we’re going to try the very best we can,” he said. Part of… Read more.

Opinion: 4 signs your cannabis customer is not going to pay you

June 16, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

If you have been paying attention to the California cannabis market recently, you have heard about the credit crisis many suppliers are dealing with. Not only do marijuana-related operators in the state owe more than $250 million in unpaid taxes – a primary reason for small-business failure in corporate America – but they also are owed millions of dollars in accounts receivable (up to $600 million) from other cannabis-related businesses. Because of this, a coalition of marijuana firms in California is trying to pass Assembly… Read more.

California Ramped Up Enforcement on Unpaid Cannabis Taxes, Now Reports 94% of Cannabis Excise Taxes Are Paid Up

June 14, 2023 · Cannabis.net

MJ BIZ reported recently that California state officials have stated that approximately 94% of cannabis excise taxes owed by marijuana firms have been paid. Still, they also recognized a fall in total sales and tax collections in 2022. Two primary taxes apply to the sale of cannabis in the state: the standard sales tax, which varies from 7.25% to 8.25% depending on the jurisdiction, and a special 15% excise tax on cannabis collected by sellers and paid to the state. As… Read more.

Art-focused retailer sprouts in a central California cannabis desert

June 8, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Being one of a small number of stores in a cannabis desert might seem like an easy proposition: Open your doors and let customers roll in, unencumbered by competition. But as Lauren Fontein, founder and president of The Artist Tree marijuana chain in California, learned when she opened a store in Fresno (population 500,000), being a cannabis oasis comes with its own challenges. These include a community inexperienced with cannabis, staffing issues and more. “It really is a cannabis desert,”… Read more.

No New Cannabis Business Licenses in San Francisco Until 2028

June 8, 2023 · Green Market Report

Estimates say the illicit market accounts for roughly 60% of San Francisco cannabis business. San Francisco has apparently settled on a deal for a temporary ban on new marijuana business permits in the city, after an initial proposal to indefinitely prohibit new license applications was walked back. Under the terms of the measure approved unanimously by the city Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, no new cannabis business license applications will be eligible for consideration until New Year’s Eve in 2027 at the… Read more.

San Francisco’s Club Haus

June 7, 2023 · Cannabis Now

It’s a beautiful fall afternoon in San Francisco. The previous night’s rain left the air feeling clean and crisp as I bike up Folsom Street, passing 14th Street. I see a huge mural of Yolanda López, an activist in the Chicano civil rights movement, with the words “Basta Ya!” in big red letters. I have officially made it to the Mission District. The mural rests on Casa Adelante, the Mission’s only affordable and electric building, which took decades of activism… Read more.

California Cannabis Chaos: State Bailout Might Be Needed

June 7, 2023 · Green Market Report

Nearly 25% of cannabis retailers are already in arrears for state taxes. The legal California cannabis industry is in such dire financial straits that it may need a state-funded bailout if it’s to continue operations after this year, according to one longtime industry insider. The most immediate problem is that hundreds of businesses are already behind on their state taxes, and might literally be unable to come up with the cash to pay those bills, said Jonatan Cvetko, the executive director… Read more.

Cannabis Infused Drinks Are on the Rise, Here Are 4 POC-Owned Brands to Try

June 6, 2023 · Food & Wine

Alcoholism runs deep in both sides of my family. To prevent possibly continuing those patterns as I get older, I’ve become more interested in exploring other options for social drinking;  Alcohol-free wines and spirits have become significantly more accessible in recent years, and cannabis-based mocktails is one of the most interesting trends in this space.  Picture a zero-proof drink with all the layers of flavor we’ve come to love in a cocktail, but with a THC and/or CBD mixture that… Read more.

LGBTQ+ Pride’s Crucial Role in the Modern Cannabis Industry

June 6, 2023 · Green Market Report

The LGBTQ+ community stepped up to provide relief to their friends and family members dying from AIDS. Since June is Pride Month – a 30-day show of support for the LGBTQ+ community – Green Market Report thought it was worth a few hundred words to note that the modern U.S. marijuana industry likely wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for the courage of that same community of activists who have been willing to push back against societal norms for decades. HIV/AIDS Relief… Read more.

Cannabis company implements business model based on boutique wineries

June 5, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Post-Prohibition, the alcoholic beverage industry had a head start of nearly 80 years before voters legalized the United States’ first regulated, adult-use marijuana markets in 2012. In the years since, cannabis companies have leaned into the similarities between alcohol and marijuana, with some manufacturers creating THC-infused beers, seltzers and wines. Jim Roberts, owner of The Bohemian Chemist in Philo, California, adopted a different angle when applying lessons from the alcohol industry to his small, vertically integrated cannabis business, which sits… Read more.

Food, drink, pot under one roof: California state bill could allow for cannabis cafes

June 4, 2023 · Yahoo!News

California cannabis users may soon not have to travel far to get a cup of coffee to go with their legal pot. The state's assembly passed a bill Wednesday that would allow California's localities the right to approve the sale of food and non-alcoholic drinks inside legal cannabis dispensaries. Current state law prohibits any food or beverage from being served in recreational marijuana dispensaries. State Assemblyman Matt Haney, who introduced the bill, told ABC News that those current regulations are "outdated and… Read more.

Happy B-Real Day to Cypress Hill Frontman

June 3, 2023 · Celeb Stoner

Cypress Hill's B-Real turns 53 today. Born on June 2, 1970 in South Gate, California to a Cuban mother and Mexican father, B-Real (his real name is Louis Freeze) grew up in South Central Los Angeles. As a teenager, he joined he Bloods and was shot in 1987, puncturing his lung. Leaving the gang life behind, B-Real began rapping with his friend Mellow Man Ace, the younger brother of Senen "Sen Dog" Reyes. After Reyes met New York transplant Lawrence "DJ Muggs" Muggerud,… Read more.

California Assembly Passes Cannabis Cafés Bill

June 3, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The California Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to allow cannabis cafés in the state, KTVU Fox 2 reports. The measure passed the chamber 64-9.   The legislation would permit the sale of non-cannabis products for consumption at the cafés, which is prohibited under current state law although limited on-site cannabis consumption is allowed.  Assemblymember Matt Haney (D) tole KTVU that “There’s absolutely no good reason from an economic, health, or safety standpoint that the state should make that illegal.”  “Lots of people want to enjoy… Read more.

The Disruptive Beverage Maker That’s Bubbling with Originality

June 2, 2023 · MG Magazine

Perhaps more than any other consumer-packaged-goods form factor, the beverage category has a tendency to follow trends. The once-fringe sparkling water brand LaCroix capitalized on a trend away from sugary drinks by leaning into a kitschy “anti-Perrier” aesthetic and unorthodox flavors like Lemoncello and Cherry Blossom. LaCroix’s sudden surge in popularity opened the flavored seltzer category, which promptly became saturated with competitors and knock-off store brands. In cannabis, Cann is the brand that disrupted beverages. In 2019, after identifying a market opportunity for low-dose… Read more.

California Senate Passes Bill To Stop Employers From Asking About Past Marijuana Use

June 2, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

The California Senate has approved a bill that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about prior marijuana use. After moving through four committees, the legislation from Sen. Steven Bradford (D) passed on the floor in a 29-9 vote on Tuesday, sending it to the Assembly for consideration. It would build on existing employment protections enacted last session that bar employers from penalizing most workers for using cannabis in compliance with state law off the job. “It is unlawful for an employer… Read more.

Death Row Cannabis Drops Trio Of New Strains

May 29, 2023 · Forbes

Death Row Cannabis released a trio of new strains, showcasing a diverse lineup of genetics: Strawberry Gelato, LA Runtz, and SFV OG flower, which are rolling out in multiple markets, first in California. Death Row Cannabis—owned by Snoop Dogg, who also owns a portion of the catalog of Death Row Records—was announced last December. It was named after Death Row Records, which at one time was a bastion of West Coast hip-hop icons, generating a solid run of number one albums… Read more.

FDA examines using psychedelics in medicine

May 29, 2023 · ABC 10

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. There are pharmaceutical and natural ways to treat anxiety and depression but there's a recent curiosity surrounding psychedelics. ABC10 Health Expert Dr. Tom Hopkins said many of his patients are inquiring about this. Recently, NFL Quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared his story of how these drugs helped ease his fear of death, Hopkins said. "What we know is if you take something like CBD and cannabis, particularly with THC, it's been used in a variety… Read more.

California Bill to Decriminalize Some Psychedelics Advances Through the Legislature

May 27, 2023 · Lucid News

Supporters of a psychedelic decriminalization bill in California are hopeful that a new version of the legislation, which focuses on plant-based psychedelics, will be more successful than a similar bill which was stalled by legislators last year.  Sponsored by Senator Scott Wiener, SB 58 would decriminalize the possession and use of some psychedelic substances in California. The proposed legislation was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee on March 21 and will now be sent to the Appropriations Committee. SB 58 would… Read more.

California Officials Award More Than $50 Million In Marijuana Tax-Funded Community Reinvestment Grants

May 27, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

California officials have awarded more than $50 million in marijuana tax-funded community reinvestment grants, the state announced on Thursday. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) said that the funds are being distributed to 31 different local health departments and community-based nonprofit organizations that support economic and social development in areas disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. This marks the fifth year in a row that the office has provided the grant funding. And the cannabis tax… Read more.

How Asian Americans for Cannabis Education is Changing the Narrative

May 26, 2023 · Cannabis Now

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month; an opportunity to reflect on the connection between cannabis and Asian culture that spans thousands of years and different continents, from ancient times up to the present day. Asian Americans for Cannabis Education intends to remind you of this fact early and often. Known as “ma” in Chinese, cannabis has been cultivated on the continent for centuries. Fossil records and genetic studies indicate that the cannabis plant has a long history… Read more.

Dope Deadbeats? – California Hires Credit Bureau to Create a Blacklist of Cannabis Companies That Don’t Pay Their Bills

May 26, 2023 · Cannabis.net

A majority of the wholesale B2B cannabis business in California is represented by a group of distributors and brands that have engaged a credit association to assess shops to reduce the hundreds of millions of dollars in arrears and deter repeat offenders. The Credit Management Association (CMA), a nonprofit organization with headquarters in a suburban area of Los Angeles, is reviewing invoices and other paperwork from more than a dozen distributors and companies. A "do not sell list" of 25 California… Read more.

And The Winners Are…The Emerald Cup Awards 2023

May 24, 2023 · Cannabis Now

On May 13, 2023, the 19th instalment of the Emerald Cup Awards brought together the absolute best California has to offer. Held at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA, the 45,000-square-foot venue was filled with some of the industry’s top players and the state’s best cannabis cultivators and manufacturers. The event was a welcome reprieve from the recent issues faced by California’s cannabis industry. There was a lot of love in the air: for the plant, for the community and… Read more.

California Eradicates More Cannabis During Q1 2023 Than Previous Quarter Despite Serving Fewer Warrants

May 24, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) during the first quarter of this year seized more than $52 million in unlicensed cannabis and cannabis products and eradicated 43% more illegally grown plants (52,529) than the previous quarter (29,687) despite serving 30% fewer search warrants. During the quarter, which ran from January 1 to March 30, the UCETF seized 31,912 pounds of cannabis. In all, the taskforce seized $52,644,200 worth of cannabis and cannabis products throughout the quarter. In a press release,… Read more.

Glass House Sees Opportunity in Ongoing California Contraction

May 22, 2023 · Green Market Report

Legal cannabis farming space in California is set to shrink dramatically. The amount of legal cannabis farming space in California is set to shrink dramatically this year, and Glass House Brands stands poised to seize more market share as competing growers exit the industry, CEO Kyle Kazan said this past week during the company’s most recent earnings call. “We estimate that from June 2022 through the end of April, licensed California cultivation capacity has fallen by more than 16 million… Read more.

Judge Tosses Humboldt Class Action Lawsuit Against County’s Cannabis Cultivation Fines

May 19, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

A U.S. magistrate judge has thrown out the class action lawsuit filed by landowners in Humboldt County, California who claimed the county fined them hundreds of thousands of dollars – without an investigation or opportunity to defend themselves – for allegedly cultivating cannabis without a permit, Courthouse News reports. The five landowners filed the lawsuit in October 2022. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Illman dismissed the lawsuit in full and did not give the plaintiffs leave to amend. The plaintiffs claimed after California legalized… Read more.

California Cannabis Companies Form Group to Address Industry’s ‘Culture of Nonpayment’

May 17, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

A cohort of cannabis industry operators on Tuesday announced a coalition that seeks to raise awareness and offer solutions to severe credit issues that threaten the industry’s stability. The Financial Stability for California Cannabis (FSCC) includes Kiva Sales & Service, Lowell Farms, Nabis Sunderstorm and other key players in California’s cannabis industry which they say comprise 45% of the state’s industry by sales volume.    In a statement, Vince Ning, co-founder and co-CEO of Nabis, said “Collections and outstanding debt… Read more.

Hemp Chic

May 17, 2023 · Cannabis Now

Founded by Ally Ferguson in 2014, seeker made its public debut in 2016, offering a contemporary and sustainable low-impact wardrobe for modern, conscious consumers. Celebrities including Billie Eilish, Jameela Jamil and Charlize Theron are fans of the sinsemilla streetwear brand based on thoughtful designs and timeless silhouettes. The name Seeker is a nod to the fashion line’s stated ethos of evolving to be better than what we’ve been, of knowing more, of exposing people to another way of thinking—and being comfortable with… Read more.

Regulators And Advocates Discuss Next Steps For Marijuana Interstate Commerce

May 16, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

A top California marijuana official says that the U.S. already has an established interstate cannabis market. It’s just been unregulated, forcing cultivators to make the choice between staying legal—but isolating products from each operation to one state—or engaging in illicit activity by selling across state lines. But now that three states have enacted legislation positioning them to authorize marijuana imports and exports, the conversation about the future of cannabis commerce is evolving, with stakeholders, advocates and regulators becoming increasingly mindful… Read more.

California cannabis companies hire credit group to monitor retailers over unpaid invoices

May 15, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

A group of California distributors and brands representing more than half the state’s wholesale B2B cannabis market has hired a credit association to rate retailers in the hopes of reducing the hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid invoices – and reining in repeat offenders. The Credit Management Association (CMA), a nonprofit based in suburban Los Angeles, is analyzing accounts receivables and other documents from more than a dozen distributors and brands. The CMA plans to email each of the… Read more.

Farmers and Friends Take Center Stage at Hall of Flowers 2023

May 13, 2023 · Cannabis Now

There’s something about mixing the aroma of cannabis with the feeling (there is absolutely a feeling) of being in wine country that brought out the best of the attendees walking through the gates of the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on May 3-4 for Hall of Flowers 2023. Truth be told, I think that’s the x-factor in motion for the show. The team behind Hall of Flowers, which includes prolific event producer Dani Diamond, took a chance on a new concept five… Read more.

Weedmaps Loses $4 Million in Q1 Despite Increase in Clientele

May 9, 2023 · Green Market Report

Several cuts in the second half of 2022 contributed to a 27% improvement in operating costs. California-based WM Technology Inc., better known as Weedmaps, (Nasdaq: MAPS) shrank its losses to $3.9 million for the first quarter of 2023, from more than $31 million lost in the first quarter a year ago, while also increasing its client base by 12% compared to the same time period. Weedmaps’ monthly paying client list increased to 5,641 from 5,026 in the first quarter 2022, the company… Read more.

Drew Barrymore Named Best Host by MTV for Her Daytime Show

May 9, 2023 · CelebStoner

Drew Barrymore won the Best Host trophy at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7. The CelebStoner has helmed The Drew Barrymore Show on CBS for the last three years. "Thank you for letting me in," she said in her video acceptance speech, "to get eyeball to eyeball... thank you from us and me." Her druggy upbringing in the legendary Barrymore family is well documented. Drew started drinking and smoking at a very young age. Coke came next and then rehab. But she never… Read more.

Wait, Is That a Regular Gummy or Weed Gummy? – New Home Test Kits Can Detect THC in Your Gummies and Chocolate

May 8, 2023 · Cannabis.net

The Star-Telegram purchased a kit from SwabTek, a San Diego-based company that offers a range of kits for various drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin. The newspaper used the kit, which cost $125 and contained 25 THC tests, to investigate the availability of cannabinoids. SwabTek claims its Cannabis Test Kit is a straightforward, disposable testing solution specially created for detecting cannabis. The kit can identify cannabinoids in any sample, such as edibles, vape pens, plant material, and surfaces. The test… Read more.

TSUMo Cannabis Snacks Celebrate AAPI with Good Fortune Bundles

May 6, 2023 · Green Market Report

Every sale of the Good Fortune Bundle results in a contribution to AACE. Sweet-flavored edibles have dominated the infused food categories for the cannabis industry, but savory snacks are slowly gaining fans. According to BDSA, edibles were responsible for 12.1% of all U.S. cannabis sales by September 2022. Candy topped demand, for 73% of edibles sales in 2022, while “other edibles” – which includes savory snacks – commands less than 1%. It’s a small category, but it has also grown 414% year-over-year. That… Read more.

A California cannabis competition is looking for judges: Here’s how to sign up

May 5, 2023 · KTLA 5

An annual cannabis judging competition hosted by a prominent weed culture magazine is returning to Southern California for another year of head-to-head competitions, and experts are sought to crown the state’s top cannabis suppliers. The 2023 Cannabis Cup, orchestrated and organized by High Times, invites Southern California residents to participate in the annual marijuana battle royale. High Times is inviting SoCal residents of legal age to join the Cannabis Cup as judges by purchasing a take-home judging kit and providing their… Read more.

The $300,000,000 Club – Which 5 States Collected over $300 Million in Cannabis Tax Revenue Last Year Alone?

May 5, 2023 · Cannabis.net

A recent report from the Marijuana Policy Project revealed that tax revenue from adult-use cannabis experienced a decline across legal states in 2022, marking the first time this has occurred in the United States. While sales tax from cannabis still generated a respectable $3.77 billion, this figure was slightly lower than the $3.86 billion generated in 2021. Despite declining adult-use cannabis tax revenue in 2022, states reported over $15.1 billion in tax revenue from legal cannabis sales for adults. This figure reflects sales… Read more.

StateHouse Takes Big Impairment Charge in Fourth Quarter

May 5, 2023 · Green Market Report

StateHouse recorded a net loss of $196 million in the fourth quarter. StateHouse Holdings Inc. (CSE: STHZ) (OTCQX: STHZF) reported total net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased 68.8% to $25.5 million, compared with $15.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. However, it fell sequentially from the third quarter revenue of $30.8 million. The California-based company this week announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2022. Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter were $19 million.… Read more.

Revenue, Losses Down for Jones Soda in First Quarter

May 4, 2023 · Green Market Report

The company is looking to its THC-infused beverages, Mary Jones, for growth momentum. Jones Soda Co. (CSE: JSDA) (OTCQB: JSDA) had a tougher first quarter than in 2022, with revenues down by 13%, but the company also managed to decrease its rate of losses by 17% from the first quarter a year ago. According to its first quarter 2023 earnings report, Jones Soda pulled in $3.9 million for the first three months of the year, compared to $4.5 million for the… Read more.

Should Sacramento introduce cannabis consumption lounges? The city wants to hear from you

May 2, 2023 · Sacramento Bee

Nearly 40 storefront dispensaries operate in Sacramento, but — until now — customers have nowhere to legally consume cannabis except for their homes. At the moment, people who consume cannabis in public areas of Sacramento could face a minimum $100 fine. But, the city’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is considering a plan to introduce consumption lounges in the capital region. If this change takes place, Sacramento’s consumption policy would be akin to other cities in the state such as… Read more.

Cannabis shops in Monterey? The city council could move forward on bringing at least 3 to the city Tuesday night

May 2, 2023 · KSBW 8

The city of Monterey could move forward in the process to allow marijuana dispensaries to operate within city limits at a council meeting Tuesday evening. According to their agenda, the city council will be deciding if they'll approve a "Description for Cannabis Businesses." If approved, it would bring the city another step closer in the process of bringing at least three marijuana dispensaries to the city. If the council approves the "Description for Cannabis Businesses," the community development department can… Read more.

The Industry Wagons are Loaded Up and Moving East

May 2, 2023 · MG Magazine

Map of the East Coast of the USA with focus on New York and Washington D.C.

The West Coast always will be known as the birthplace of the modern cannabis industry, but the past decade has proved being a first mover doesn’t always result in a long-term advantage. When Colorado and Washington opened their doors to adult use in 2012, followed by California and Oregon a few years later, the West Coast seemed destined to carve the landscape of the modern American cannabis industry. In many ways, West Coast companies have been an influential force, albeit… Read more.

Vista officials open to cannabis festivals, events in city

May 2, 2023 · San Diego Union Tribune

Five years after opposing cannabis dispensaries, Vista City Council members say they are open to having a festival promoting the product . Several things have changed in the past few years. Voters went around the council and adopted a measure allowing dispensaries in 2018, new council members are more friendly to the idea, and fears that the pot businesses would attract crime appear to have been unfounded. Also persuasive in changing opinions about the businesses: revenue from the city’s 11… Read more.

$38M suit alleging kickbacks, ‘sabotage’ at cannabis firm Cookies is abruptly dropped

May 1, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

The legal controversy swirling around prominent cannabis brand Cookies has taken an abrupt and unusual turn, with one of the litigants who sued the company earlier this year dropping a lawsuit and walking back sworn statements made in court. In a lawsuit and subsequent filings in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Paul Rock, CEO of a Florida-based company called Cookies Retail Products, claimed that Cookies executives tried to “sabotage” a multimillion-dollar deal in which CRP would license the Cookies brand and sell… Read more.

Adam Bierman Returns

May 1, 2023 · MG Magazine

When Adam Bierman started his journey in the cannabis industry in 2008, he was a California kid with a brash personality and ambitions to destigmatize the plant and promote its benefits, both medicinal and recreational. By the time he co-founded MedMen with Andrew Modlin just two years later, the pair had created a business pitch impressive enough to land Bierman at the helm of what would become the most high-profile—and most controversial—cannabis company in the United States. Bierman is blessed… Read more.

I went to Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday concert and left with a lot of weed wisdom

April 30, 2023 · Los Angeles Times

From the moment the two-day, star-studded “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90” birthday bash at the Hollywood Bowl was announced, it promised to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the cross-generational cannabis crowd to convene and pay tribute to a longtime advocate of the herb. Organizers seemed to recognize this too, with plant-friendly performers including Snoop Dogg and Billy Strings on the bill (the latter having just released a weed-centric duet with Nelson called “California Sober”) and not one but two different… Read more.

‘Unprecedented’: The biggest Calif. pot farm keeps getting bigger

April 30, 2023 · SF Gate

Glass House Brands, a Long Beach company widely considered to run the largest cannabis farm in California, is growing pot inside 2 million square feet of Southern California greenhouses. At any given time, the company has 750,000 pot plants in the ground and has the capability to grow more than 300,000 pounds of pot a year. It expects to add another 1 million square feet this year, and it plans on growing more than 5 million square feet of cannabis… Read more.

California Officials Award $20 Million In Marijuana Research Grants To Study ‘Legacy’ Genetics, Preventing Monopolies And More

April 28, 2023 · marijuanamoment.net

California marijuana regulators announced on Tuesday that they’ve awarded nearly $20 million in research grants to 16 academic institutions to carry out studies into cannabis, including novel cannabinoids like delta-8 THC and the genetics of “legacy” strains from the state. The research projects being funded by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) with marijuana tax revenue fall under six categories: cannabis potency, medical usage, marijuana industry health, monopolies and unfair competition, California legacy genetics and miscellaneous studies. “It is… Read more.

California Awards $20M in Cannabis Research Grants

April 27, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) on Tuesday awarded $20 million in cannabis research grants to 16 academic institutions in the state. Rasha Salama, DCC chief deputy director, said the studies funded by the grants “will provide valuable insights on topics of interest to California’s consumers, businesses, and policy makers.”  Eight of the studies are focused on cannabis potency, two on medical cannabis use, one on the health of the state’s cannabis industry, two on monopolies and unfair competition, one on… Read more.

Cookies Lawsuit: Company Uses Threats, Violence, Kickbacks to Do Business

April 25, 2023 · Green Market Report

The lawsuit names several Cookies employees, including CEO Berner. The leaders of global cannabis brand Cookies have been using threats, violence and financial kickbacks to enrich themselves at the expense of company shareholders, according to a lawsuit filed by two of the company’s investors. The suit, first reported by WeedWeek, was filed by two companies, BR CO I LLC and Nedco I LLC, that together claim to own a 10% stake in California-based Cookies. It was first filed in February,… Read more.

6 Under-the-Radar Legal Traps You Need to Know About

April 24, 2023 · MG Magazine

Business people run on the arrows. Concept business competition vector illustration. Flat business cartoon, Speed, Togetherness, Office Team, Back view.

Cannabis businesses face a wide variety of hurdles in getting established and starting operations, many of which can be difficult to navigate without the assistance of a legal expert. Here’s a set of tips and information you’ll want to know to help your company run smoothly. Whether you’re a cultivator, manufacturer, or retail dispensary operator, you can learn more to avoid a loss of insurance and revenue. Insurance blacklists exist A cannabis business owner who does not disclose the existence and… Read more.

Cookies CEO Berner Responds to Recent Lawsuits

April 22, 2023 ·

Rapper and cannabis entrepreneur Berner, the CEO of Cookies, issued an Instagram video response on Wednesday to lawsuits filed against him and several other Cookies executives, employees, and associates. One such lawsuit, first covered by Alex Halperin for WeedWeek, was filed by Cookies investors BR Co. and NedCo in February; the suit claims that Berner and other defendants engaged in “pervasive self-dealing” leading to “millions of dollars in personal benefits and kickbacks,” among other allegations. In the Instagram video, Berner — legal name Gilbert Milam… Read more.

Dispensaries in San Diego

April 21, 2023 · Thrillist

It’s spring in San Diego, so 4/20 can’t be far behind, and it’s safe to say that stoners across the city are looking forward to enjoying a lit holiday. San Diego’s dispensaries are ready with flower, pre-rolls, wax and shatter, vapes, infused edibles from chewy gummies to crunchy corn chips, beverages, tinctures, balms, and more. Whether you like to wake and bake, are a weekend weed enthusiast, or are simply cannabis-curious, San Diego has a wide variety of dispensary options,… Read more.

Where’s Snoop’s BIC EZ Reach Lighter? Where’s Willie Nelson?

April 20, 2023 · Muse by CLIO

Add Martha Stewart and it's cannabis celebrity overload When Snoop Dogg's BIC EZ Reach lighter and Martha Stewart's favorite scented candle go missing, who's your prime suspect? Spoiler: It's Willie Nelson! BIC launched its first official campaign for 4/20, although we all know this brand leans heavily into the market and embraces the many uses for its popular lighter. When Snoop's unable to find his fave lighter, he video calls Willie, to find the beloved octogenarian denying knowledge of its… Read more.

Brands Mark 4/20, the High Holy Day of Cannabis

April 20, 2023 · Muse by CLIO

The 4/20 brand campaigns are coming in hot, so we're keeping tabs early and updating this page often with the best and brightest. Jack in the Box Jack's Edible Assortments launches on April 20 at food trucks in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, with help from TBWA\Chiat\Day L.A. It includes a reintroduction of the Pineapple Express Shake, which includes munchies like popcorn chicken, onion rings, tiny tacos, mini pancakes, whipped cream and cherries. The first 100 food truck… Read more.

GRN Holdings Completes Acquisition of Mendocino Green

April 20, 2023 · Green Market Report

GRN Holding Corporation, Inc. (OTC Pink: GRNF) has completed the purchase of Mendocino Green Inc, which includes a cultivation license, nursery license, and distribution license from one of the oldest cannabis license holders in California. With this acquisition complete, the company said it filed a supplemental report with OTC Markets to remove the shell status symbol from the OTC Markets webpage. Removing this designation will take the company one step closer to its previously announced plans for Corporate Restructuring according to… Read more.

Cannabis Retailers Can Expect ‘Massive’ Sales Day on 4/20

April 19, 2023 · Green Market Report

Social consumption is also on the rise. The unofficial cannabis holiday of April 20 – better known as 4/20 – is tomorrow, and retailers should be prepared for a “massive” sales day, according to tech firms that have tracked sales in past years. “This is the Super Bowl for the industry,” said Socrates Rosenfeld, the CEO of California-based I Heart Jane, a tech platform that helps marijuana retailers facilitate sales. “It’s our Black Friday.” Rosenfeld said that despite headwinds in… Read more.

Green Market Report Women’s Leadership Awards: Rachel Edwards

April 19, 2023 · Green Market Report

Rachel Edwards heads research and development for Statehouse Holdings. Best Cultivation: Rachel Edwards, Statehouse Holdings Statehouse Holdings (CSE: STHZ), a leading player in the California cannabis industry, has made great strides under the guidance of its research and development manager, Rachel Edwards. Edwards, who began her academic journey in the biology program at college, discovered her passion for horticulture and decided to switch her major. “When I toured the greenhouses with that department head, I was like, this is absolutely what… Read more.

April 19 Bicycle Day Celebrates The First LSD Trip

April 18, 2023 · Green Market Report

While most people in the cannabis industry are gearing up for the high holiday of April, 20 or 420, our good friends in the psychedelic industry have their own day of celebration. It’s called Bicycle Day and it falls on April 19. The history is that on April 19, 1943, Albert Hofmann, the Swiss father of psychedelic medicine, dropped lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) at 4:20 pm, interestingly enough, and went on a bike ride, becoming the first human to trip on LSD. According to… Read more.

Examining the Growth of Infused Beverages in North America

April 12, 2023 · MG Magazine

After the extraordinary winter most of North America suffered through this year, the balmy weather of last May and June may feel like a figment of our imaginations. Fortunately, time is flying by, and friends and families soon will gather at the beach or for cookouts. There will be good music, great food, festive libations … and perhaps a new item will find its way onto the menu: infused beverages. At first glance, it is easy to overlook or dismiss the beverage… Read more.

Homeless housing expansion in L.A. shrinking map for zoned cannabis retail

April 7, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

A large-scale initiative to house the homeless in Los Angeles is bumping up against efforts to give social equity license holders and other retailers a greater role in the city’s cannabis industry. In particular, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ plan to build and retrofit thousands of single-family homes and multifamily units for the homeless is creating new obstacles for marijuana retailers and entrepreneurs searching for property in one of the nation’s priciest real estate markets. Such dwellings – known as Permanent… Read more.

Small Trial Suggests DMT Can Improve Symptoms of Depression

April 7, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Woman patient having consultation with doctor (gynecologist or psychiatrist) and examining health in medical gynecological clinic or hospital mental health service center

A trial conducted by biotechnology company Small Pharma found that the psychedelic DMT could improve symptoms of depression when used in conjunction with therapy. In the study, which used intravenous DMT dosing, 14 participants out of 34 were in remission from depression within three months and nine remained in remission up to six months.  The study, which utilized a proprietary synthetic formulation of DMT known as SPL026, has not been peer-reviewed.  In a press release, Dr. Carol Routledge, chief medical and… Read more.

The New Strategies Driving Retail Design in 2023

April 4, 2023 · MG Magazine

The second half of 2022 was bruising for the cannabis industry, prompting changes in strategy for just about every company. Retailers of all varieties—from single-store mom-and-pop businesses to publicly traded multistate operators (MSOs)—are reevaluating how their stores function and whether they are optimally designed for this latest iteration of the industry. Does building visually delightful, multimillion-dollar stores still make sense as prices crash and competition becomes more cutthroat? “We’re calling this ‘the year of efficiency,’” said Jushi Chief Creative Officer… Read more.

Urbn Leaf Moves Uptown

April 1, 2023 · MG Magazine

Los Angeles’s famous Sunset Strip has a storied and often sordid history as the epicenter of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll in America. The mile-and-a-half-long corridor has embraced its countercultural reputation, and its iconic venues like the Viper Room, the Roxy, the Whisky a Go Go, and the Comedy Store all have played pivotal roles as launchpads of American culture.  While the strip was infamous for its hard-drug hedonism of the 1980s and early 1990s, cannabis largely has been absent—even as… Read more.

Suspect unions’ effort to evade state law could hurt marijuana workers

March 31, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Trickery Concept.Business partners shaking hands with one of them holding fingers crossed behind back.

Marijuana businesses in California and on the East Coast are evading worker-friendly licensing requirements by obtaining state business permits after signing deals with “labor organizations” that appear to be illegitimate “company unions,” documents and interviews show. The growing presence of these fake unions jeopardizes the inroads made by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, critics charge, while offering limited or zero benefits to workers. In many states with adult-use legalization, state law requires… Read more.

Cannabis Brand News: Rick Ross, Ben Cohen, Cookies, Cheech’s Stash and Monogram

March 27, 2023 · CelebStoner

Both noted for their cannabis advocacy, rapper Rick Ross and entrepreneur Ben Cohen have announced new cannabis ventures and brands. Rick Ross Rick Ross is teaming up with High Tolerance Los Angeles on the launch of the Collins Ave strain, named for the popular strip in Miami Beach. Raised in Florida, Ross' debut album in 2006 was titled Port of Miami. "High Tolerance is the best flower for all the ones who like to blow that good gas," he tells TMZ. "This is… Read more.

The growing Chinese investment in illegal American weed

March 21, 2023 · Politico

A few days before Christmas, a joint law enforcement task force found nearly 9,000 pounds of cannabis worth almost $15 million during a raid in a suburban neighborhood in Antioch, Calif. The California Department of Cannabis Control believes that the four houses searched in the bedroom community 45 minutes outside San Francisco were linked to China. Mexican cartels have a long history of importing, growing and redistributing illicit cannabis in the United States. But Chinese investors, owners and workers have emerged in… Read more.

Oakland Bliss lays framework for the psychedelic market with consistent lab testing, tracking batch and lot numbers, and a compassionate program for veterans.

Oakland Bliss, a psychedelic company based in Oakland, is leading the way in setting standards for the emerging market. The company has consistently lab tested their products, implemented batch and lot tracking numbers, and is the first psychedelic product to have a Universal Product Code (UPC). The company’s commitment to harm reduction has been widely praised, and it has set the bar for others in the industry. “Our focus on harm reduction is at the core of our mission,” said… Read more.

Opinion: What the demise of Silicon Valley Bank means – and does not mean – for cannabis finance

March 17, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Jan 31, 2020 Santa Clara / CA / USA - Silicon Valley Bank headquarters and branch; Silicon Valley Bank, a subsidiary of SVB Financial Group, is a U.S.-based high-tech commercial bank

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) isn’t good news for anyone. Bank collapses portend wider threats to the economy – the Great Depression is one such example – particularly when they derive from an eroding capital base resulting from the Federal Reserve raising interest rates to battle inflation. It is estimated that more than 50% of venture-backed companies used Santa Clara, California-headquartered SVB as their depository and financing institution. Wealth management, currency hedges, stock placements, you name it: SVB was the… Read more.

Police in California city seize 1,500 pounds of illegal marijuana products

March 17, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Police in Pomona, California, are investigating a business where they found 1,500 pounds of unlicensed marijuana products as well as electronic casino gaming consoles. The business also had an area dedicated to selling cannabis, The LeafDesk reported. According to the media outlet, police estimated the value of the cannabis products, which included flower, edibles and hashish oil, at $1.3 million. However, government agencies often inflate such estimates. The investigation comes on the heels of a recent report by California regulators about the… Read more.

Seth Rogen Has Never Tried to Get Steven Spielberg Stoned

March 16, 2023 · CelebStoner

The stoniest moment at the recent Oscars occurred when host Jimmy Kimmel teased Seth Rogen, who was sitting in the audience with his wife Lauren Miller, right behind director Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw. "Seth, what are you on now? Be honest" Rogen shrugged. "Nothing? Mushrooms, right? Did you give one to Steven? Give him one. Let's see what happens. Maybe he'll make something crazy." Kimmel then zeroed in on Spielberg, who claims to have never smoked pot. "I find hard… Read more.

Cannabis Lounge Expert Sara Stewart On How To Grow Cannabis Beverages

March 14, 2023 · Cannabis Drink Expo

We want cannabis bars to look similar to alcohol bars with lots of selection and variety. Sara Stewart is a seasoned hospitality professional with experience managing and operating 2 of the first cannabis consumption lounges in the US. She has a particular interest in bridging the gap between cannabis consumption lounges and today's hospitality standards using education, control, and valuable insight. We chat with her about how she thinks we can grow the cannabis drinks category and what everyone involved can… Read more.

San Francisco has a new farmers market just for cannabis

March 7, 2023 · SFGate

There's a new type of farmers market in San Francisco, but instead of buying fruits and vegetables, customers get to buy a famous California crop that is best enjoyed smoked. This market is dedicated entirely to cannabis. The new monthly event takes place at one of two downtown San Francisco dispensaries: Moe Greens on Market Street and Barbary Coast on Mission Street. The showcases allow customers to learn about dozens of different cannabis strains directly from the farmers who grow them.… Read more.

Monterey County Board of Supervisors discussing legalizing cannabis lounges

March 3, 2023 · KION 46

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) On Tuesday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors discussed whether to legalize cannabis lounges throughout unincorporated Monterey County. The Board of Supervisors received a presentation from Monterey County Cannabis Program Director Joann Iwamoto who presented the pros and cons of bringing cannabis lounges to Monterey County. Majority of the supervisors are in support of bringing lounges to Monterey County. However, some were concerned about staffing capacity on the county level to regulate more cannabis related business ventures.… Read more.

Cannabis Entrepreneur Asks $38 Million for L.A. Mansion With Custom Smoking Room

March 3, 2023 · WSJ.com

Cannabis entrepreneur Ori Bytton is asking $38 million for a Los Angeles mansion with a custom smoking room.  Mr. Bytton, 36, hails from Israel and is the founder of the cannabis products company Natura Life Science. He acquired the Bel-Air site in 2014 for $1.775 million, records show, and said he intended to build a house there for himself and his family, starting construction in October 2018. The roughly 13,600-square-foot house was finished in the past few weeks, he said.… Read more.

A Seat on the Titanic? – California Cannabis Sales Dropped in 2022 for the First Time Ever Since Legalization

California, an industry bellwether for the marijuana industry, is seeing signs of contraction For the first time since the state's adult-use market opened five years ago, annual sales for marijuana in California fell in 2022. While Colorado and Oregon dispensaries are now bearing the brunt of the 2022 correction, Nevada and Washington retailers are also on track to report double-digit declines in terms of percent decreases to their sales totals this year after pandemic peaks equated to record growth across much of… Read more.

Giant California greenhouse signals a big bet on cannabis legalization

February 28, 2023 · The Washington Post

One enormous facility on the northern edge of metro Los Angeles reveals expectations of marijuana becoming legal nationally CAMARILLO, Calif. — This is what the long game of California weed looks like. Rising two stories from razor-straight rows of parsley, artichokes and strawberries, the greenhouse complex hums with solar-powered efficiency, its vast airy interiors redolent with the sticky plant that fills much of it. Cannabis. The flatlands here stretching between mountains and sea have attracted farmers for generations, just around… Read more.

Dodgy science, poor access and high prices: The parallel medical world of medicinal marijuana in America

February 27, 2023 · Politico

BURTON, Mich. — Before Jayden Carter turned 9, police were called 126 times to his school, home and other locations to address his violent behavior. “I had ribs out of place, my forehead cut open, black eye,” recalled Amie Carter, his mother. The situation got so dire that Child Protective Services encouraged Amie to sign her rights to Jayden away, a step that would allow the state to put him in permanent treatment. That was when — out of… Read more.

Dr. Greenthumb’s Ends Los Angeles Partnership with LAHC Inc.

February 26, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

Dr. Greenthumb’s Worldwide — the cannabis company founded by B Real of the hip-hop group Cypress Hill — and its Los Angeles-based dispensary partner LAHC Inc. have mutually decided to part ways. Dr. Greenthumb’s Worldwide, founded by legendary hip-hop artist B Real of Cypress Hill, and LAHC Inc., a multi-year partner at Dr. Greenthumb’s dTLA dispensary location, have mutually decided to part ways, according to a recent press release. The shift is due to the quickly changing landscape of California’s… Read more.

California Launches Grant Program to Expand Retail Cannabis Access

February 24, 2023 · Ganjapreneur

California cannabis regulators have launched a $20 million grant program aimed at expanding consumer access to licensed cannabis products. The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) last week launched a $20 million grant program to expand consumer access to regulated cannabis, which the agency is calling “a national first-of-its-kind.” The grant will prioritize areas where national surveys find high cannabis consumption but have little to no access to cannabis retailers, the DCC said in a press release. The program “seeks to incentivize… Read more.

Daily use of marijuana raises risk of heart disease, study finds

February 24, 2023 · CNN

Using marijuana every day can raise a person’s risk of coronary artery disease, or CAD, by a third compared with those who never partake, a new study found. “A growing body of evidence suggests that cannabis is not entirely without harm and may actually cause cardiovascular disease,” said lead study author Dr. Ishan Paranjpe, a resident physician at Stanford University. The study — which has not yet been published -— will be presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the… Read more.

Cannabis businesses make push to showcase Black-owned brands

February 22, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Inside Josephine and Billie’s apothecary-styled marijuana store on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in South Los Angeles, several cannabis brands are prominently displayed and labeled as Black-owned. A tall, glass showcase centered along the back of the store – an homage to Black jazz legends Josephine Baker and Billie Holiday as well as the reefer-friendly, speakeasy “tea pads” of their day – features products from the likes of Queen Mary of L.A., Oakland Abstracts and Black Star Farms of New… Read more.