Tag: California

A California Senate committee has approved a bill to legalize psychedelics service centers where adults 21 and older could access psilocybin, MDMA, mescaline and DMT in a supervised environment with trained facilitators. The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee passed the legislation from Sen. Scott Wiener (D), with an amendment, in a 7-4 vote on Monday. The “Regulated Therapeutic Access to Psychedelics Act” has been drafted in a way that’s meant to be responsive to concerns voiced by Gov.… Read more.

Last week, California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) issued a mandatory recall for a Mike Tyson-branded product, Tyson Undisputed Cannabis Flower, due to contamination with Aspergillus sp., a type of mold. The recall, published on April 9, affects multiple products sold after August 24, 2023, including the TOAD and TADPOLES batches, distributed across several counties including Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The flower was grown by manufacturer Northern Emeralds, who also partnered with rapper Future for a product collaboration last year. This incident… Read more.

As you may have heard, there won’t be an official 420 celebration of cannabis and cannabis culture in Golden Gate Park this year. But that surely won’t stop you from celebrating your own way. And because cannabis has been available for recreational use in California since 2016, you probably already have your go-to shop, but in the same way that cocktail bars have different drink menus, you never know what you can discover when you branch out and try something… Read more.

In some neighborhoods in LA, there are more cannabis dispensaries than Starbucks. With over 1,481 dispensaries to choose from, finding the best ones hidden in the vast concrete jungle between the beach and the mountains can be hazy and overwhelming. Green cross signs light up billboards and storefronts, some spots are low-key with no signage whatsoever, and others look like high-end jewelry stores. While we are grateful to live in a cannabis-progressive bubble where you can openly smoke weed at… Read more.

“It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” said an eager Rolling Loud attendee. “It’s cool to attend the show, listen to killer music and see what a mock cannabis grow might look like. You know I got my selfie in!” This was a common sentiment shared among the tens of thousands of attendees at last month’s Rolling Loud music festival, held at Inglewood, California’s Hollywood Park. It’s safe to say that the 10th anniversary of this multi-day music festival did not… Read more.

The city-sanctioned version of the famous 4/20 Hippie Hill event in San Francisco has been canceled, but it’s not the end of 4/20 celebrations in San Francisco. SF Weed Week, will feature a variety of events beginning with an art opening featuring cannabis mylar art on April 5 and a schedule of events running April 13-21. Instead of just one day of celebration, the event spans an entire week of all things cannabis, featuring cultivators and breeders at cannabis lounges throughout the city… Read more.

Bill Maher is featured on the cover of the 420-themed April issue of Los Angeles magazine. Here are 20 nuggets from the interview conducted by Joel Stein. On Cannabis: • "I’ve always loved pot, but I don’t get into the minutiae. Sativa, indica – I can’t even tell the difference." • "I don’t smoke every day and never have. I’m a situational pot smoker. I would never get high to do Real Time. I can do stand-up high because I don’t have… Read more.

The Los Angeles Times reported that “Costa Mesa police and city employees trucked more than 100 pounds of cannabis flower, boxes of oil cartridges and vaporizers along with documents, devices and security equipment held in police storage” to the owners of Se7enleaf, Michael Moussalli and Matteo Tabib, reached a settlement agreement with the city of Costa Mesa, California. According to the Times, Costa Mesa attorneys “had been mounting an offense against what they believed was illegal commerce taking place at the site.” “They didn’t… Read more.

After attending half a dozen Hall of Flowers trade shows in Northern California (Santa Rosa, to be exact), we can confidently attest that creating a SoCal version in Ventura was precisely what the event needed. Not only did it prove that it’s a must-attend, but it’s probably the best at bringing the industry together and validating the reason we’re all here—to celebrate cannabis and our culture. From the moment you walk in through to the moment you leave, you don’t… Read more.

California officials said that a recent auction aimed at recouping more than $14.4 million in unpaid cannabis industry taxes earned just over $2,000, the North Bay Business Journal reports. The auction was held February 16 in the California Highway Patrol’s parking lot in Los Angeles and officials reported having earned a scant $2,075 by the time the auction wrapped. The auctioned-off items were seized during law enforcement raids on ten “non-compliant” cannabis companies in southern California. Officials did not name the ten companies from which… Read more.

Reggae and cannabis have an undeniable synergy that’s been enjoyed by music and weed lovers for generations. The laid-back rhythms and soulful melodies of reggae music elevate and enhance our sensory experiences, transporting us from ripping homemade bongs in college dorm rooms to smoking blunts of the finest Caribbean green on a beach in Jamaica. But it goes deeper than that. Cannabis holds a sacred significance for Rastafarians, who incorporate the plant into their spiritual rituals. You could go so far… Read more.

Long Beach, California is on track to establish an ordinance that will give cannabis retailers a minor tax break and reward the ones in good standing on their payments with a bigger tax break, cutting their local tax in half. At a Jan. 23 meeting, Long Beach City Council members voted to request an ordinance be drafted to lower rates for businesses that meet hiring and compensation markers and are up to date with their current tax payments. City leadership has… Read more.

Only eighteen of California’s thirty eight licensed testing labs are in compliance with the state’s new standardized cannabinoids testing guidelines, which are designed to combat potency inflation. Until they demonstrate compliance with the new guidelines, the other twenty licensed labs will not be permitted to test flower. Operators in California are more than familiar with the widespread problem of lab shopping, wherein growers pit competing labs against one another in search of the highest THC results. The practice encourages labs to… Read more.

Fewer than one-third of California’s 37 licensed cannabis testing laboratories began the new year permitted to test marijuana flower and non-infused pre-rolls, state regulators told MJBizDaily. That’s because only 12 labs are currently compliant with a recent state law imposing standardized methods to test for THC potency, according to the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). Any labs that tested flower while not in compliance could face consequences, an agency spokesperson said. Observers are hopeful that a standardized method for determining… Read more.

In 2001, Nathaniel Pennington drove down to the Humboldt County (CA) courthouse to get a business license. He recalls walking inside scared, because at this time it was “really, really early to be branding cannabis.” After discovering the name Humboldt Seed Company was available, Pennington was asked what he did for work. His response? “I make all different kinds of seeds.” The name Humboldt Seed Company (HSC) is directly inspired by Humboldt County, which has historically been viewed as the… Read more.

A wave of crime targeting cannabis companies has been rising steadily in recent years. Unable to use traditional banking systems, many cannabis companies often have large amounts of cash on site, along with highly valuable cannabis products that can be easily flipped on the illicit market. This makes them tempting targets for gangs and criminal organizations. Nowhere are these attacks more prolific than in California, where cannabis robberies continue to ravage legal facilities. Preferred Gardens‘ founder and CEO, David Polley, has been cultivating… Read more.

California workers who use cannabis will gain new employment protections under two laws that go into effect beginning on January 1. Under legislation passed by the California legislature last year, employers will be barred from discriminating against workers who test positive for cannabis in some drug screenings, while a separate measure passed in 2023 prohibits employers from asking employees or job candidates about their off-duty use of marijuana. Under Assembly Bill 2188 (AB 2188), which was signed into law by… Read more.

California workers will soon enjoy official safeguards against discrimination related to their off-duty use of cannabis or marijuana. This protection stems from an amendment to California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (AB 2188), endorsed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 18, 2022, and set to be effective from January 1, 2024. AB 2188 makes it unlawful for employers to refuse employment, penalize, or terminate individuals based on their use of cannabis products outside of work. Even though California was a… Read more.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Tuesday that opening up interstate cannabis commerce for the state’s cannabis industry would carry too much risk of federal enforcement. Gov. Gavin Newsome (D) last year signed into law a proposal giving licensed cannabis companies the right to export their products into other state-legal markets. However, the law would only apply if there was some assurance that there would be no legal interference from the federal government, which still prohibits cannabis as a… Read more.

Are you eager to embark on a journey of establishing your own legal cannabis business, yet feel uncertain about where to begin or how to achieve success? Look no further. Acclaimed author JM Balbuena has your back. In her debut book, The Successful Canna-Preneur: The Practical Guide To Thrive In The Legal Cannabis Space, the author shares the knowledge she’s acquired in her decade-long cannabis career and extensive experience building successful cannabis companies.  Balbuena’s ability to speak about success can’t be… Read more.

Long Beach, California is developing ways to teach local residents how to responsibly consume cannabis without getting behind the wheel. Given that cannabis sales in Long Beach contributed more tax revenue in 2022 than oil, it’s a big facet of the city and leaders hope to keep cannabis use safer.  The City of Long Beach announced that its Department of Health and Human Services was awarded a $285,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to… Read more.

Dry farms are rare in California, but the results people like Chrystal Ortiz of High Water Farm are able to pull off without watering their cannabis plants all summer are pretty amazing. Sure it takes a Goldilocks type of microclimate in the middle of Humboldt County just off the Eel River—the same neighborhood that hosts all the state’s dry cannabis farmers—but what those farmers are able to do is pretty impressive. It is certainly a leap of faith to start. Ortiz described… Read more.

A new report provided to state lawmakers this week confirmed what many already knew: California’s social equity programs still have a long way to go. The report, which was due to the California Legislature in July but was only published this week by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), delivered both a breakdown on where $35 million in funding was sent last year, and also the status of such programs as of December 2022. The upshot? California has 23… Read more.

Both California and Michigan made separate moves to get more funding to social equity cannabis companies in recent days, with the former poised to award $15 million to local governments that have social equity permit programs and the latter newly reserving $1 million in grants for eligible companies. The California Equity Grants Program funnels state money to city or county governments, which in turn either use it to administer social equity programs or deliver it to businesses to use as startup capital. Applications will… Read more.

A top member of the Sinaloa cartel responsible for allegedly distributing thousands of pounds of illegal cannabis was shot and killed in Southern California. Eduardo Escobedo, 39, was found dead Thursday close to the intersection of Rosecrans and Towne avenues in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Escobedo and another man were both killed following a shooting incident. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office identified the second man who was shot dead as Guillermo De… Read more.

On Thursday, “Stoner of the Century” Snoop Dogg, 52, announced that he’s quitting smoking pot in a post that practically broke the internet. After trying weed in “the seventies” to smoking blunts and copious amounts of bud for a solid 30 years—his name became synonymous with the plant, and he’s grown close to High Times Magazine. Most people received his message warmly, and wished him on his new journey. “After much consideration & conversation with my family, I’ve decided to give up… Read more.

You may recognize Vanessa Dora Lavorato from VICE TV’s James Beard Award-nominated cooking show Bong Appétit, which she co-hosted for all three seasons (2016-19). Lavorato discovered her love of cooking when she was studying at UC Berkeley and soon became passionate about fusing her two favorite ingredients: cannabis and chocolate. This deliciously dope combo eventually led her to create Marigold Sweets, a California-based edibles company whipping up luxurious, high-quality chocolate truffles.  Lavorato’s popular online show, The Edibles Club, sees the talented chocolatier… Read more.

California cannabis brand Dosist has been acquired by longtime Los Angeles partner Final Bell Holdings International. Under the agreement, Final Bell acquired the intellectual property of the brand and assumed its debt, company executives told MJBizDaily in advance of an official announcement. No cash was exchanged in the deal. “With Final Bell’s acquisition, Dosist will grow and become more accessible for those wanting a companion to a healthy and active way of life,” said Dosist founder Jason DeLand, who will oversee the integration. Santa… Read more.

The Emerald Cup’s marquee winter event that celebrates small craft cannabis farmers in Northern California and connects them with prospective buyers across the state is being canceled this year, according to sources familiar with the situation. The Harvest Ball Festival, which has drawn more than 13,000 attendees to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds the past few years, will forgo this year’s installment as event organizers focus efforts and resources on the Emerald Cup’s 20th anniversary event in the San Francisco Bay Area… Read more.

While it’s no secret that California cannabis companies have been struggling for years, it wasn’t until this year that the legal marijuana market actually began to shrink noticeably. Now it’s down by almost 29%, according to permit statistics from the state’s Department of Cannabis Control. As of Oct. 24, the number of active business licenses in the state had dropped to 9,900, a decline of 28.5% since July 2022, when there were 12,719 active provisional and annual cannabis business licenses, the DCC… Read more.

The Palm Springs City Council voted last week to put a temporary moratorium on issuing new cannabis licenses while civic leaders consider steps to rein in the growth of the regulated weed industry. The council voted 4-0 to issue the 45-day moratorium, with Councilmember Christy Holstege recusing herself from the vote because her husband has business ties to the cannabis industry. Palm Springs, a city in the southern California desert with nearly 46,000 residents, has issued 33 licenses for cannabis… Read more.

Tammy Pettigrew (The Cannabis Cutie) is a Los Angeles content creator who’s on a mission to educate the next generation of cannabis entrepreneurs. Along with providing business consultation and public speaking services, Pettigrew facilitates Cutie University, a series of online programs including a book club and a six-week “Cannabis 101” course that delivers “essential knowledge for empowering your success in the industry.” After feeling deceived by the anti-drug propaganda of her youth—also known as the War on Drugs—Pettigrew was called… Read more.

J-Law is on a roll.  Actress Jennifer Lawrence has smoked weed in her last three movies. In her latest, the raunchy comedy No Hard Feelings, her character Maddie hits a joint in an early scene while hanging out with friends at the beach. She passes it to Jim (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). It's the only cannabis use or reference in the movie, which is now streaming at Netflix. Down on her luck, Maddie agrees to coax a shy teenager (Andrew Barth Feldman) out of… Read more.

Eureka, CA, has passed a resolution decriminalizing entheogens and psychedelic plant medicines, making it the sixth California city to do so and the second such city in Humboldt County. The Eureka City Council unanimously approved an initiative last week to decriminalize plant medicines such as psilocybin mushrooms within city limits. The announcement came less than two weeks after CA Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed an initiative which would have decriminalized psychedelics statewide. The City of Arcata, just a few miles to the north,… Read more.

Since Airbnb was founded 15 years ago to provide property owners with a way to rent out their homes, numerous similar platforms have been born. Some lodging platforms take marijuana-friendly listings, while a small number of cannabis-specific platforms also have appeared, such as California-based Bud and Breakfast, which has about 3,000 listings, and Ontario, Canada-based HiBnb, which boasts about 300 listings. “With the way that the cannabis industry is going and the price of flower plummeting … this is like… Read more.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D) of California recently took a series of actions that yielded varied outcomes for the cannabis industry and advocates of marijuana reform. Notably, he vetoed a proposal to legalize cannabis cafes, which left supporters disheartened as they believed it could have provided new social opportunities for consumers and spurred business growth. Simultaneously, he vetoed marijuana packaging regulations, which industry operators argued would have imposed overly burdensome restrictions. On the positive side, Governor Newsom signed several other bills… Read more.

It’s a classic scene. Imagine it’s 1979, and you’re somewhere in the heart of the Emerald Triangle in far Northern California. You cruise into the local grocery store parking lot, and there’s your neighbor and old friend, who you know darn well is also an underground marijuana grower. While you may be the only long-haired freaks in the lot, there are plenty of redneck lumber types around who simply don’t like them “damn hippies” moving into the area. Discretion is… Read more.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Friday that sought to permit Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in the state, despite widespread bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. Assembly Bill 374, championed by San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney, would have allowed cannabis dispensaries to transition into cafes, offering food and cannabis products, and featuring live concerts, upon receiving local government approval. The intent behind the bill was to give the legal cannabis industry, which faces stiff competition from the state’s thriving illicit market, an… Read more.

California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized nearly 100,000 cannabis plants over the last three months, according to an announcement from the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. State officials lauded the seizures on Friday, saying that illegal weed grow sites pose a threat to consumer safety and are often associated with organized crime. Bill Jones, chief of the Law Enforcement Division for the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), noted that the task force had focused on some of… Read more.

I’ve been picking up dime bags and smoking out of pipes in the car since high school. Growing up with traditional Chinese-born parents, cannabis was extremely prohibited—not unlike the stigma of cannabis we’re trying to break. Over the years, my mom had collected more than seven glass pieces and who knows how many eighths of weed. Every time my stash was confiscated, I’d just go out and buy more. No biggie. Throughout the rollercoaster that is my life, cannabis keeps… Read more.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Magic mushrooms have been used as a punchline in the past, but now a growing body of research suggests they may be a medicine of the future. While psilocybin mushrooms and other psychedelics are still illegal, some L.A.-area dispensaries are selling them openly and there is growing support to relax the laws. (Full Story) Read more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.