Blue wave creates opportunities for cannabiz – Newsletter 11/6/26

Hi all,

It’s the election edition. Let’s get to it.

Alex

FROM WEEDWEEK

Blue wave creates opportunities for cannabiz

Weed was only officially on the ballot in two states this week. But the Democrats’ nationwide rout could accelerate legalization in several big states and federally. Polls consistently show cannabis to be among the most bipartisan issues in this still polarized country. But in Congress and state governments reform has often struggled against entrenched Republican opposition.

Here’s the breakdown

Also in WeedWeek:

• BREAKING: Hall of Flowers exec sued over separate events company
• Newsbrief: Study links cannabis use to heart disease, strokes
• Newsbrief: Defeated Mass. recall vote attracted $6.5M in spending

Send tips, press releases, concerns, feedback and criticism to hello@weedweek.com. Sensitive material to share? Contact Alex on Signal.

QUICK HITS

Federal:

• In a highly anticipated announcement, the DEA granted federal registration to more than 900 dispensaries, all of them in MED-only states. Among large MSOs Trulieve and Vireo received registrations for their Florida shops. The DEA received more than 6,000 applications.
  Marijuana Moment, Cannabis Equipment News

Business:

• Canadian operator Organigram will acquire Aurora for $400M, topping MSO Curaleaf‘s hostile bid.
• In a reversal, vape maker PAX is now making all-in-one, aka disposable, vapes.
  MJBiz
• National retailer CBD American Shaman is shutting down ahead of the looming federal hemp ban.
  Kansas City Star
• Alcohol companies pushed state attorneys general to support hemp restrictions.
  Politico
• You own part of a cannabis company. Can you see its’ books?
  Canna Law Blog
• MSO Curaleaf announced the graduation of its first New York Incubator program class for independent dispensary owners.

State and local:

• Idaho voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have blocked the state from legalizing by ballot initiative.
  KHQ (NBC)
• Iowa Governor-elect Rob Sand wants to legalize.
  KCAU (ABC)
• Missouri’s attorney general sued four hemp shops alleging they sell marijuana disguised as hemp.
  KYTV (NBC)
• Illinois’ hemp ban takes effect on Thursday.
  Fox32
• Massachusetts overwhelmingly rejected a ballot initiative to repeal legal REC. Anti-legalization activist Kevin Sabet said he would keep fighting, and has Maine in his sights. Separately, a bill advanced in the Bay State to make MED access easier for veterans.
  Norml, Marijuana Moment
• Jocelyn Benson (D) defeated John James (R) who had pledged to end Michigan’s new wholesale tax. Benson has been “ambivalent” on what to do about the industry-hated tax, Crain’s Detroit Business reports.
  NBC
• New packaging rules took effect in Oklahoma, but some operators say they’re confusing.
  News 9
• The New York Times reports on the businesses who pick up the cash from pot shops.

Health and science:

• Cannabis users may require more of the anesthetic propofol when undergoing endoscopies.
  Medical Professionals Reference

Honor:

• Food & Wine named Vertosa co-founder Harold Han Ph.D its drinks innovator of the year. Vertosa makes ingredients used to power cannabis and hemp beverages.

Fun and interesting:

• Archaeologists digging up a royal Scythian tomb in Siberia found evidence of cannabis use 2,800 years ago. It’s not clear whether it was smoked or eaten. Before the discovery the oldest evidence of cannabis use was from a 2,500 year old grave in China.
  AP

CALIFORNIA HITS

State:

• In response to rescheduling, the California Department of Cannabis Control proposed updated rules for separating REC and MED licenses.
• Longtime weed scribe David Downs looks back at 10 years of legal REC, “Promises kept, dreams deferred.“

Business:

• The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals revived a lawsuit challenging California’s requirement that companies have labor peace agreements.
  Law360
• Canna Law Blog discusses California’s proposed new group tagging rules.
• Glass House stock continues to struggle.
• Newly merged Kiva Sales and Service and Petalfast launched Waveform, a full service distributor. It serves 48 brands and nearly 1,000 shops. Former Petalfast exec Arun Kurichety is CEO.
• Orenda, a “craft cannabis spirit” made from flower grown at Sonoma Hills Farm, launched in Tennessee.

Local:

• In a close race, Nithya Raman(D) was elected mayor of Los Angeles with strong cannabiz support. Raman unveiled a plan to fix the city’s broken market before the 2028 Olympics.
  LA Times, MJBiz
• Devon Wardlow, a former exec with retailer Embarc, was elected to Santa Barbara city council.
  Santa Barbara News-Press
• Mendocino farmer Casey O’Neill writes about “burnout, grief and gratitude” at the end of a hard season.
  Redheaded Blackbelt
• La Mesa, known as the Amsterdam of San Diego County, raised its pot tax 1%.
  San Diego Union-Tribune