CALIFORNIA: “THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE”

Lobbyist Jackie McGowan said the pandemic has pushed the California cannabis industry to “the brink of collapsing.”
Sacramento Bee

• Despite the industry’s “essential” status, the help isn’t arriving.
• “There is no program that is set aside for cannabis. That’s all we’re asking for,” Jerred Kiloh, owner of SoCal dispensary The Higher Path and president of the United Cannabis Business Association said.
• Out of state MSOs like Harvest and Acreage have been shutting their California businesses.
• To support each other, some California distributors are banding together to “blacklist” retailers who don’t pay their bills.
  MJBiz
• Dozens of companies have asked Sacramento for deferred license fees and other forms of relief. 
  Desert Sun
• The industry does stand to benefit from various small business relief programs in the state.
  MJBiz
• Canna Law Blog looks at a new wave of Golden State “Breaches, Lawsuits and Shake-Ups.”

Separately, in the latest twist on Los Angeles’ licensing, a social equity-minded group is suing the city over its retail license application process. The suit comes weeks after an audit found the city took “reasonable and appropriate” steps to prevent bias. Canna Law Blog has more.
L.A. Times

• Despite current hardships, the state will spend $30M to promote cannabis industry equity.
  City News Service

????WW California has lots more.

Quick Hit

1. In California, testing costs account for 10% of wholesale product costs, according to a UCDavis study.