Hello from New York City,

Proud to say last year’s Los Angeles Times / WeedWeek investigation into pesticide contamination won a Loeb Award for business journalism. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to work with Paige St. John and her dedicated and talented colleagues at the Times. California’s Department of Cannabis Control has not substantially responded to our work.   

Let’s get to it.

In the newsletter:

• Calif. retailer challenges union law.

And so much more,

Alex

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Ctrl Alt Destroy, parent of Embr dispensaries in San Diego and Massachusetts, appealed its federal lawsuit challenging California’s pro-union labor law to the ninth circuit. A federal judge previously dismissed the lawsuit on grounds that cannabis is federally illegal.
Law360

The plaintiff argues that since California receives taxes on pot sales, “it could not then invoke the federal ban on cannabis to evade judicial review of its policies.” 

California requires operators with more than 10 employees to enter into labor peace agreements(LPAs), essentially meaning they must allow unions to communicate with employees.

The law has survived at least one previous lawsuit. It has also led to companies forming LPAs with so-called “company unions,” groups that fulfill the LPA requirement but lack the ability or interest in organizing company employees.
WeedWeek

The anti-union Right to Work Foundation filed an amicus brief supporting the plaintiff. The group says LPAs “rig the law against workers opposed to union control by censoring speech critical of unionization.”

Read the story…

Federal:

• The federal shutdown has put a Republican-led push to ban intoxicating hemp in limbo.
  MJBiz
  
• Cannabis & Tech Today profiled Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) new chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

Business:

• Wholesale marketplace Leaflink named tech veteran Ashwin Raj CEO.
•  
• With more people consuming cannabis, craft breweries are struggling. But ashtrays are back.
  NY Times
• Cannabis Musings weighs in on the complex deal between MSO Vireo and MSO Schwazze, the latter of which defaulted on its debt.
• Weed scholar and connoisseur Caleb Chen discussed “hype weed” with the Great Moments in Weed History podcast.
• New promo idea: Silver Therapeutics in Saratoga Springs, NY is partnering with a dog and cat rescue.
  CBS
• As much of the industry breaks down, Javier Hasse suggests a few brands are breaking out.
  Forbes
•  

State and local:

• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine temporarily banned intoxicating hemp products.
  Crain’s Cleveland Business
• Michigan operators sued the state over the new pot tax.
  MLive
• “Kiss My Grass,” a new documentary by longtime activist Mary Pryor, highlights the difficulties equity applicants face in Michigan.
  The ‘Gander
• No, carrier pigeons will not be delivering weed in New York City, though a great deal of anger and resentment surfaced during an open meeting with regulators.
  Marijuana Moment, John Schroyer
• MED licensing in Nebraska stalled as authorities missed a deadline.
  AP

Fun and interesting:

• Former MJBiz reporter Bart Schaneman, now with the Washington Post, has a new forthcoming novel: The Pot Job.
• And Cookies founder Berner has a book coming out next year: Becoming Legend: The billion-dollar blueprint to be a whale in a sea of sharks
• Mushroom biologist Toby Kiers won a MacArthur Genius Grant.
  NY Times

State:

• Critics say California’s new hemp law folds it too tightly into the regulated marketplace. That is why the regulated industry celebrated it. Law firm Buchanan discussed the new law.

Business:

• A new Cookies store is coming to SW Michigan hub New Buffalo.

Local:

• The Coachella Cannabis Cup was cancelled due to lack of industry financing.
• Mendocino Co. hopes to support local growers with an equity grant.
  SFGate