Hi all,

Sorry about the delay this week. I had a tech glitch. Let’s get to it.

In the newsletter:

• China supports illegal pot farms: Law enforcement

Read up,

Alex

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Chinese organized crime, with support from the Chinese government, is behind a nationwide network of U.S. weed farms supplying the illegal market, law enforcement and policy experts told a U.S. House of Representatives panel this week. Their testimony and the ensuing discussion focused more on these farms as a threat to national security than questions of legalization.

PLUS: This summer a California county called for Gov. Gavin Newsom(D) to declare a state of emergency about illegal Chinese farms’ alleged pesticide use.

Read the story

Federal:

• A GOP-controlled House committee voted to block Trump from rescheduling.
  MJBiz
• Don’t think rescheduling would be easy, compliance-wise, writes lawyer turned consultant Robert Hoban.
  Forbes
• A Senate panel dropped a provision to ban hemp THC products from The Farm Bill.
  Forbes
• Trump’s nominee for “Drug Czar” Sara Carter, who has expressed support for MED, said “all options” are under consideration for rescheduling.
  Cannabis Business Times

Business:

• How is the industry dealing with its multi-billion dollar “debt avalanche?”
  MJBiz 
• Edible Arrangements is taking its THC delivery service — Edibles.com — nationwide.
  Inc.
• MSO Green Thumb Industries announced plans to buyback $50M in shares. 
• MSO Verano announced plans to redomicile from British Columbia to Nevada.
• An article in Cannabis Industry Journal discusses how to successfully navigate receivership.

State and local:

• A New Mexico operator is suing the state alleging a worker flooded its grow with E.coli-laced acequia water.
  Albuquerque Journal
• Michigan lawmakers favor a pot tax hike.
  Marijuana Moment
• After a long legal battle, a Massachusetts judge cleared the path for the reinstatement of top regulator Shannon O’Brien.
  WGBH
• Rhode Island opened dispensary applications for the first time since legalization.
  Boston Globe
• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker threatened “executive action,” to regulate hemp.
  Chicago Tribune
• Minnesota shops starting selling REC.
  Star-Tribune
• New York shops won a temporary reprieve after the state miscalculated the buffer zone between them and sensitive locations.
  NY Times
• MED demand is strong in Virginia as the state continues to weigh REC sales.
  Virginia Mercury
• Cannabis entrepreneur and member of the University of Colorado board of regents Wanda James is running for Congress. She’ll launch a primary challenge against incumbent Democrat Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).
  MJBiz
• Revolution Brewing, Chicago’s largest craft brewers is launching THC-infused seltzers.
  Chicago Sun-Times
• Politico has a dispatch from “Tokelahoma’s” once-booming MED market which has fallen on hard times.
• Former Michigan Speaker of the House Rick Johnson (R) got out of prison after serving time for a license-related corruption scheme.
  Crain’s Detroit
• Documents obtained from a freedom of information request allege a Connecticut licensee received a retaliatory inspection after its CEO made unfavorable public comments.
  WSHU

Enforcement:

• The Atlantic looks at the new war on unlicensed smoke shops.
• Federal agents seized hundreds of thousands of illegal (nicotine) vapes they say were smuggled in from China.
  AP

Fun and interesting:

• New York Mag asks, ‘Should your kid know about your weed gummies?’
• In High Times, Jake Kuczeruk, with homegrow company ILGM, explains why Amsterdam weed is mostly overpriced boof.

State:

• The bill reducing the excise tax awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. So does the bill to regulate hemp like cannabis.
  Times-Standard, Cannabis Business Times
• The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) recalled four infused beverages.
• Tax agency CDTFA’s cannabis vendor compensation program is ending as planned.

Business:

• San Diego Business Journal has more on the March and Ash / Pacafi merger.
• As the industry struggles, NorCal retailer Goldenhour Collective is expanding.
  Media News Group
• Longtime Kiva exec Caren Woodson is departing the edibles maker to start a consultancy.
• Jeeter launched in New York.
  amNY

Local:

• Sacramento greenlit pot cafes.
  KCRA
• After many years of debate, Santa Monica will allow REC dispensaries.
  Santa Monica Daily Press
• The OC Register named its favorite local pot shops.
• A judge upheld Fresno’s strict smoke shop regulations.
  GVWire
• Pacific Grove (Monterey Co.) is accepting dispensary applications.
• Sonoma city council rejected a bid for a second shop in the city. Sparc has the city’s only license.

Upcoming:

• The Latinas in Cannabis Summit is September 27th in LA.
  GreenState
• Block party and hashfest Puffcon is October 4 and 5 in LA.