Hi all,

Hope you’re staying cool. Lots of local news in today’s newsletter, and two stories about big companies:

• Dutchie’s payments play isn’t a slam dunk
• Curaleaf goes small

Enjoy,

Alex

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MSO Curaleaf, parent of brand Select, has launched a Farmer’s Select Program, a series of limited collaborations with legacy farmers and other unique California operators. (Disclosure: Curaleaf is a client of WeedWeek advertiser Mattio.)

CuraLeaf’s new CEO Matt Darin, and Josh Pritchard, founder and CEO of Delighted Farms, responded to emailed questions about their collaboration. Here are their responses, edited for length and content.

WeedWeek: How are these partnerships structured? 

Matt Darin: They typically begin with our team reaching out to and meeting with licensed legacy farmers. Once a relationship is formed, we purchase a sample from the farm for analysis by a certified third-party lab. Following approval of the sample, our team works with the farmers to harvest and flash-freeze the whole flower. It is then processed into live resin and formulated to match the terpene profile from cultivar to concentrate. 

WW: What does Curaleaf do for their partners?

MD: Our Farmer’s Select partners are provided with as much assistance as they need, whether that be on the cultivation and processing side or promotionally through marketing and PR. We understand that small farms have varying levels of marketing and sales teams, so we aim to bridge the gap by providing them with as much exposure and support as possible.

WW: How is the program going so far?

MD: Fantastically! The Farmer’s Select program shows what we can do when our industry values community and collaboration over competition. Select’s first collaboration with Sonoma Hills Farm sold out in under two weeks. 

How does Curaleaf envision expanding this program?

MD: Our long-term goal is to launch one Farmer’s Select collaboration per month. In fact, we encourage other farmers who are interested to reach out to our CA Ops team led by Jayne Fiscus!

Does Curaleaf ever see this program contributing meaningfully to the top line and how?

MD: Our primary focus with Farmer’s Select is to reaffirm our commitment to creating an equitable cannabis industry where everyone can participate. That said, we do see the program contributing to the top line as both Farmer’s Select collaborations have sold out much faster than anticipated.

Josh Pritchard:

WeedWeek: Who’s the leadership of your company and how many employees do you have?

• Josh Pritchard, Founder/CEO. Started growing cannabis in 2008, also worked in tech, most recently running data analytics at Slack.
• Kevin Crouch, Director of Cultivation, Biologist. Started growing cannabis in 2002, breeding and phenohunting since 2007.
• Approximately 30 full time employees, including trimming staff.

Describe your business: what do you do aside from the partnership with Curaleaf/Select? How’s it going?

Josh Pritchard: We are a large indoor farm with a significant focus on developing new and unique flavors through constant R&D. We grow flower for our own brand (DELIGHTED) and also white label for other brands. The market has been tough overall, but our R&D is going very well and we’re looking forward to opening a new facility later this year, which will include a nursery.

Why did you choose to partner with Curaleaf/Select?

JP: Knowing the lab crew in Sacramento for years, we’ve been waiting for a chance to work together. After years of operating exclusively as a white label provider, we’ve just launched our flower brand, DELIGHTED, and were very excited to be given the chance to partner with Curaleaf and Select to highlight the new and unique flavors we’re bringing to market. 

What does success for this partnership look like?

JP: For us it’s all about getting more people to learn about and experience the new flavors from our flower menu: Napali Sunrise, Frozen Gushers, and Gas Pie. We have a lot more in the pipeline and look forward to working with Curaleaf and Select to bring in Live Resin carts as well.

Kings Garden default raises questions about IIP

Stock in San Diego-based REIT Innovative Industrial Properties, which hasn’t had a good year, fell again after it revealed key California tenant Kings Garden had defaulted on $2.2M in rent and insurance payments for July.

• A post from Michael Bowen sparked an interesting thread on what happens when potcos can’t pay their bills.
  BisNow

Sacramento:

• The California Cannabis Industry Association shared its public comments on new proposed state regulations.
• At Canna Law Blog, attorney Hilary Bricken digs into the new tax law.

Business:

• At $210 an ounce, Oregon has the country’s cheapest weed. California is fifth. 
  Portland Business Journal
• Falling prices in Oregon didn’t lead to more sales.
  The Street
• Entrepreneur Eric Spitz asked why Calif. dispensaries are lowering their prices during historic inflation.
• East Bay Express checks out NUG‘s Oakland shop, California’s first Asian-owned equity dispensary. 
• Highsman founder and former NFLer Ricky Williams talked about use in the league.
  CBS
• Cannabis Business Times interviewed Ball Family Farms CEO Chris Ball.

Local:

• With wild fires expected to become much more severe, Humboldt growers are being encouraged to apply for restricted area access passes so they can cross road closures to care for their crops.
  North Coast Journal
• Voters in several south LA County beach cities could welcome dispensaries in November.
  Daily Breeze
• Tulare residents (Tulare Co.) will vote on a pot tax increase in November. 
  Visalia Times Delta
• Humboldt Co. officials disagreed with a grand jury report on its licensing process.
• The City of Ventura (Ventura Co.) extended its public comment period for license applicants.
• The Artist Tree, first dispensary to open in Fresno, is still suing the city over a second unsuccessful application.
  San Joaquin Valley Sun
• Mendocino Co. growers who commit to sustainable farming practices are eligible to receive up to $6M in possible funding from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  Mendo Voice 
• Santa Barbara Co. officials rejected another appeal from the exclusive Cate School to block a planned Carpinteria grow.
  Coastal View  
• An appeals court ruled Chula Vista (San Diego Co.) failed to follow its permitting rules in rejecting a dispensary applications from Cali Grown. The court ordered the city to reprocess the applications.
  San Diego Union-Tribune
• Paso Robles (SLO Co.) may open to dispensaries.
  Paso Robles Press
• In November, Sacramento voters will decide whether to fund youth programs with pot taxes.
  KCRA

Fun and interesting:

• The new Cannabis & Movies club hosts screenings at the Montalban Theater in Hollywood.
  IndieWire

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WeedWeek California Pro is the only publication for people who make money in the world’s largest cannabis market. Get a two-week trial subscription for $1!

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Chart of the Week will return next week. Got some data we should consider? Send it to hello@weedweek.com

Company Milestones:

• Presidential, known for its super-potent moon rock pre-rolls, is expanding to Oklahoma, Nevada and Michigan. (Pictured) 
• MSO Jushi opened a Beyond/Hello store in Palm Springs.
• Jamaica-based brand Kaya, which is owned by NUGL, received its first California orders.
• LA-based Ordo launched with a CRM for cannabis brands.

Job Moves:

• The Source+ promoted Irene Villaneuva to director of cultivation operations as it opened a new factory in Vegas.
• GABY, parent of San Diego-based Mankind dispensary, named Glenn Solomon QC to its board, replacing Loreto Grimaldi.

Events:

• Weed artist and LinkedIn activist Greg Welch had a great time at the Northern Nights Festival’s cannabis lounge. 

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WeedWeek California Pro is the only publication for people who make money in the world’s largest cannabis market. Get a two-week trial subscription for $1!