Hi all,

As WeedWeek California Pro members, you have access to our private Discord server. A roped-off community for networking and conversation could be a valuable tool and, many of you agree.

But I haven’t yet figured out how to get folks on there and engaged. Got any thoughts on what kinds of conversations you’d like to have? Let me know at alex@weedweek.com.

In the newsletter:  

• Fresno licensing process attracts lawsuits
• Jetty Extracts makes plans

Enjoy,

Alex

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Gov. reveals tax plan

As WeedWeek anticipated, Gov. Newsom released his tax plan for California’s industry which sees taxes as its number one problem. The plan calls for eliminating the cultivation tax and shifting payment for the 15% excise tax to retailers from distributors. It also leaves the door open to raising the excise tax, which the industry strongly opposes.
Sacramento Bee

• “This is one step of many that are needed to get California’s cannabis ecosystem on a healthy track,” Attorney and advocate Ariel Clark told WeedWeek. “This proposal doesn’t address high consumer prices because of the still-to-high excise tax, which keeps consumers going to the cheaper and unregulated shops.” She added that the governor’s proposal needs to pass two-thirds of the Legislature, “So stakeholders need to advocate on that front.” 
• The proposal is “meaningful progress,” Precision Advocacy cannabis lobbyist Amy Jenkins said. However, “it falls short of helping California’s legal market compete and thrive.”

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A night to celebrate

The cannabiz offers no shortage of prizes to win (or purchase), but The Emerald Cup Awards with its NorCal pedigree and esteemed judges is surely among the most prestigious. For it’s 18th go round, it moved south to LA to gin up some more juice for its winners. 

• The event won raves on social from luminaries like @bobbyblack420, @itsmeambere @ridgeline_farms, @soniahendrix and Greg Welch, among many others.
• Here’s High Times‘ write up. 

And the envelope please…

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Business:

• Glass House is buying two dispensaries and one under construction for $22.6M from Natural Healing Center. The open ones are in Morro Bay (San Luis Obispo Co.) and Lemoore (Kings Co.) The third is in Turlock (Stanislaus Co.)
  The Tribune
• Dot.LA finds some cannabis brands embracing crypto.
• Customers can now place delivery orders through Leafly in California and other legal states.
• Law firm Harris Bricken discusses whether California cannabiz workers are employees or independent contractors. “Misclassification claims by California workers can be extreme.”
  Lexology
• Courtney Etkins, director of retail at Sunday Goods discussed her transition from the adult intimacy industry to cannabis.
  FlowerHire

Local:

• In NorCal, Lake County supes voted against a major growing project from WeGrow.
  Lake County News
• Santa Barbara Co.’s supes’s voted not to change the cultivation tax structure in the industry hub.
  Santa Ynez Valley News 
• Oakland’s city council proposed a new “emerald new deal” ballot measure that would divert nearly $7M in annual pot tax revenue to victims of the war on drugs including some to the city’s cannabis equity program. Industry lawyer James Anthony called the proposal well-meaning but misguided.
  KRON4

Equity:

• The LA Times talks to Asian Americans about coming out of the cannabis closet to their families.  

Fun and interesting:

• Rachelle Gordon recapped Hall of Flowers for Beard Bros.
• The SF Chronicle checks out some cannabis weddings.

For our new chart of the week, we’ve got California 4/20 sales provided to WeedWeek exclusively by data shop BDSA. It shows that while east coast and midwest markets topped sales in 2021, California fell short. (From left to right it’s CA, CO, OR, FL, AZ, MI, IL, PA, NV, MA, MD and MO.) Go here, for a deeper dive, and more exclusive data.)

Company Milestones:

• Demand Brands entered a $8.5M partnership with Truleaf to enter the live rosin market. 
• Woody Harrelson urged people to “get higher” upon opening his new shop The Woods in West Hollywood.
  NY Post
• Distributor Herbl announced an exclusive partnership with Ball Family Farms.
• MSO Jushi opened its third California store in Grover Beach (San Luis Obispo Co.)
• Trendy beverage brand Cann launched in Arizona.

Job Moves:

• Fresh off its big raise, Treez named Jeannette Opalski, VP people; John Ucciferri, VP marketing; and promoted Joey Sterling to VP, Product.

Upcoming

• Hall of Flowers said its next California expo will be October 5-6 in Santa Rosa. It also announced a new Toronto show, September 13-14, it’s first in Canada. 

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