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In the newsletter:

• SCOOP: Six more Stiiizy lawsuits

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WeedWeek recently reported that Stiiizy, California’s biggest cannabis company, is the plaintiff in lawsuits filed by a former CEO of the company and a current retail partner. 

In addition to those suits, Stiiizy, its former parent company Shryne Group and/or their affiliates are named defendants in several more California lawsuits.

Here are six of them…

Federal:

• Attorney Matthew Zorn, who writes the On Drugs substack, shared documents laying out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ scientific rationale for its schedule 3 recommendation.
  N.Y.Times
• A new study found broad similarities in usage and attitudes towards weed in the U.S. and Canada.
  Marijuana Moment

Business:

• The N.Y. Times talks to Mike Tyson whose brand Tyson 2.0 has high hopes for the New York market.
• The Cannabist Co., the MSO formerly known as Columbia Care, replaced founder Nicholas Vita as CEO. The new boss is president David Hart. Vita remains on the board.
• The U.S. SEC sued three individuals for a stock manipulation scheme at a small  hydroponics company.
• After her post was removed, publicist Alice Moon asked LinkedIn what’s up with their weed policy?
• The National Cannabis Industry Association named two new board members: Adam Stettner, CEO of WeedWeek advertiser FundCanna; and Josh Wurzer, co-founder and chief compliance officer at SC Labs.
• Uber is shuttering alcohol delivery service Drizly.
  Indus Business Journal

State and local:

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) proposed repealing the state’s ‘potency tax.’
• Consultant Juliana Whitney broke down New York’s licensing queue.
• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) demanded a crackdown on hemp-derived D8-THC as part of REC legislation.e
  Fox
• Alabama’s MED licensing debacle continues.
  Politico
• Michigan sales topped $3B in 2023, with the highest per capita consumption of any state.
  MJBiz
• A proposed bill in Washington state would raise the age limit for buying high potency products to 25.
  CBS
• Connecticut’s attorney general is trying to shut down a cannabis social club.
  Brian “Box” Brown
• Wisconsin Republicans are at an impasse over MED legalization.
  AP
• Recalls in Colorado were way up last year following a new mandated test for the mold aspergillus.
  Green Market Report
• Legalization supporters held a rally in South Carolina.
  Post and Courier
• Several bills aim to legalize Indiana.

Crime:

• In Washington state, a dispensary owner foiled a would-be robbery with bear spray.
  N.Y. Post

Health and science:

• The N.Y. Times learns about tianeptine, sometimes called “gas-station heroin.” It’s often sold as a dietary supplement and can be found in smoke shops, convenience stores and online.
• Scientists discovered the exact cellular mechanism responsible for The Munchies.
• Food-Safety.com looks into Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the industry, especially edibles.  PFAS are man-made industrial chemicals, some of which have been designated hazardous substances by the U.S. EPA.

International:

• After 18 months, Thailand is re-prohibiting REC.
  CNN

Fun and interesting:

• Journalist Lindsay MaHarry checked out the new 420-friendly restaurant Irie, which is attached to West Hollywood sex shop The Pleasure Chest.
  Leafly
• Cypress Hill announced dates for its “We Legalized It” 2024 tour.

State:

• Gov. Newsom’s budget includes a “budgetary loan” that would redirect $100M in pot taxes from local and juvenile jails to the state’s general fund. The budget, which aims to patch a $38B budget deficit, does not trigger a mechanism that could raise the cannabis excise tax. Pamela Lopez, a partner at lobbying firm K Street Consulting in Sacramento, whose clients include California NORML and Jeeter, told WeedWeek she’s “very motivated” to ensure it stays that way.
  MJBiz
• AG Rob Bonta (D), who recently put the kibosh on interstate trade hopes, joined other state AGs in calling on the DEA to reschedule to Schedule III and reduce other barriers facing the cannabiz and its customers.
• The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) announced seizure of $312M in unlicensed weed last year. Top counties for seizures were Alameda (Oakland), Siskiyou, Mendocino, LA and Kern (Bakersfield).
  Cannabis Business Times
• A proposed initiative to legalize psilocybin fell short on signatures for the third election cycle in a row.
  Marijuana Moment

Business:

• The litigation between major California players Catalyst and Glass House is in a state of “trench warfare.“
  Green Market Report
• Lowell Farms surrendered a grow facility in Salinas.
  Cannabis Equipment News

Local:

• Lakeport (Lake Co.) declined to move forward with dispensaries.
  Lake County Record-Bee
• Fresno now has six pot shops.
  Fresno Bee
• In Humboldt, the Lost Coast Outpost took a poll on controversial environmental proposal Measure A.
• Progress has been slow for two businesses that hoped to open in Arvin (Kern Co.).

Company milestones:

• Distru Nabis announced partnerships with brands: Northern Emeralds, Tyson 2.0, Turn, Made, THC Design, Sauce, Wizard Trees, Micro Bar, and PRO Farms.
• Unrivaled Brands announced the completion of a previously announced reorganization and stock split.
• Sales and marketing platform Petalfast raised $8M in “non-dilutive strategic equity financing” from family offices.
• Embarc opened its 11th and 12th stores.

Job move:

• J. Roy Pottle resigned from the Statehouse board of directors.