Calif. biz faces key branding bills – Newsletter 3/20/26

THE BIG IDEA

Happy Spring everyone!

This week in the newsletter: Two California bills which could have a significant impact on labeling and branding in the state.

And so much more!

Alex

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FROM WEEDWEEK:

Calif. biz faces key “branding” bills: Report

Two bills that would remake product packaging and formats would create new challenges for California’s struggling industry, warns an alert from longtime executive and advocate Caren Woodson. One would expand the definition of what constitutes packaging that’s Attractive to Children (ATC). The second would ban beverages containing more than 10 mg of THC.

Read the story…

Also in WeedWeek:

• Newsbrief: Study finds scant evidence for cannabis treating mental health disorders
• Newsbrief: SF proposal would allow cannabis cafes

QUICK HITS

Federal:

• A report from the Congressional Research Service removed language that rescheduling is “likely” from a report.
  Marijuana Moment
• The Free Press reports on how a billionaire friend changed Trump’s mind on weed.
• There’s a new THC allowance in Trump’s CBD plan, but no launch date.
  MJBiz
• The Department of Health and Human Services said pot tests for federal workers will continue.
  HR Dive

Business:

• A House Committee approved an online safety act which could complicate cannabis companies efforts to promote themselves online.
  Marijuana Moment
• MSO The Cannabist further extended its forebearance agreement with senior noteholders.
• Petalfast and Kiva Sales and Service are merging to form a major distributor with operations concentrated in California and Arizona. They’ll be launching KSS Lite, for brands that seek to lead their own sales efforts. (Neither company responded to interview requests.)
• Snoop Dogg can’t trademark ‘Smoke weed everyday.” MJBiz explains why not.
• An Army Reserve Officer may face the end of his military career for owning a dispensary.
  NY Times

State and local:

• New rules in Texas are clearing shelves of hemp products.
  San Antonio Express-News
• Michigan’s new wholesale tax complicates record keeping, in addition to pricing, CPA James Campbell writes.
• Publicly traded operators in Illinois lost money last year, with one exception.
  Crain’s Chicago Business
• Missouri has a licensing problem.
  Cultivated
• Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada is cracking down on stores selling hemp-derived products.
  Fox5
• A South Carolina effort to ban hemp-derived THC products failed.
  The State
• Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) is expected to sign a bill opening the REC market in January.
  NPR
• Connecticut may open the door to more potent products with a warning label.
  CTInsider
• Rhode Island may further limit the number of retail licenses. Officials in the state are also pushing back on allowing hemp drinks in businesses with a liquor license.
  WPRI, Rhode Island Current
  

International:

• Japan banned products containing the cannabinoid CBN, which is said to help with sleep.
  The Japan Times

Fun and interesting:

• @chalicefestival posted on Victorville, Calif. blocking it from hosting a 2018 event. “We are one of many businesses that fell victim to legalization growing pains. Our culture will not be suppressed by shortsighted individuals that judge us as criminals for being part of an emerging culture.”

CALIFORNIA HITS

State:

• DCC director Clint Kellum spoke to Cultivated about his priorities for the regulator.

Business:

• Former Stiiizy exec Steven Schneiderman said he has joined StateHouse as VP, Corporate Development.

Local:

• An investigation is underway after a horse trailer filled with cannabis caught fire in Trinity County.
  Sierra Daily News
• Santa Barbara city Council voted to increase pot taxes.
  News-Press
• Nor-Cal Women in Cannabis hosted a discussion with OGs Debby Goldsberry, Aundre Speciale, Linda Jackson and Lynette Shaw.
  GreenState
• Social Equity LA shared an update on the state of LA’s troubled market.
• Retailer Embarc opened the first dispensary in Riverside.
• Pacific Grove (Monterey Co.) may further delay dispensary licensing.
  Monterey Herald

Upcoming:

• The Mendo Cup is set for May 3, in Willits.
  @themendocup