Okla. gov calls for industry “shut down” — Newsletter 2/6/26

THE BIG IDEA

Happy Friday all,

Today’s main piece is more of an analysis than usual. But it highlights something I think will be important as the cannabiz begins to face significant repeal efforts: Repeal is less about access to weed than it is about industry assimilation. Questions like ‘Is it a good neighbor? And ‘Is it paying taxes?’ are going to matter.

In a conservative state like Oklahoma, where state officials say a criminal element has intertwined with the legal market, the cannabiz could be in trouble.

I hope you find it valuable,

Alex

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FROM WEEDWEEK

Analysis: Oklahoma gov’s call to “shut down” MED signals trouble for biz

When Oklahomans voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2018, we were sold a bill of goods,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) said in his state of the state address this week. “Send the marijuana issue back to the vote of the people and shut it down.”

“Out of state liberal activists preyed on the compassionate nature of Oklahomans. Then, it opened up Pandora’s box.”

Read the story…

Related: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond(R) announced a major multi-state weed related bust and said he wants the industry gone.
KOCO (ABC)

Also in WeedWeek:

• Newsbrief: Pa. gov calls on legislature to legalize
• California cities’ pot rules get low marks from health group

QUICK HITS

Federal:

• As the industry awaits rescheduling news, President Trump signed a bill continuing to block D.C. from creating a REC market.
  Marijuana Moment
• Speaking to a Cultivated event, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said Republicans need to step up on banking reform. She also suggested offering Trump a New York license would get the rescheduling process moving.

Business:

• Pot stocks had a rough January.
  New Cannabis Ventures
• Rescheduling could overhaul cannabiz insurance.
  Risk & Insurance
• Canna Law Blog suggests hemp firms may have to go into bankruptcy before the federal ban takes effect November 12.
• What do hemp companies want from federal regulations?
  Modern Retail
• Restructuring MSO Ayr Wellness sold an Ohio grow to real estate investment trust Aventine for $28.5M. Ayr will continue to use the facility.
  Crain’s Cleveland Business
• MSO The Cannabist Co. entered into a forbearance agreement with senior secured note holders. Cannabis Musings weighed in.
• Gelato unified its California, Michigan and Arizona operations.
• Recently acquired edibles brand Grön has a new and relatively rare THCV gummy, actually a 1:1:1 THCV, CBC, THC gummy, for “focused energy and functional daytime use.”
• A photographer waited on a bridge every morning to capture weed workers carpooling to work.
  @thebudfather
• National pre-roll leader Jeeter is offering a special edition Super Bowl package, in partnership with former NFL stars.
• Willie Nelson’s new hemp drink raised a $15M Series A to go national.
  MJBiz

State and local:

• Will Florida ever legalize REC? MJBiz digs in. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) administration says the contested signature gathering effort fell short.
  Miami Herald
• The chair of the Nebraska MED commission resigned.
  Nebraska Examiner
• Wisconsin Democrats introduced a new legalization bill. It’s likely to be blocked by Republican lawmakers.
• Verdant Strategies’ Hirsh Jain discussed what he says is the country’s most important market: New York.
• Creator @ciaracera takes us inside Austin’s “legal-ish” supply chain.
• A ballot measure to repeal Ohio’s new stricter REC law got clearance to collect signatures.
  WOUB (NPR)
• A REC repeal ballot initiative in Maine, didn’t collect enough signatures to make the ballot.
  Marijuana Moment
• Virginia lawmakers are hammering out the state’s REC law.
  WVTF (NPR)
• New Jersey’s assembly speaker is appointing cannabis non-profit founder Jacqueline Ferraro to the five member state regulatory commission.
  Politico
• Indiana passes on legalization again and instead is tightening related laws.
  Indiana Capital Chronicle
• The Entheo Society’s upcoming “Plant Medicine Educational Event” on Feb 22 in Boise, is being billed as the biggest gathering of its kind in Idaho.

Health and science:

• Lawmakers in multiple states are pushing for MED access in hospitals.
  Marijuana Moment

Book:

• Journalist Scott Eden’s new book, A Killing in Cannabis, about the murder of a would be Santa Cruz tycoon, got a great review in the New York Times: “An exhilarating, deeply reported true-crime murder mystery and love story that moves like a Netflix thriller.”

R.I.P.

• CelebStoner paid tribute to Catherine O’Hara.

Fun and interesting:

• NY Times columnist Ross Douthat opined on ‘Vice and the crisis of liberalism,” naming weed, porn and sportsbetting.
• High Times spoke to Jim Belushi, 71, about weed, the industry’s mess, and his new role playing counterculture legend Ken Kesey. His Oregon farm has stopped growing.
• Visiting the Bay Area for the big game? Bad Bunny and his crew went for the steak sandwiches at Sol Food.
  @festusfeasts

CALIFORNIA HITS

State:

• MJBiz interviewed California’s new top regulator Clint Kellum.
• An opinion piece in the SLO County New Times argues, “California’s cannabis rules are moral posturing masquerading as governance.”

Local:

• Entrepreneur @Daniel_Sosa_420 told Los Angeles City Council the city’s market is collapsing.
• Following a June raid, cannabis church Redwood Spiritual Healing Ministry sued Humboldt County and the state alleging rights’ violations.
  Redheaded Blackbelt
• Three suspects were arrested and others remain at large following a burglary of Headwaters Cannabis in Santa Barbara County.
  KEYT
• La Mesa’s low taxes are attracting buyers from nearby San Diego. A journalist wants to know what it means for the broader La Mesa economy.
  Times of San Diego

Law enforcement:

• A federal judge affirmed the authority of sheriff’s deputies to enforce laws against large-scale cultivation on tribal land.
  Anderson Valley Advertiser

Upcoming:

• @Cannifest is happening September 11-13 in Humboldt.