SparkPlug took on the budtender problem – Newsletter 10/30/26

Hi all, Here’s the last WeedWeek before Tuesday’s midterm election. Let’s get to it. Alex

FROM WEEDWEEK

SparkPlug took on the budtender problem

Tech company SparkPlug helps brands and retailers capture the disproportionate influence budtenders have over purchasing decisions.

Read the story

Also in WeedWeek:

• Newsbrief: Carpinteria farms now compliant with odor regs
• Newsbrief: Nevada weighs changes to pot tax
• GTI worker fired for weed allergy, lawsuit alleges

Send tips, press releases, concerns, feedback and criticism to hello@weedweek.com. Sensitive material to share? Contact Alex on Signal.

QUICK HITS

Federal:

• The DEA is preparing a list of licensed operators who registered with the agency.
  Marijuana Moment
• Momentum to alter the hemp ban may be gaining momentum again. It won’t be clear until after next week’s midterm elections. The question of whether lower-dose drinks will survive pits “Willie Nelson against Mitch McConnell.“
  Roll Call, Bloomberg BusinessWeek
• A House bill introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) would overhaul the Controlled Substances Act, including the five-tier scheduling system.
  Marijuana Moment
  

Business:

• Prices are falling, writes Cy Scott, CEO of data shop Headset. “Here’s who’s taking the hit.”
• Safe Harbor Financial signed a non-binding term sheet to merge with Opifex Media, created a Nasdaq-listed company.
• MJBiz interviewed John Mazarakis, the acquisitive CEO of MSO Vireo Growth.
• Hemp bans are boosting MSO revenue in Ohio and elsewhere.
• Bloomberg dives into the strange saga of influencer Dan Bilzerian’s vape company Ignite.
• Journalist Rachelle Gordon is putting together her annual guide to MJBiz week in Vegas.
• Industry pioneer Steve DeAngelo called for the return of harvest parties to reclaim the cannabis agenda from large cannabis and hemp companies.

State and local:

• In a loss for unions, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill eliminating the state’s requirement that operators form labor peace agreements.
  Albany Times-Union
• Arizona-based MSO Vext Science is suing Ohio town Pierce Township over what it calls extortion related to the licensing process.
  WCPO (ABC)
• A hemp industry group is suing Texas over the state “redefining’ delta-9 to include THCA towards legal limits.
  KXAN (NBC)
• Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn (R) says he has relatives who benefit from MED, but he opposes REC legalization. He trails Democrat Rob Sand who wants to legalize.
  Marijuana Moment
• Massachusetts is the first state to vote on whether to recall legal REC. Polls suggest it will remain legal.
  WHDH
• Oklahoma’s top regulator stepped down as the state MED market faces a host of challenges.
  KOCO (ABC)

Health:

• National Geographic asks if legalization is fueling a rise in strokes in young adults.

International:

• More Canadian weed is being smuggled into Europe.
  CBC

Fun and interesting:

• “Signs you’ve lost your way in the weed industry”
  @thebudfather
• “A eulogy to Liquid Death,” by former cannabiz exec Ross Gardiner.

CALIFORNIA HITS

State:

• Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the state had seized $230M in illegal cannabis this year.

Business:

• Sunderstorm Chief Marketing Officer Angela Cheng discussed the state’s new marketing rules.
• Berner says he’s reopening Cookies’ flagship store on Melrose in LA.

Local:

• Local authorities in Siskiyou County seized 2,200 pounds of weed during a traffic stop.
  Redheaded Blackbelt
• An ordinance to allow retail is headed to Auburn (Placer Co.) city council.
  Gold Mountain CA News
• Arvin (Kern Co.) is considering a new storage and processing facility.
  23ABC

Upcoming:

• Review site Budist is hosting a History of Weed event November 7 in Berkeley.
• Trade show Hall of Flowers is Wednesday and Thursday in Sacramento.