A Headstart for Hemp & Hallucinogenic Scents
A Headstart for Hemp & Hallucinogenic Scents
Plus, the Lonely Hearts Board returns.
The Broccoli Report
Monday, March 7, 2022
Time to read: 5 minutes, 5 seconds. Contains 1018 words.
Good morning!
After the past couple of weeks, I think everyone could use an extra dose of chill, so here is a little treat for you. We went ahead and unlocked one of our favorite past paid posts for your leisurely perusal: Garden Party's Approach to Weed-Friendly Retail. It’s an insightful read for brands interested in getting stock in brick-and-mortars that aren’t dispensaries, especially when it comes to standing out in the CBD scene.
I imagine everyone could use an extra dose of connection, too. After the runaway success of the Lonely, Stoned Hearts Board, I got so many emails asking me when we’d run another one that we decided to make it a recurring feature. So if you are looking for a business connection, now’s your moment to make it happen. Do you need a vendor? A freelance gig? Investment? Maybe your needs are a little more emotional—a mentor to provide guidance (or a mentee to guide); a group of like-minded folks who can talk you through start-up woes and wins; or a collaborator with a shared dream and vision.
Any and all interested brands and freelancers have until EOD Monday, March 14, to email their brief descriptions of dream business connections to yoshikolauren@gmail.com. Please include “Lonely Hearts” in the subject line. If your post was published last time, please sit this one out so we can make space for new people. This dispatch will be an opportunity to find partners, collaborative cohorts, like-minded peers, and even sales leads. The more, the merrier, but it is possible that we’ll max out and save some posts for next time.🌸
One last thing: This Friday, paid subscribers can look forward to a no-holds-barred interview about starting an ancillary business from the ground up with Gena Surphlis, the founder of 024—a company selling scented candles designed to eliminate the smell of cannabis smoke. We’ll talk about the research and development process, her experiences on crowdfunding platform iFundWomen, lessons learned in her first two years of business, and much more. Subscribe to catch this fire conversation.
One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation giving hemp growers a potential head start on adult-use cannabis cultivation. To be eligible for the temporary two-year license, applicants must possess a valid industrial hemp grower authorization from the Department of Agriculture and Markets as of December 31, 2021, and have grown and harvested hemp for at least two of the last four years. It’s legislators’ attempt to ensure a steady, reliable supply for the impending adult-use markets, but whether stores will be licensed and ready in time to sell adult-use products is an open question. Adult-use rules are yet to be drafted, and once they are, there will be a five-month public comment period before implementation. In Oregon, licensed medical shops were allowed to act as adult-use shops for a while before newly licensed adult-use stores opened—I wonder if N.Y. will end up doing something similar to buy time.
Think local cannabis taxes are bad? Count your blessings not to be dealing with Massachusetts’ “host community agreements.” These contracts between operators and cities require cannabis businesses to pay up to three percent of gross annual income back to the town where they are located. The state created these “agreements” to assuage concerns and cover any extra costs towns incur by hosting cannabis business, but the complicated system of “community impact fees” has become so rife with corruption that the federal government has launched a criminal probe.
I’m still picking my jaw up off the ground after reading this Phoenix New Times story about the methods investors and major companies used to try and weasel their way into Arizona’s social equity program. “Courting” families in certain communities based on income, ZIP code, and prior cannabis charges; offering money in exchange for putting their names down as majority stakeholders—it’s not good. While equity program failures are disappointing, they are also instructive, revealing just how detailed and thoughtful legislation must be to create accessible, equitable licensing structures. Here’s hoping lawmakers are paying attention.
An impressive number from Leafly’s annual cannabis jobs report: The U.S. cannabis industry now supports 428,059 jobs. That number includes plant-touching jobs, ancillary jobs that serve licensed companies or depend on legal cannabis sales, and even weed media (like me). It makes me proud to see weed becoming established as a real career path.
Are you looking for a new gig? Multistate operator Revolution Cannabis is hiring for all kinds of positions, from retail to marketing manager and brand designer, in a range of locations and remote capacities.
California farm Vaya—co-founded by Degi Simmons and Salvador Santana, son of Carlos Santana—debuted the cinematic first episode of their docuseries, Hempire: Conversation at the Edge of the Green Rush. It starts with Simmons discussing his legacy experiences and observations as cannabis becomes a mainstream commodity.
The CBD bake kits of my direct-to-consumer meal kit dreams have arrived: C.B. Dough is a Denver-based DIY baking company founded by sisters Maddy and Sammy Davidoff. Their offerings include a gluten-and-nut-free dry mix for 30 mg brownies (you provide the butter and eggs) and a variety of cookie mixes.
Bougie lighter cases are in. From Potent Goods’ sleek case with its long, layerable chain, to Sophie Buhai’s hefty sterling silver case, the latest lighter holders are pieces of jewelry as much as smoking accessories. Now, it’s time to add pokers! While Toker Pokers are aesthetically underwhelming, I keep one around because it is useful. Looking forward to more refined versions of case-and-poker combos.
Witty weed copy of the week: Perfumier Maison Anonyme dropped Hallucinex, a series of three fragrances titled THC, LSD, and DMT, all designed to “trigger a hallucinogenic response.” The brand played with drug vernacular by listing scent notes by their chemical names, i.e., “methyl dihydro jasmonate” rather than “jasmine.”
These skipping-stone-shaped circular glass pipes make me nostalgic for the riverside adventures of my youth, including the first time I smoked while floating with friends.
See you downstream,
Lauren Yoshiko