Monday, November 20, 2023
Time to read: About 4 minutes. Contains 850 words.
Good morning!
I wasn’t going to write a newsletter this week—big dinner/Green Wednesday chaos and all—but then Snoop Dogg quit “smoke,” the farm bill got an update, I learned of the time Cookies CEO Berner casually referenced past days as a pimp, and it became clear there's too much happening in weed not to check in with y’all. I also found some extremely cool accessories after finishing my gift guides for the season. The cannabis industry does not take a break!
While you’re here: a reminder that the Lonely Hearts Board has been pushed to next Friday, December 1. You’ve got until EOD November 27 to submit your post to yoshikolauren@gmail.com with “Lonely Hearts” in the subject line. (If you’re new here, check out past Boards for more info).
I wish you all a successful week and a good, long weekend ahead filled with quality flower, satisfying edibles, and quality time with loved ones.
One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
I relate to Snoop Dogg eliminating smoke from his wellness rituals—although I still partake in flower, it’s at a fraction of the frequency. For the first time in a long time, my relationship with cannabis is more about quality than quantity. Despite potential health-related reasons, many are theorizing this is a bit of a publicity stunt ahead of an edibles brand launch.
By now, you’ve likely heard Ohio legalized adult use. It might be news that the republican Governor Mike DeWine is already trying to reign in the law per his desires.
I just heard a rumor that Hawaii could be next to legalize adult use. That trend isn’t showing signs of slowing yet—bipartisan support for cannabis legalization has never been higher.
The Farm Bill’s five-year timer to reexamine legislation that made the federal hemp industry possible has loomed all year. However, as the deadline gets close, Congress is a bit slammed with sorting out the also looming government shutdown. To buy more time, the House and Senate Agriculture Committee have agreed on a stopgap bill that includes a one-year extension on the 2018 Farm Bill that will remain in place until September 30, 2024.
WeedWeek unearthed a 2019 podcast interview in which Cookies founder Berner discussed past “pimping experiences,” apparently going so far as to say, “Being a Bay Area rapper, I was influenced by my other fellow Bay Area rappers to break a bitch." Dark.
Although the Emerald Cup canceling the 2023 Harvest Ball was yet another dark signal of tough times across the California industry, seeing the Original Cannabis Cafe reopen felt like the light at the end of the tunnel coming into view.
Tell your sesh buddies to toss out their eye drops—there’s been a massive recall over risks of eye infections across many common brands.
New York Times covered the expansion of the senior cannabis consumer demo (again), including one highlight of a woman who took education into her own hands, using ChatGPT to produce an 89-page manual about medical cannabis for her peers within her Maryland retirement community.
The Cannabis Media Council’s partnership with Pornhub continued this past weekend with a Michigan-centered campaign.
For any looking for networking destinations of note while at MJ BizCon in Las Vegas next week, Oracle Wellness is hosting a BYOC High Hibachi event at a space with a massive Japanese-styled garden complete with a swimming pool and waterfalls.
If you’re home for the holidays in the New York-New Jersey area and seeking something special to do for Thanksgiving, Higher Dining is hosting an infused, three-course Danksgiving Brunch on Sunday, November 26.
On Saturday, December 9, New York’s House of Cannabis will host High On The Holidaze, a female-focused event produced by the team at High On Feminism (who recently had me on their talk series). There will be a panel discussion on women in the cannabis industry, infused THC bites from Chef Kimberly Barrett, holiday shopping from local women-owned businesses, as well as time to explore the many floors of experiential exhibits within this cannabis cultural institution.
High Finds: Lifestyle Goods I Like
Between Houseplant’s collab with Le Puzz and WEEKENDERS’ limited edition sets of Wolfum backgammon and dominoes, it’s shaping into a game night-themed cannabis gifting season.
I try not to throw the word “luxury” around, but that’s the first word that entered my mind when I saw this stately rolling tool by Veosa. The smooth, solid brass wand has a tapered shape, so it can be used to mold a rolling paper around to create a cone or as a tamper to pack the joint.
A slick new dugout (referring to those handy tools that feature built-in storage for a pipe and a small amount of weed) for yourself or another—in anodized aluminum or wood packages.
This neoclassical smoke piece from @antiquebong is surprisingly still available—I like imagining Homer pausing to rip a bowl from it between Iliad verses.
I hear the sesh sirens calling,
Lauren Yoshiko