High Gossip & Climbing Prices
Plus: Oysters en vogue.
The Broccoli Report
Monday, July 17, 2023
Time to read: About 5 minutes. Contains 1,067 words.
Good morning, and happy Barbenheimer week to all who celebrate!
Thank you to everyone who posted something in the latest Lonely Hearts board of cannabis gigs, freelancers, and opportunities—and thank you to all who reached out to a post that resonated with them. The board is still up and connections are still sparking; feel free to continue to share with friends or colleagues that might be interested.
Since the last deep dive into the trend of products that help you feel less high, another brand has come on my radar. This is definitely a thing, and I stand by my assessment that it’s a further indication of a need for a range of doses, doses ranging far lower in cannabinoid content than is being stocked right now. What are your thoughts on these products? I’d love to hear in the comment section below.
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One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
I don’t often click on US Weekly links, but when it comes to headlines involving Questlove, Uno parties, and whether or not Taylor Swift got high at them, I’m all ears. I saw some images of this star-studded game night through Chef Nikki Steward’s Instagram, a chef I’ve written about who hosts infused soirees in addition to high-profile catering gigs like Questlove’s Uno tournament. It turns out her proximity to the weed world got some Swifties theorizing their queen was getting high at this hang. Questlove halted the rumor mill in a poetic IG post:
“I’m the king of @uno
There is none higher
Cole wasn’t there
He got fired
readin ‘lot of gossip
Of what transpired
Was not a “weed party”
They all liars!!!
Speaking of celebrities: I don’t care what this headline about celebrity driving sales says, or that the numbers back up that claim—this article also mentions that celeb brands are often priced lower than the average cannabis product, which likely has a ton to do with how much product gets moved. Not to mention design. If Houseplant products were priced and packaged just as they are, and Seth Rogen had nothing to do with marketing, I’d venture to bet they’d still sell just as well. People want quality cannabis, and the sea of white-labeled celeb brands has so often not equaled top-shelf quality—I think the trust in celeb cannabis brands is broken, and that’s why they have to lower prices to sell anything.
In another disappointing but not unexpected update from the social media realm: it looks like LinkedIn has turned on us, too. I suspected as much as my engagement has seemed to dip over the past several months, but this evidence of CBD-related posts getting fully deleted makes it pretty clear. Zuck—if really you want us to use Threads, let us talk about weed there!
On the bright side, there is another sign that we may be nearing the light at the end of the tunnel that has been the freefall of cannabis prices the last two years. Michigan is the latest state to show a slight upturn in the average price per pound.
NUWU Cannabis, a long-established dispensary operated by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe in Nevada, cuts the ribbon on their newly expanded Sky High Lounge this week—now the largest dispensary and consumption lounge in the world. Two stories; two dab bars; 40,000 square feet; a drive-thru for those who need to jet; and an outdoor courtyard and a rooftop terrace with views of Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Strip for those looking to kick back.
The Army missed its recruiting goal in 2022 by 25% or 15,000 soldiers. One solution on the table? Chill out about weed. A proposed amendment would remove the cannabis testing element from the recruitment process.
I have no idea how to play with Midjourney, but I love seeing other product people in the cannabis space start to mess around with AI and their designs. Seems like a brilliant way to start ideating novel shapes and approaches to accessories.
This Sunday, July 23, 2023, weed moms are taking up space at the California State Fair. As they should! The Cannabis Awards & Exhibit in Sacramento will include a Women Weed and Wellness event featuring speakers like Mskindness B. Ramirez, a live taping of the Moms do Weed podcast hosted by Chiah Rodriques and Patricia Lanier about conscious parenting and ethical consumption practices, and opportunities for women to connect over the challenges, stigmas and benefits of using cannabis for wellness through life’s stages, and as parents or caregivers.
High Finds: Lifestyle Goods I Like
Mesoamerican-inspired cannabis brand Mesobis dropped a line of apparel titled Mystical Madness. Designed in collaboration with Esteban Tamayo from Mexico City, this collection is meant to “encapsulate the brand's history and mission to remix Latin American and cannabis culture.” These Mesobis Guayaberas are modern spins on a classic design and made by hand in Merida, Yucatan.
These realistic smokable porcelain oysters by Ficus Ceramica made me do a double take when I spotted them on Garden Party’s feed. So have all these oyster-inspired manicures of late, come to think of it.
Another piece on my mind this week: Eyce’s new Glacier Spoon Pipe. This simple silicone piece has a waterproof basin through the middle of it that you can fill with water and freeze into a little incorporated ice cube to cool every hit.
If you, too, seek the security of smell-proof satchels that don’t interrupt your ‘fit, the CACHÊ Belt Bag by Littlejohn New York is a chic, effective option to consider. The “5-layer scent-conceal" technology includes a mesh layer, activated carbon lining, protective padding, leather with airtight seams via high-stitch count, and sealed rubber zippers.
Following my nose to the news,
Lauren Yoshiko
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