Holiday Weekend Reads & Listens
Plus: An unlocked chat on email marketing.
The Broccoli Report
Friday, May 26, 2023
Time to read: About 4 minutes. Contains 781 words.
Good morning,
Yes, I'm back already. You're getting a few One Hitters and a lil Friday content today because the Report will be offline next week. It's time for yours truly to get some real, actually unplugged downtime (which I hope all of you can do as well).
This dispatch includes some news, a few recommended podcasts, some inspirational product drops, and one unlocked paid post I think everyone will find helpful moving into a busy June: How To Get More Subscribers.
Every entrepreneur has a Substack these days; every brand has an email marketing presence. However, despite the volume hitting our inboxes daily and the potential for email fatigue looming in the not-so-distant future, email marketing remains a solid bet. For brands in and around cannabis struggling to stay active on hostile social media platforms, it makes sense this remains an avenue worth investing in. At least, that's what I've observed lately. Since wrapping up my book manuscript and putting feelers out for new gigs, email copy is the #1 thing brands nationwide are reaching out for.
While this past post originally ran in November of last year, most of it still rings very true. It’s unlocked for all to access. For updated takes on the advice and breakdowns mentioned, you can listen to the podcast version of this newsletter in your inbox. (Yes, the one for paid subscribers only—a girl's got to eat.)
One Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
A great listen for any long-distance travel this weekend: The most recent episode of Vox's Unexplainable podcast. Part of a broader series examining multiple mysterious facets of pregnancy, this episode tackles cannabis use during pregnancy in a responsible, open-minded, and honest manner, including doctors' acknowledgment of the hypocrisy of states where cannabis is legal, yet mothers who admit consuming it during pregnancy are put on child abuse registries (unlike mothers who drink alcohol or cigarettes while pregnant); the lack of randomized controlled trials proving the effects on a fetus, and the negative health impacts of the ongoing stigma and lack of information. They even reached out to Shonitria Anthony of the Blunt Blowin' Mama podcast. You can listen to my conversation with Anthony in this past episode of Broccoli Talk.
I would love to learn which investors gave two random dudes with fake names over $60 million for what turned out to be an utterly nonexistent cannabis business. I know some real weed companies doing real business that could do a whole lot with just a fraction of those funds.
Los Angeles Pride is about to kick off, and the queer cannabis community is gearing up for one for the books. Stone Road just announced a limited edition lineup including "Bi-Now-Gay-Later" and "Iced Vanilla Twink Latte" pre-roll packs, and The Artist Tree consumption lounge will throw a big party on June 7 with Jaida Essence Hall, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, and Jorgeous, the queen who delivered the best weed-centric look on the show yet, IMO.
If you're coming in from out of town, remember that The Hoxton in West Hollywood has a cool partnership with Green Qween dispensary across the street on a customizable turndown service that will deliver "Night Out" or "Night In" ingredients straight to your room.
Mixed reviews be damned—I'm excited to watch the live-action Little Mermaid. I've shared plenty of skepticism around these CGI-filled remakes, but there's something about the sparkly momentum around this one. This Ursula-inspired double joint holder by Elevate Jane may have something to do with it.
They say it doesn't feel like work when you do what you love. I think that's where cannabis caterer Liv Vasquez's head was when she announced a Las Vegas presence during BravoCon in November. The chef has increasingly shared her commentary and theories on reality TV happenings, and I applaud this savvy combination of personal interests and niche demographic targeting.
Remember what I said about toothless grinders trending in the last Report? Wandering Bud makes a ceramic version, and seeing its multipurpose possibilities make these new designs even more intriguing.
Let me start by saying: I do not condone smoking and driving. However, I do condone using a car as a safe space to roll one up when the wind picks up, and this rolling tray that fits securely between one's lap and the steering wheel is pure brilliance.
I'll be dressed up somewhere in Northern California for a college friend's wedding this weekend, but if any of you will be standing at a grill at some point, please make this delicious-looking charred cabbage on my behalf.
Cheers; kanpai; salud 💨 to the long weekend,
Lauren Yoshiko