The Broccoli Report
Monday, July 11, 2022
Time to read: 4 minutes, 55 seconds. Contains 984 words.
Good morning!
I hope everyone is hanging in there—both in regards to current events and any THC hangovers from yesterday’s Dab Day celebrations.
Amidst my own tumult of ongoing existential dread, I’ve been finding some non-bong-related solace in attempting to make elotes at home, getting into P-Valley—a “neon noir” TV series set in a Mississippi strip club brimming with riveting femme characters—and stumbling across this brilliant piece of wedding-themed cannabis content while researching last week’s trend report on cannabis influencers. As much as I love reading industry commentary and insights in the comments, I also always welcome tips re: shows to watch or folks to follow, so don’t be shy if you have a recommendation!
Before we get caught up on cannabis news, an announcement: the next installment of our popular Lonely Hearts Entrepreneurial Board is coming this month! I’ve heard from so many cannabis and cannabis-adjacent brands, freelancers, and enthusiasts who’ve made connections through the first couple of Boards—as well as a few who regretted not posting. So if you’ve been daydreaming about hiring that special someone, finding a new partner, or embarking on a meant-to-be collaboration, this is your chance. Send over a description of your business needs, wants, and/or wishes to yoshikolauren@gmail.com by July 26th. Then, watch this space—I’m looking forward to seeing sparks fly.
This Friday, paid subscribers will join me for a trip to the Southwest for an update on the Arizona cannabis scene. I connected with Cloth + Flame, an evolving project creating magical cannabis dinners in Sedona, Los Angeles, and beyond about power players in AZ’s cannabis community, overlooked opportunities, and local trends shaping the state’s cannabis scene. Anyone working in cannabis hospitality or event programming or anyone curious to hear a more nuanced local take on Arizona’s cannabis culture won’t want to miss this one.
One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
Licensed THC-selling businesses confined by state lines have long envied the interstate postal liberties afforded to hemp-derived products. But now, states are cracking down on “synthetic cannabinoids” like Delta 8, THC-O, and CBN derived from hemp oil, and hemp brands have to adapt to new limitations on their businesses. Oregon just banned the majority of these hemp oil-derived cannabinoids from the open market, mandating that these products only be sold at licensed dispensaries, while Virginia is angling to ban products containing hemp-derived THC. Whew—remember when CBD was the most confusing part of cannabis?
At the other end of the legal spectrum, Minnesota just legalized edibles that contain a maximum of 5mg of hemp-derived THC—apparently by accident, lol. Now local jurisdictions are scrambling to put regulations in place. Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Ryan Faircloth is reporting and tweeting the many developments in this wild journey.
In breaking news: Early last week, NYT’s The Daily podcast reviewed the circumstances around Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia for possession of cannabis oil, explaining that Russia may be angling to negotiate the release of a notorious arms dealer in exchange for Griner’s return. Then last Thursday, we got a glimpse of the athlete when she appeared in court and pled guilty—a decision Griner made, likely with Russia's 99% conviction rate in mind. She faces up to 10 years in a penal colony under the charge, but since the U.S. State Department classifies her as wrongfully detained, the conviction shouldn't impact its efforts to get her home.
Pondering cannabis patents? Our intellectual property roundtable barely scratched the surface of the tricky legal issues that arise whenever a brand starts getting creative in a novel market. For a deeper dive, I recommend checking out this recent blog post on cannabis patent law. Attorneys from the Harris Bricken law firm share detailed answers to questions submitted by attendees to a June webinar on protecting cannabis intellectual property, covering topics like who owns patentable IP jointly developed by multiple parties and whether the Plant Variety Protection Act is a wise approach.
“CANNABIS! A Viper Vaudeville” is running this month at La MaMa, NYC’s legendary experimental theater venue. Inspired by Martin Lee's “Smoke Signals,” the “theatrical concert exploring the history of cannabis using music, dance, and spoken word” documents the story of cannabis from the roots of prohibition through the cultural and activist movements that brought the plant back into the light.
Cannabis creative agency Hazy opened their new Los Angeles studio space with a splash. If you are looking for an L.A. venue, the event-ready portion of the 8,000 square-foot space is available to rent out—email high@hazy.la to start the conversation.
I’m mentally dressing up in these colorful (and spendy) cannabis leaf pendants made in collaboration between Edie Parker and jewelry designer Brent Neale. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the $8,250.00 pendants will go to the Women's Prison Association.
If you’re a California operator looking to understand the cannabis business implications of Assembly Bill 195, the good folks at Precision Advocacy recorded a concise video summary talking through the details. Advocate Amy O'Gorman Jenkins breaks down the last-minute compromise that allowed the bill to pass and when you can begin updating how tax revenue is allocated. She also details the ongoing work needed to mitigate undue tax burden on licensees because the bill’s elimination of the cultivation tax won’t have as great an impact as Governor Newsom hopes. Jenkins co-authored a recent study published with the Reason Foundation, diving deep into the challenges presented by the state’s thriving unlicensed market.
I cannot confirm that the cannabis-shaped sparkles in this Blazin Beauty Luxe lip gloss actually make it onto your lips. Still, it is such a visually pleasing addition to a post-sesh kit; does it even matter if they do?
In other news of the cute: Sanrio-esque accessory brand lilxbun just dropped a fresh, super kawaii round of Totoro-like grinders, weedy keychains, and adorable rolling trays.
To cute, sparkly, well-used ashtrays,
Lauren Yoshiko