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The Broccoli Report
Monday, October 4, 2021
Time to read: 5 minutes, 9 seconds. Contains 1030 words
Good morning!
As the seasons shift, IRL cannabis events show no signs of slowing. Xula is popping up across New York this week, the cannabis-centric Grass Lands experience will be back at the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco, plus the double-decker Las Vegas week of MJ BizCon and MJUnpacked is right around the corner. I’ll be in Vegas this year at my first MJBizCon ever! If you’ve got insider advice on what I shouldn’t miss (and where the best afterparties will be), share it in the comments or drop me an email. And if you want to meet, let me know—I’d love to connect.
And even if we can’t meet in person, I’d like to get to know you—all of you out there, reading this—a little bit better. Your concerns, celebrations, and conundrums drive The Broccoli Report (and you’re some of my best sources). We appreciate your voice, and we want to hear more of it. So we’ve drafted a short survey that will help us better understand who you are and how we can support your creative entrepreneurial endeavors. You can complete the survey here.
Last week, I attended LaterCon—a Social Media and Digital Marketing Conference organized by social media management app, Later—and I took very detailed notes for all of you. Times have changed, and the algorithm’s changed. Forget the same ol’ sayings about posting schedules; forget what you think you know about TikTok. The social app game is hitting new levels, and I learned a ton of tips for success across the different platforms. This Friday, I’m recapping everything I learned from some of the internet’s top creators and social strategists, including all the resources shared during the full-day event. You do not want to miss this one.
One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
Christine De La Rosa—CEO and co-founder of The People’s Dispensary and founder of CBxShield—won seed backing from a Silicon Valley investor for her debut $50 million venture capital fund aimed at minority entrepreneurs in legal cannabis. Per MarketWatch, The People’s Group Fund will deploy $250,000 to $1 million-plus per investment to “cannabis businesses owned by women, African-Americans, Indigenous people, and people of color.” You can learn more about the Fund here.
On Friday, Connecticut implemented a wave of new laws for the state’s medical and upcoming adult-use systems. One legalized public consumption anywhere cigarette smoking is permitted (allowing towns to draft their own rules based on local zoning regulations). The new rules also stipulate the designation of cannabis use areas, such as a section of a park, in communities with more than 50,000 residents, and allow medical patients to grow up to six plants at home.
Governor Hochul filled the remaining seats of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management Board: Reuben R. McDaniel, III, President and CEO of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), and Jessica García of the Wholesale Department Store Union (UFCW), a national labor union representing workers along the food supply chain, retail, and healthcare.
The NYT delved into the grey area of cannabis businesses getting a head start on sales via operating on tribal lands.
While I don’t consider any “Cool Grow” round-up complete without the mountain-grown, sun-grown work of Pilot Farm and the hyper-sustainable indoor approach by Pure Beauty, it’s pretty special to see Architectural Digest highlight the artistry involved in thoughtful large-scale cannabis cultivation facilities.
The California State Fair announced the inclusion of cannabis awards alongside the usual roster of agricultural competitions for wine, cheese, olive oil, and craft beer.
All eyes have been on Texas in regards to reproductive justice, but a very significant and potentially landmark case regarding mothers and cannabis is playing out in Arizona. In Phoenix in 2019, Lindsay Ridgell gave birth after a difficult pregnancy with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that causes severe nausea and vomiting. She’d been hospitalized twice for dehydration, requiring IV fluids. Before Ridgell left the hospital with her son, Silas, a social worker informed her that she would be reporting Ridgell to the Department of Child Safety for child neglect due to consuming medical cannabis while pregnant to treat debilitating nausea. DCS then told Ridgell that it was placing her on Arizona’s child abuse Central Registry for the next 25 years. With cannabis now legalized in Arizona, Ridgell and her attorney are in talks with the state’s Court of Appeals in an attempt to appeal the decision.
Issues within California’s competitive production market have been widely discussed. This situation—an oversaturated market that drops the price too low for small craft farms to survive—is a preview of what’s to come in every state. Although it’s up to consumers to intentionally shop for craft flower and products made with craft flower, Rose just demonstrated how white-labeled partnerships can contribute to this effort with their thoughtful flower debut. Their flower will be sourced from the multigenerational craft farms they’ve long worked with for their rosin edibles, hoping to support these independent farmers with their business and their platform.
Jay-Z’s cannabis brand Monogram was named a finalist in the packaging category in Fast Company’s 2021 Innovation by Design Awards.
A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the growing interest in growing at home, especially in states like New York where adult-use sales have yet to begin. Another solution? Road trip to Massachusetts! CBD e-retailer Poplar offers a full day, $300 Dispensary Field Trip. It includes round trip “luxury transportation” to two Massachusetts dispensaries from Manhattan or Long Island pick-up spots, snacks and lunch, a goodie bag of product and accessories, and perks like a manicure and shoulder massage.
Did you know DJ Khaled launched a CBD skincare brand named BLESSWELL? I honestly didn’t believe it was his when I received the sample package of subdued, basic-salon-vibes green bottles and tubes. Then I received the press details for a Chicago-based GROOMED x BLESSWELL self-care extravaganza, including cuts, shaves, facials, and a bar stocked with Jim Beam and Hornitos Tequila. It’s DJ Khaled’s brand, alright.
Added to my holiday wishlist: One of these “boomerang ashtrays” from weed-friendly ceramic brand, Wandering Bud.
Your reporting bud,
Lauren Yoshiko