Pre-Debate Sesh With Mennlay & Me!
Pre-Debate Sesh With Mennlay & Me!
Plus: Catching up on news.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Time to read: About 3 minutes. Contains 590 words.
Good morning!
Today marks the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance. Care to watch it together? Or, at the least, get a lil stoned beforehand? Join Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey and me for a Pre-Debate Sesh!
One part Broccoli Talk reunion show themed around the state of cannabis in politics and its role in the 2024 election, one part Sticky Bits X Taste Bud collab addressing shifting cannabis culture across the country, and, if you choose to stay on, a live stream watch party as we watch the debate unfold together. Anyone can join, and all will be able to chime in and ask questions over the group chat.
The sesh begins at 5:15 pm PST / 8:15 pm EST this evening via this Zoom link. Hope to see you there!
One-Hitters: Cannabis News At A Glance
California hemp THC operators remain in limbo. In the week following Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency ban on hemp THC products, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and a handful of businesses, including Cheech and Chong, filed lawsuits against the California Department of Public Health, alleging the ban far exceeds state and federal laws that legalized the production of hemp and govern the rule-making process. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden introduced a Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act to establish a federal regulatory framework for hemp products. Other than that, it’s been business as usual for most. The hemp THC brands I checked in with are (cautiously) continuing to ship to the state. assuming that even if the ban ends up including DTC, enforcing it is a whole other issue.
Newsom also approved the Amsterdam coffeehouse-styled bill. Licensed dispensaries will now be able to sell food and nonalcoholic beverages and host live events on their premises. He’s certainly earning brownie points with state-licensed operators.
You can get a $10 tattoo at Planet 13 dispensary in Las Vegas. Despite my experience getting a talking-to for arriving at a tattoo appointment visibly high as a kite, you can do all of the above at Planet 13. And get married, to boot.
New York state’s successful crackdown leads to empty storefronts and sidewalk deals. Operation Padlock to Protect has resulted in over 5,000 inspections and the closure of 1,100 unlicensed dispensaries. These closures mean many empty storefronts while owners fight the rulings in court, appeal to reopen as new businesses, or decide to surrender their lease to new tenants. In the meantime, some weed transactions are just happening in front of the shops, on the sidewalk (again).
It’s harvest season! I’m really excited about watching the cannabis home grower sector bloom. Great for local gardening stores, great for appreciating the cost and effort of carefully cultivated buds, and good for the soul. Be sure to check out resources from Grow It From Home if you’re going through your first cure (a vital and nuanced step, depending on the humidity in your region).
Connie Chung is proud of her cannabis strain. The creation of a “Connie Chung” strain has been a delightfully regular talking point on the icon’s current book tour.
Spark like it’s 2002. I keep getting advertised this lighter holder with Y2K tribal tattoo vibes. I’m here for the carabiner and bottle opener elements—the Toker Poker has dominated the utilitarian lighter holder space for far too long.
Hope to see you tonight,
Lauren Yoshiko