The Broccoli Report is now STICKY BITS!

New name, same news.

Good Morning!

The Broccoli Report’s 3rd anniversary is on the horizon, and I have big news: this newsletter is entering into a new era under a new name:

Introducing: Sticky Bits by Lauren Yoshiko!

Inspired by the glittery, fragrant crumbles that coat fingertips when handling quality buds, as well as the way the word "sticky” describes good, memorable information and ideas in the creative realm, Sticky Bits represents a curation of the most noteworthy, insightful, and inspiring things happening in the cannabis space. 

Despite the new name, my mission hasn’t changed: deliver honest cannabis business news and trend analysis with the goal of supporting as diverse and ethical a cannabis industry as possible. The need for trustworthy news reporting and an industry where small cannabis businesses can thrive is more urgent than ever, and I’m proud to provide a service aimed at supporting both.

So, why the change? 

This “conscious uncoupling” happens to fit best with our individual goals and trajectories. For Broccoli, there’s an increased focus on print-based projects as the company evolves into a publishing house. For me, as a freelancer, I need maximum flexibility and autonomy to experiment in this space while also being able to take on other projects (like my upcoming book!) and adjust the newsletter’s cadence as needed. Regardless, I’m still a freelance contributor to Broccoli magazine, and news from their weedy corner will still show up in this newsletter.

Different Strain; Same High (Standards)

I know change can be a lil’ freaky, but rest assured: maintaining the quality of this newsletter is my utmost priority. The reins were essentially handed over to me months ago, and we waited to announce until I had all my ducks and new designs in a row. 

The overall tone and structure will be the same, as will the approach to themes and interviews with people across the industry and world. The free roundup of news hits and interesting products will continue to arrive in your inboxes every Monday. Paid subscribers will keep receiving a monthly Friday dive analyzing a particular trend or challenge in the space and a podcast drop featuring an unedited, bullshit-free interview with experienced industry insiders. Lonely Hearts will remain an ongoing feature. 

Some months, paid subscribers will receive more bonus content, i.e. live ask-me-anythings with industry experts; AMAs with yours truly, and additional newsletters. Going on my own will allow me to move more nimbly and add content to the schedule when weed lightning strikes.

Cheers to This Chapter

I want to take a moment to sincerely thank Stephanie Madewell, Broccoli’s editor, and the curious, creative brain that whipped this Report into shape over the past three years. Thank you so much, Stephanie, for your invaluable help crystallizing the voice and purpose of this news source.

I also want to thank Broccoli founder Anja Charbonneau, who trusted me to take on this project and who empowered me to make it my own; designer Jennifer James Wright for the original look of the Broccoli Report—still the only cannabis news operation with SUCH a vibe—and Alice Du for working with me to build off of the Report’s visuals for a fantastic new identity for Sticky Bits. And thank you to the paid subscribers who have made it possible for this newsletter to exist and evolve.

What’s Next

You don’t have to do anything during this transition. Just buckle up for the good Bits to come—starting with this Friday’s podcast drop: a long-awaited catch-up with my friend and Broccoli Talk co-host, Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey. We chat about the state of the industry, whether the CBD realm is going to be ok, and inevitably wander into more conceptual, spiritual, and ancestral tangents. 

Sign up as a paid sub to catch every bit of potent bonus content like this.

---

One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance

• Back in 2017, news of a big Canadian cannabis company buying a massive production facility from Hershey’s Chocolate felt like a telling indicator of the impending cannabis boom. Today, news of Canopy Growth selling the facility back to Hershey’s feels like a somber indicator of the opposite. Our industry’s challenging inflection point drags on.
  
  

• Michigan, however, offers a ray of light in the flow of troubling headlines: the state broke its monthly sales record in July with more than $276 million in adult use and medical sales combined. At this rate, Michigan is projected to rank second only to California this year in total sales.
  
  

• Germany’s bold move to legalize cannabis progressed this past week, with the cabinet passing a bill that would allow adults to possess up to 25 grams, grow up to three plants, or acquire product from non-profit cannabis clubs. The legislation still has to pass in parliament, but this is one step closer to a sea change for Western Europe.
  
  

• You might remember GreenOut from a recent dive about products made to help you feel less high—I love this new content series featuring founder Megon Dee interviewing folks about their too-high experiences. Great, shareable content that helps people understand how and when this product can come in handy.
  
  

• New research suggests that cannabis consumers are half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Based on an analysis of 11 relevant surveys and four cohort studies, the researchers found that the incidence of type 2 diabetes among people who consume marijuana was 0.48 times lower than in those without cannabis exposure. More research is needed to understand this correlation fully, but the fact that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating insulin secretion is an interesting factor.
  
  

• A couple of events giving me FOMO on each coast: On August 30 in New York, Weed Auntie Solonje Burnett is hosting an art-filled Summer in the City event on the rooftop of the Moxy Hotel in Williamsburg, celebrating the launch of oHHo’s new Shirley Temple gummies (yum!) + Pink Grapefruit mixer.
  
  

• On August 31, Los Angelenos will head to Camp Kiva, an immersive evening hosted by Hazy and designed to feel like “your ideal canna-camping trip.” Attendees will be able to sample Kiva’s new Camino Fruit Chews among goodies from other beloved California brands.
  
  

High Finds: Lifestyle Goods I Like

• Dangle Supply collaborated with New York design studio Other Means on STAY LOST, a limited edition accessories collection including a lifeguard orange-colored DangleBong, a bright safety green tee, and their lightest lightweight Fish Whistle Titanium Pipe yet. The bright colors help you locate your goods outdoors, and the floatie keychain keeps your pipe within arm’s reach when it falls out of the raft.
  
  

• The hippies were right! This new hemp-organic cotton tee by Summerland says so. Adorned in art by Josh Freydkis, the back features a list of counterculture tenants and slogans that reads like a utopian fever dream.
  
  

• Last chance to restock on Hempz yuzu-chamomile-hemp lip balm. This one contains SPF 15 and doesn’t have the toxic taste that comes with so many conventional SPF chapsticks.
  
  

• Beyond entering a new era for this newsletter, there is a hint of change in the air as evenings begin to cool a little faster. If you’re growing tired of the candles you’ve used to camouflage seshes all summer, I recommend the subtle, clean, cedar-based scents of OLO’s incense sticks for a palate cleanser between seasons.
  
  

Your most dedicated cannabis culture curator, under any news head,
Lauren Yoshiko