The Delta 9 Boogie/Boogey
The Delta 9 Boogie/Boogey
Plus: An infused ballet dinner.
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Time to read: About 5 minutes. Contains 1,056 words.
Sticky Bits—formerly The Broccoli Report—is a weekly and bi-monthly newsletter for creative cannabis entrepreneurs. A free roundup of news, noteworthy product drops, and trending topics goes out every Monday (usually), and paid subscribers get a deeper written or audio dive into a current issue, trend, or challenge in the scene every other Friday.
Good morning!
Sorry for the delay this week, folks—I took a few days to be present with old friends on a long-planned trip, then some time to attempt to understand more of the context around the tragic acts of violence unfolding in the Middle East. I can’t be of much use in processing these events, but I can help provide reading material and hopefully helpful food for thought during social media breaks. Thank you for being here with me and halting my doom spiral for a bit as well.
Let’s get caught up on the world of weed. ✤
One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
Although I increasingly find fewer news and employment leads on LinkedIn as much as bizarre overshares, one particular departure announcement caught my eye and hasn’t left my mind in recent weeks. It was this post from Caroline Yeh about her leaving her post as CEO and co-founder at TSUMo Snacks. She doesn’t go into details about her departure (at least the edited current version of the post doesn’t), but she does discuss where she’d like to head next: hemp-derived delta 9. “I have spent the last several months researching and evaluating the D9 hemp market, which is a federally legal market. And I can without a doubt say that this is where the growth is happening,” writes Yeh in her post.
Since our first explainer on Delta-8, I’ve been wary of where the hemp oil-derived THC realm might lead us. Around this time last year, I checked in on that space, speaking with one hemp grower/processor who found the loophole a counterintuitive and confusing way to provide less trustworthy cannabinoids and one edible maker who’d surrendered to the D8 trend to pay the bills, albeit begrudgingly. Then, hemp-derived Delta 9 hit the scene, and it feels as polarizing as ever. Most often created through a chemical conversion in which CBD oil from hemp is dissolved in a solvent, the purity and consistency of product quality are up for debate—Maryland is going back and forth on an all-out ban; Alaska just brought hemp-derived THC products under the regulatory umbrella of adult-use cannabis. I hear from CBD-friendly retailers in states where cannabis isn’t legal that Delta 9 is what their customers want. I’ve also spoken with longtime cannabis growers and processors who consider joining the Delta 9 trend a total and soul-crushing compromise of their principles.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, Reader. Is hemp-derived Delta-9 the future, and is that a good/bad thing? Would you lean in if it meant more desirable profit margins? Comment below and start a discussion, or reply to this email to talk on or off the record.
The Drum covers how bath and body care brand Lush has wound down social media marketing efforts and focused on strategic partnerships—an insightful read for those without the option to lean on social media ads.
To me, this story out of Denver, Colorado is the future of small cannabis businesses: four licenses under one roof, splitting as much overhead as possible.
Alex Halperin, author of WeedWeek, checked in on the state of cannabis at veterinary clinics for Veterinary Information Network News. One significant takeaway: even the most open-minded and informed vets are stuck waiting for the FDA to take an official stance on cannabis before they can comfortably prescribe cannabinoid products.
Multistate cannabis giant Trulieve Cannabis Corp. is seeking a federal tax refund of $143 million, saying it “believes it does not owe” the taxes it paid over three years. Whatever legal magic they’re attempting to pull here—pay close attention. If they win this case, many, MANY other cannabis companies will have legal precedent to get their tax payments refunded as well.
In Detroit, Michigan, this Saturday, October 21, an infused gourmet experience marks the opening night at the Detroit Opera House. The Apotheculture Club, led by local cannabis chef Enid Parham—a.k.a. Lucky Pistil—and James Blaszko, will curate a multicourse dinner at a secret location, followed by luxury transportation to see the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Detroit Opera House.
On Sunday, October 22, in East Los Angeles, Mogu Magu will host a Southeast Asian-themed Rolling Party with LA’s Donut Princess, Mayly Tao. The afternoon sesh will include a bong bar by Minh Le Studio, roll-your-own spring rolls and vermicelli bowls with Khmer dipping sauces, joint rolling lessons with Papers + Ink using flower from Moon Made Farms and CBD flower from Reform Botanicals, and refreshments from Ratida Tea.
On Wednesday, October 25, in New York, cannabis community luminary Solonje Burnett launches her new cannabis tech project, Erven, alongside co-founder and CEO Angela Bacon at Ludlow House on the Lower East Side. The happy hour launch event will include grapefruit paloma mocktails courtesy of oHHo, a product demo of this collaborative growth tool, and panel conversations. They welcome potential beta testers, investors, retail operators in the tri-state area, and any companies focused on inventory management, POS, analytics, commerce, and menu management.
The film Cannabis + Creativity, directed by Elana Frankel and assistant directed and produced by Kassia Graham (director of community and strategy at Cannaclusive), will premiere online at the Catskill International Film Festival on October 22, 2023. The short documentary explores the experiences of several women and nonbinary people in and around cannabis and how their use of the plant informs their creative pursuits. The cast includes scientist Miyabe Shields, PhD, Chef Ali, jazz vocalist Kaya Nicole, musician Treya Lam (they/them), creative director Sam Jones, and poet Jasmine Mans. Reach out to Graham directly to learn more about screenings scheduled around New York and beyond.
No High Finds today — check out last week’s Spooky Season Trend Report for myriad accessories and treats of tools on my mind (and in my shopping cart).
See you next sesh,
Lauren Yoshiko