WeedWeek

Discover fast growing cannabis drinks brands at the 2nd Annual Cannabis Drinks Expo on November 11 in San Francisco and on November 15 in Chicago. Cannabis Drinks Expo, a super hit b2b trade show returns in November, providing the cannabis and drinks industry a unique platform to do business, learn about the category and source amazing brands.

It’s been quite a year for Colorado-based retailer Green Dragon. After achieving 39% growth in 2020, it announced an expansion into Florida. Then in August, delivery giant Eaze, said it would acquire Green Dragon for undisclosed terms. The combined company will have a presence in the country’s four largest markets: California, Colorado, Michigan and Florida.. WeedWeek caught up with Green Dragon co-founder and Chief Development Officer Alex Levine at MJBizCon. Here are a few of his insights.

People magazine recently profiled Colorado mom Laura Stack whose 19-year old son Johnny died by suicide in November 2019, after five years of using concentrates. Following his death, Stack formed a group called Johnny’s Ambassadors to fight youth cannabis abuse. It then partnered with Blue Rising Together, a Colorado group opposed to high THC products and gun violence. Their activism led to Colorado’s new law limiting concentrate sales to 18-20 year olds.

Marijuana wasn’t part of my life seven years ago when Fast Company magazine sent me to MJBiz Con. The story of this outlaw industry going corporate so enthralled me that I moved to Denver and started writing this newsletter. So, even beyond the isolation imposed by the pandemic, I was in a reflective mood before this year’s revelries. In 2014, MJBizCon attracted about 3,500 people and took place at the neglected, off-Strip Rio hotel. Just like everyone predicted, there’s been extraordinary growth.

Marijuana wasn’t part of my life seven years ago when Fast Company magazine sent me to MJBiz Con. The story of this outlaw industry going corporate so enthralled me that I moved to Denver and started writing this newsletter. So, even beyond the isolation imposed by the pandemic, I was in a reflective mood before this year’s revelries. In 2014, MJBizCon attracted about 3,500 people and took place at the neglected, off-Strip Rio hotel. Just like everyone predicted, there’s been extraordinary growth.

Following its $2.1B acquisition of Harvest, Florida-based Trulieve is the world's largest and most profitable PotCo. Green Market Report executive editor Debra Borchardt interviewed CEO Kim Rivers at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference. Rivers has said the Florida-based company is pursuing a regional hub strategy centered on Pennsylvania and Arizona, where Harvest was the market leader.

Following its $2.1B acquisition of Harvest, Florida-based Trulieve is the world’s largest and most profitable PotCo. Green Market Report executive editor Debra Borchardt interviewed CEO Kim Rivers at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference. Rivers has said the Florida-based company is pursuing a regional hub strategy centered on Pennsylvania and Arizona, where Harvest was the market leader.

THE BIG IDEA Hi all, Lots of juicy stories today. Let’s dive in: Trulieve now the world’s biggest PotCo MedMen founders sue new partners Ceres/Parallel SPAC deal crumbles Tell me what you’re thinking at alex@weedweek.net, Alex * Check out the new WeedWeek Jobs Board which offers FREE resources, including a resume evaluation, for active and passive job seekers and an attractive value prop for employers. Reach the most influential audience in cannabis by advertising in the self-serve WeedWeek store.

Business By Alex Halperin Sep 30, 2021 They're high AF A column in The Wall Street Journal explores the new rules of cannabis at work. While questions like ‘Is it ever OK to get stoned with a colleague?’ are moot for many WeedWeek readers, choice nugs abound. The Man is a bit groovier than he used to be. A few takeaways from behind the paywall: Companies seem more willing to acknowledge the likelihood that an applicant has tried cannabis in the past, even been an enthusiast.

Happy Friday all! It doesn’t happen often in the cannabiz, but this was a slow news week. It must have something to do with the end of summer, and those upcoming conferences. Hope to see you at a few of them. In the news: Judge clears Bloom Farms in investor suit FDA warns on Delta-8 THC Happy reading, Alex * Check out the new WeedWeek Jobs Board which offers FREE resources, including a resume evaluation, for active and passive job seekers and an attractive value prop for employers.