Happy Friday everyone.
You won’t want to miss today’s This Week in Cannabis LIVE. Jeremy will share more about the wild ride he’s been on with Chase. It’s a familiar story to many entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry — and another story of how ridiculous we’re all treated while Congress dithers.
Find it on LinkedIn and YouTube at Noon Eastern/9 AM Pacific.
-JB, JR
Today’s newsletter is 420 words (seriously) or about a 3.5-minute read.
📣 Quotable
“Who is holding up President Trump's order to reschedule marijuana?” Roger Stone, a political consultant and far-right celebrity of sorts who was instrumental in helping Trump first get elected in 2016 and has since been an advocate for cannabis reform.
⏩ Quick hits
Massachusetts lawmakers unanimously passed a sweeping cannabis reform bill that doubles the personal possession limit from one to two ounces, shrinks the Cannabis Control Commission from five members to three, and raises the license cap per entity from three to six. It now heads to Gov. Maura Healey. Read more.
Rural San Diego County residents are pushing back on a new county cannabis equity program that would allow outdoor cultivation and commercial operations across 28 unincorporated communities, warning of odor, traffic, and infrastructure impacts, reports The Coast News. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 in January for the least restrictive version of the plan, with a Planning Commission review set for April 10 and a final vote expected in June.
Massachusetts' cannabis reform bill, which passed the House 155-0, would require the Cannabis Control Commission to create an anonymous tip portal for workers to report safety violations at licensed cannabis businesses, reports Axios. The Senate is expected to pass it Thursday before it heads to Gov. Maura Healey
🤝 Deals, launches, partnerships
Vireo Growth acquired The Hawthorne Gardening Company from Scotts Miracle-Gro, picking up roughly $110 million in combined cash and net working capital as $SMG ( ▼ 0.53% ) exits the cannabis ancillary space. Scotts EVP Chris Hagedorn has been nominated to Vireo's board. $VREOF ( ▼ 1.28% )
Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management awarded four organizations funding through its CanGrow grant program, which helps farmers enter or expand into cannabis cultivation. The office is also accepting applications for the next round, with a June 1 deadline. Read more.
📰 What we’re reading
A decade after legalization, pot regulations need reform | The Boston Globe