As I noted in my latest podcast episode marking 4/20/2020, there is a serious problem in today’s cannabis industry that doesn’t tend to make headlines: in short, that cannabis writers keep getting ‘stiffed’ by well-known clients who publish their work.

In recent months and years, numerous cannabis media outlets have made a habit of not paying their writers, editors, and other journalists either in full or on time — often forcing writers to send repeated requests for payment, to borrow money rather than miss rent, or to finally give up on what they’re owed.

Dozens of cannabis journalists I’ve spoken to in the past year say they’ve frequently faced late or missing payments, unanswered emails, and all manner of ‘getting the run-around’ from a growing list of cannabis publications or communications employers, from print outlets to online platforms. In the context of prior industry layoffs as well as COVID-19 realities, these complaints have only grown more common, and more dire.

The list of companies facing nonpayment allegations is still developing (and will be updated as needed on an ongoing basis), but well-known outlets that were mentioned in multiple workers’ accounts include High Times, Leafly, and Civilized, all of which have undergone major leadership and/or ownership changes in recent months (disclosure: I published several freelance pieces with Leafly in the past two years). [Read More @ Forbes]