New laws, lower taxes, and using “Humboldt” as a marketing term could boost the industry. Making predictions about California’s marijuana industry was a challenge even before a global pandemic changed everything. It’s not just that the legal cannabis market, which launched three years ago in California, is so new. It’s also the singularity of an […]
California
California’s largest-ever fire threatens cannabis farms worth millions. Many won’t evacuate
Nate Trujillo sat on a windy ridge and watched California’s largest wildfire, the August Complex, work its way toward the cannabis-growing enclave of Post Mountain-Trinity Pines, where many of the locals are refusing to evacuate. Law enforcement officers went door to door warning of the danger a few days ago, but “we couldn’t force people […]
California weighs steep new fines to combat illegal cannabis sellers
Alarmed that unlicensed cannabis sellers continue to dominate California’s pot market, state lawmakers are moving toward imposing steep new fines on businesses that provide building space, advertising platforms and other aid to illicit operations. Those who provide assistance to illegal pot sellers would face civil fines of up to $30,000 per day under legislation approved […]
Border Patrol Order Issues Highlight The Ongoing Struggles In California’s Legal Cannabis Market
At Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs, it’s our job to help our clients ensure that their product is in compliance with California State Law, BCC, CDFA, and CDPH regulations through our quality assurance and cannabis testing services. We send laboratory sample technicians out to licensed cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution sites often to collect cannabis samples […]
L.A. Cannabis: Is An Overhaul on the Horizon?
by Hilary Bricken, Co-founder, Harris Bricken The Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) in the City of Los Angeles is making a big push for a comprehensive overhaul of certain parts of the City’s cannabis licensing protocols and its Social Equity Program. Los Angeles has been through the ringer on cannabis legal reform from the inception […]
Marijuana Social Clubs: How Colorado is Setting the Pace
On January 1, 2020, Coloradoans could begin meeting up at marijuana social clubs because the Colorado State Licensing Authority began issuing marijuana hospitality establishment licenses, which allow licensees to permit the consumption of marijuana on their premises. However, hospitality licensees abruptly closed in mid-March because Coronavirus has kept Coloradoans from socializing with each other. After […]
The Journey Toward Cannabis Appellations & Why It’s So Important
First wine, now cannabis. As Richard Mendelson, author of “Appellation Napa Valley” has noted, appellations apply to many things, but wine has been a focus point as it has been long standing in both the old world (Europe) and new (United States) – with lessons that apply to cannabis. Still, appellations may be named based on regional identifiers […]
California Cannabis Breaches, Lawsuits and Shake-Ups, Oh My
By Hilary Bricken, Founder Harris Bricken Even though they’re currently deemed “essential“, California cannabis businesses were already struggling financially before the onset of COVID-19. Increasing competition from unregulated, un-taxed, illegal actors combined with high local and state taxes combined with costly and competitive local barriers to entry were all leading to delayed opening timelines, shorted […]
Distressed Asset Investors (Finally) Descend on California Cannabis
By Hilary Bricken, Co-founder, Harris Bricken In my ten years of advising and guiding cannabis companies from a corporate, transactional, and M&A perspective, and especially since 2012 (when Washington and Colorado legalized), every cannabis market in which I’ve worked has experienced a period of extensive business failures, consolidations, and market stress. And it’s that time […]
The Whole Gamet: The Beat Goes On
Way back in 1967, Sonny and Cher recorded their hit single, “The Beat Goes On.” Of course, this was a few years before I was born, so my information about this song comes strictly from my interest in ancient history. But as you may recall, the song heralded certain things in society that are changing, […]
