SMOKE SIGNALS: 10.18.22
We are pumping a steady stream of Vitamin C and THUNDER to maintain max health so robots can continue to mingle during this ever so enlightening trade show and event season.
Despite AR hell world, LA feels a bit optimistic? Events at Green Street/High Rise, Puff Con, Infused, Hazy, Secret Sesh were super fun, and even NYC’s Astor Club made an appearance. The vibe is good, creativity is flowing and feels like something new is emerging. 🙏🏼
BRANDS
Respect My Region x The Cure Company LAUNCHES a flower collab. 🐻
Clayborne LAUNCHES Diamond Infused Flyers. 🏁
Khalifa Kush LAUNCHES in Florida and is available at Trulieve locations. 🐊
Jeeter DROPS 7-gram Dynasty joint with select California retailers with all proceeds going to the Social Change Fund created by Chris Paul, Dwayne Wayde, and Carmelo Anthony. 🏀
Kieve Huffman’ s Heavy Grass makes an appearance at Aftershock Sacramento. From our POV, Heavy Grass is well positioned for forthcoming “rock” resurgence. Yeah we said it. The 90’s mainstreaming is on and for better or worse, the early 00’s is up next. We see young hip-hop and streetwear progressively getting harder, darker, from back-up bands to mosh-pits, Alien Labs to Broken Promises, we are interested to see how hip-hop and rock scenes converge and how cannabis fits. Let’s not forget that we used to be music robots (shout out Hits Magazine and RIP Music for Robots) and we have “scene” the cycles (see what we did there). It’s been decades but some version of the Lincoln Park, Limp Bizkit, Disturbed, Papa Roach and Mudvayne era is coming back. We lean towards NIN, Tool and System of the Down and we are hoping we see something more in line with Nirvana or Sound Garden, or even Jimmy Eat World to Fall Out Boy? All in we are open, and excited to see this progress. 🤘🏼
DISTRIBUTION
Bloom CEO Vitaly Mekk COMMENTS that 870 out of 1000 retailers are currently restricted by their “California distributor” with roughly 70% of retailers behind on net terms. We asked a friend who works at the largest “natural foods” distributor in the country what their AR looks like and that number was sub 1%. WTF! 😡
On that note. NABIS co-CEO Vince Ning, ADDRESSED the new NABIS policy requiring excise tax payment at time of delivery. Not an easy short term move but a long term move that makes sense for the supply chain. Props to Vince for taking it head on and showing leadership in an insanely tough position. ✊🏼
Humble & Fume ANNOUNCES 2022 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results. “We are focused on growth and expansion throughout North America. We continue to optimize our cost base while increasing our revenue and improving gross margins.” - Joel Toguri. 📈
Charlotte's Web SIGNS distribution deal with liquor giant Southern Glazer’s and becomes the first CBD SPONSOR of the MLB. ⚾
Wow. Southern Glazers making moves, Leaflink coming in, and Humble & Fume warming up. 2023 is going to get super interesting. 🔥
RETAIL
MedMen gets six figures behind on rent and suggests that the back rent is not enforceable via federal court as cannabis being illegal under federal law. Awesome, let’s make finding a lease even harder. The legacy douche baggery continues.👎🏼
TECH
Leafly PARTNERS with UBER Eats in Toronto. 🚕
Wyld PARTNERS with Jane Technologies. ✨
Blaze x Leafly PARTNER to allow Blaze retailers to accept online orders from Leafly. 💰
EVENTS
Dirtybird Campout allowing cannabis SALES. 🐦
Paradise Club x Donuts and Pizza was so packed that we did not get any donuts or pizza. Another super fun event at Green Street, def earning its rep at the cannabis epicenter of LA cannabis. Don’t miss MAGIC HOUR on October 27th. 🪄
OG SECRET SESH went off. 🤐
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: 🎃
High Rise x Green Street on 10/29 👻
Infused After Hours on 10/29 ⚰️
Hazy — TBA.🦇
READ + WATCH + LISTEN
The latest FSOTD, with OG Anna from CAM was super dope. 🐐
Jon Cappeta drops two dope articles to keep robots in check. HATING best practices, when it is socially and culturally appropriate to hate, and when you are just being a hater, as well as a connoisseur's PERSPECTIVE on HOF and PuffCon. 🔑
David Beleky’s Flower Hire POSTS a new interview with State House Holdings CEO Ed Schmults. 🧰
Adweek gives cannabis a NOD. 👏🏼
Respect Steve DeAngelo but you played a key role in creating this corporate shit show and now you want to WALK IT BACK? I dunno. 🤯
PS - Shout out to everyone writing to us and saying what’s up. It’s super interesting to see which founders and CEO’s are super cool about us messing with them while others seem a bit in their feels. At the end of the day we are just trying to have some fun and help robots stay in tune with our ever-evolving industry.
We are working on getting the podcast dialed and plan to use a variety of friends to host the format. We are all robots and anybody is welcome to contribute who can make us laugh, has something insightful to say or if you just need to vent.
On that note we will not post anything that is told to us in confidence, off the record or we learn through our friends, employers, and/or consulting. All in, the story needs to be “in the press” or reputedly “on the street.” Trust us, we practice major discretion.
Don’t talk about fight club.✌🏼