🌿 American basketball player arrested in Indonesia, DoorDash dishes on rise of hemp-derived products, and celebrity owned dispensary burglarized in LA

Happy Friday Pre Rollers! Welcome to another edition of The Pre Roll, the cannabis newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the industry happenings you need to know.

Here’s what we’re rolling up this week:

• American basketball player arrested in Indonesia

• DoorDash dishes on rise of hemp-derived products

• Celebrity owned dispensary burglarized in LA

…and more. Let’s get to it.

Was this email forwarded to you?

🚨 ROLL CALL

News

Out of bounds. An American basketball player in Indonesia was arrested earlier this month for allegedly smuggling 132 cannabis candies into the country. Jarred Dwayne Shaw, a native of Dallas, Texas, was detained after police raided his apartment just outside the capital of Jakarta following a tip from customs at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport that Shaw received a suspicious package from Thailand.

Indonesia enforces some of the world's strictest cannabis laws, and the airports police chief said Shaw could face up to life in prison or the death penalty if found guilty.

Shaw, a former college basketball player at Oklahoma State and Utah State, went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft and has been playing internationally since then, including in Indonesia since 2022.

He has since been dismissed from his current team, the Tangerang Hawks, and banned from the Indonesian Basketball League for breaching his contract.

A fellow American hoops star, Brittney Griner made headlines when she was arrested for cannabis possession at an airport in Moscow, Russia in 2022. She was later sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison, but eventually released as part of a controversial prisoner swap after being detained for nearly 10 months.

Business

Buck the trend. In its 2025 report on delivery trends, online food ordering platform DoorDash highlighted the growing interest in hemp-derived THC products.

These findings align with an overall shift towards non-alcoholic beverages. A staggering 80% of alcohol delivery customers said they ordered low- or non-alcoholic drinks in the past six months, a figure that has more than doubled in the last year. Still, 32% feel there aren’t enough non-alcoholic options on menus.

News

Smash and grab. A West Hollywood dispensary owned by comedian Bill Maher and actor Woody Harrelson was robbed last weekend in the early hours of Saturday morning by five burglars.

The thieves broke the front window before entering and stealing cannabis products. They fled the scene in a black sedan.

An investigation is being carried out by the LA County Sheriff's Department and the LAPD.

🇺🇸 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Alabama: Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill imposing new regulations on consumable hemp products.

California: A multi-agency operation seized $123.5 million worth of illicit cannabis, including over 105,000 plants and more than 22,000 pounds of processed cannabis.

Minnesota: A bill has been sent to Governor Tim Walz to decriminalized bong water, ensuring that authorities can no longer charge individuals with major drug crimes based solely on the contents of their water pipes; he’s expected to sign it.

Nebraska: Governor Jim Pillen has directed state agencies to support the Medical Cannabis Commission in implementing voter-approved medical cannabis regulations, despite ongoing legislative and legal challenges.

New York: The Office of Cannabis Management launched an interactive “Buy Legal” map to help consumers find licensed dispensaries.

Oklahoma: A software glitch led to the cancellation of thousands of cannabis business licenses.

💼 BUSINESS

Tilray brings Good Supply brand abroad

The global cannabis consumer packaged goods and lifestyle company launched the leading Canadian cannabis brand in Germany to address the evolving medical cannabis landscape, providing patients with an affordable and reliable brand option for their medical cannabis needs.

TOGETHER WITH CRESCENT CANNA

🥤 HIGHLY SATISFYING THC DRINKS

The THC beverage market is booming, and Crescent Canna is leading the industry with a diverse portfolio of beverages, including THC seltzers, sodas, energy drinks, and still water, that are federally legal and available all across the country.

Providing delightful effects in 15 minutes, Crescent Canna’s THC drinks are perfect for people looking for a fun and social alternative to alcohol.

The company’s best-selling beverage line, Crescent 9 THC Seltzer, won more than 20 awards in 2024 and has received thousands of 5-star reviews from customers nationwide. Available in five highly refreshing flavors and in potencies ranging from 5 mg to 50 mg of THC per can, Crescent 9 delivers an uplifting cannabis experience for both new fans and connoisseurs alike.

Crescent 9 is sold in more than 5,000 locations across the country, as well as online at crescentcanna.com, with an exclusive deal for The Pre Roll readers: Get $15 off your order with code PREROLL15.

🤝 DEALS

MediPharm set for sale of facility to Rubicon Organics

The Ontario-based leader in pharmaceutical-grade cannabis manufacturing cleared all conditions to proceed with the previously announced agreement to sell its 47,500 square foot indoor cultivation facility in Hope, British Columbia to the licensed producer of organic cannabis products.

💻 TECH

Green Check appoints new Chief Growth Officer

The cannabis fintech tapped Todd Lasher to the role; he will oversee sales, marketing, partnerships, and market expansion initiatives as the company enters its next phase of growth.

💨 QUICK HITTERS

• THC beverage startup Float House introduced its first two products: THC IPA and THC Lite, both non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beers.

• California's proposed rule capping THC in pet cannabis products at 1 milligram is facing backlash from veterinarians.

• Texas Democrats sharply criticized a possible impending THC ban in the state.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

• Trump and Biden Backed Easing Marijuana Policy. What Happened? (New York Times)

• A marijuana tax is now funding $750 no-strings-attached monthly payments to families in New Mexico (Business Insider)

• Opinion: Don’t forget about medical cannabis patients (Minnesota Star Tribune)

• Gaming, cannabis industry show interest in collaboration at UNLV panel (Las Vegas Sun)

• Minnesota tribes 'breaking the glass ceiling' of cannabis sales outside reservations (MPR News)

📽️ VIDEO OF THE WEEK

🔎 JOB BOARD

• Head of Implementation

  • Canix

  • $140,000—$150,000

• Grants Manager and Grants Accountant of the Institute of Cannabis Research

  • State of Colorado

  • $55,000—$72,000

• Commercial Loan Officer - Cannabis Lending

  • North Easton Savings Bank

📨 PUFF, PUFF, PASS REEFERAL PROGRAM

📣 PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR BRAND IN THE PRE ROLL

Looking to get your business or brand in front of cannabis enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and executives?

Email us here to learn more!

Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

*Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here.