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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:

• Cannabis added by U.S. Census Bureau

• Twilio ghosts cannabis

• Safe Harbor Financial reaches milestone

…and more. Let’s get to it.

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🚨 Roll Call

Policy

Census counts on cannabis. In a move to more accurately depict the nation’s ever-changing business landscape, the United States Census Bureau updated its 2022 Economic Census to include options relating to cannabis retailers.

The survey looked at primary business activity in order to capture data for the most comprehensive measure of the U.S. economy. The inclusion of cannabis by a federal government agency is a positive step in the right direction for normalizing the industry.

Tech

Twilio ghosts on cannabis. Text messaging platform Twilio, one of the nation’s largest communications providers for retailers, is banning cannabis companies from using its software to reach customers, according to a report from MJBizDaily.

The publicly-traded company says the policy was put in place to comply with federal law, but comes as a clear blow to the industry already lacking support from mainstream technology companies.

Business

SHF banks on cannabis. Safe Harbor Financial, a leader in facilitating financial services and credit facilities to the cannabis industry, reported helping process over $20 billion in cannabis-related funds since its inception in 2015.

This comes as a major milestone for both the company and the industry at-large, as it waits for the SAFE Banking Act to pass. The long-debated bill continues to face bipartisan resistance.

🇺🇸 State of the Industry

New Mexico: Todd Stevens, previously a manager at Native Roots Cannabis Co., one of Colorado’s largest cannabis companies, is taking over as the next director of the Cannabis Control Division.

Ohio: Governor Mike DeWine spoke out in opposition of recreational cannabis, as the issue is set to face voters on the ballot in November.

📊 Business

Canopy Growth to sell Ontario facility back to Hershey

The North American cannabis and consumer packaged goods company has entered into an agreement to sell its Hershey Drive facility in Smith Falls, Ontario back to the chocolate maker for approximately $53 million CAD.

Curaleaf sets its sights on Germany

The international cannabis company expects to start selling recreational cannabis in Germany by the end of next year.

FLUENT moves U.S. HQ, opens new dispensary in Jacksonville

The vertically-integrated, multi-state operator recently moved its corporate headquarters from Miami to the Westshore District of Tampa, with plans to create more than 30 new jobs in administration, finance, human resources, marketing, sales, and operations. FLUENT also debuted a Jacksonville dispensary, its 33rd medical dispensary in Florida and 36th retail location overall.

🤝 Deals

Greenlight continues nationwide expansion through acquisition

The vertically-integrated, multi-state operator is purchasing an operating adult-use dispensary in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a cultivation facility in Buckhannon, West Virginia, bringing its total footprint to 30 retail locations and more than 200,000 sq. ft. of cultivation and manufacturing space across six states.

Tilray takes total stake in Truss

The global cannabis-lifestyle company announced the acquisition of the remaining 57.5% equity of the cannabis beverage company from Molson Coors, giving them full ownership.

💻 Tech

Treez becomes first POS using Metrc Connect

The enterprise commerce platform unveiled a new, direct integration aimed at creating more robust and efficient interactions with the Metrc system, allowing retailers to better manage data validation, prevent errors in sending delivery ledgers, and reduce reporting errors and missing sales data.

💨 Quick Hitters

• Sha’Carri Richardson, who missed the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for cannabis, won gold with a record-breaking performance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

• An unarmed person was shot and killed by police responding to a reported burglary at a cannabis dispensary in Martinez, California.

• A bar specializing in cannabis-infused cocktails opened its doors in James Island, South Carolina.

• A mobile dispensary to sell cannabis on-the-go is in the works by the Red Lake Nation in northwestern Minnesota.

• The possibility of cannabis consumption lounges is under consideration in St. Louis, Missouri.

📚 What We’re Reading

• Dropping prices and heavy tax burden will mean cannabis industry bankruptcies, warns producer (CBC)

• Senior citizens are the fastest-growing cannabis clientele (The Hill)

• It’s Illegal to Sell or Possess Cannabis in Japan—But It’s Legal to Get High On It. Here’s Why (TIME)

• Critics warn ‘Karen initiative’ could wipe out Calif. pot farms (SFGATE)

🔎 Job Board

• Head of Retail

  • NABIS

  • $140,000—$160,000

• PR & External Communications Manager

  • Green Thumb Industries (GTI)

• Retail Cannabis Support Specialist

  • Sweed POS

Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

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