🌿 Attorneys general call for clarification on hemp, Vireo and Verano resolve lengthy litigation, and Jushi sues DoorDash and Total Wine & More

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:

• Attorneys general call for clarification on hemp

• Vireo and Verano resolve lengthy litigation

• Jushi sues DoorDash and Total Wine & More

…and more. Let’s get to it.

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🚨 ROLL CALL

Policy

Hung up on hemp. A bipartisan coalition of 39 state and territorial attorneys general, under the umbrella of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), has urged Congress to immediately clarify the federal definition of “hemp” in the wake of the 2018  Farm Bill. The group warned that its ambiguous language has enabled a flood of unregulated, intoxicating hemp‑derived THC products to enter the market without consistent age restrictions, labeling standards, or safety requirements.

The letter was co-sponsored by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Attorneys general from the following states and territories joined: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming.

Business

Litigation lifted. Multi‑state operators Vireo Growth (formerly Goodness Growth) and Verano have resolved their long‑running litigation stemming from a failed acquisition.

After Minneapolis-based Goodness Growth filed an application last year seeking over $860 million in damages for an alleged wrongful termination of an acquisition agreement, Chicago-based Verano responded by rejecting the damages claim and seeking a full trial to determine the outcome.

The original deal, valued at nearly $413 million in all stock, was made public in February 2022. Verano revealed its intentions to terminate the arranged agreement in October of the same year.

Business

Cannabis conflict in court. In a recent legal move, a subsidiary of Jushi has filed a lawsuit in Virginia against DoorDash, Total Wine & More, and a group of beverage producers and retailers, alleging they coordinated undermine the regulated medical cannabis market by selling hemp‑derived products that exceed Virginia’s legal THC thresholds.

The complaint argues these unlicensed intoxicating products gave defendants an unfair advantage, harmed licensed cannabis operators, and seeks multi‑million‑dollar damages and injunctive relief.

🇺🇸 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Kansas: Over 70% of adults favor medical cannabis legalization and nearly 65% support its recreational use, according to a new survey.

Minnesota: Adult-use cannabis licenses are being resold on a secondary market at prices far above their original cost.

New Hampshire: The House Commerce Committee approved a new bill proposing adult-use cannabis legalization.

💼 BUSINESS

Cycling Frog goes on GoPuff

The cannabis beverage brand is now offering its THC‑infused seltzers via the delivery service in Tennessee, Wisconsin and Florida.

Cookies comes to Brazil

The cannabis lifestyle company launched through a partnership with CR Wellness in South America’s largest country, introducing premium cannabis and CBD wellness products.

🤝 DEALS

Highway Cannabis picks up Pleasantrees

The California cannabis retailer has acquired the Michigan‑based vertically integrated cannabis operator, thereby expanding its retail footprint from three to eight stores.

💻 TECH

CanPay gets into gift cards

The cannabis fintech introduced a free merchant gift card program, enabling all retailers to offer branded gift cards at no cost to the merchant.

Shield Compliance completes sales data integration

The compliance platform for cannabis banking enhanced its offering by expanding direct integration with BT Government’s seed-to-sale traceability system.

💨 QUICK HITTERS

• The Boston Beer Company has introduced its first THC-infused gummies under the Emerald Hour brand in Canada.

• The largest craft brewery in Ohio, Rhinegeist, is launching a hemp-derived THC beverage line.

• CULTA, a leading Maryland-based cannabis company, has appointed industry veteran Joseph Andreae as its new CEO.

• An NYC-based dispensary in Manhattan opened with design inspired by Grand Central Terminal.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

• Weed Drinks Can’t Decide If They Belong at Parties or Pilates Class (Bon Appétit)

• Opinion: Utah’s medical cannabis program is at risk. Lawmakers can fix it (Deseret News)

• ‘A Direct and Predictable Consequence of Failed State-Level Cannabis Policies’ (Connecticut Examiner)

🎙️ POTCASTS

• Introducing Singular: How Active's Modular Vape Platform Changes Everything ft. Alex Kwon (The Dime)

🔎 JOB BOARD

• VP, Beverage Marketing

  • Green Thumb Industries

  • $200,000—$230,000

• Director of Cannabis

  • Snoozy

  • $90,000—$160,000

• Director of Key Accounts

  • Sticky Greens Cannabis

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Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

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