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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:

• New legislation promotes academic research of the effects and potential uses of cannabis

• Green Check Verified acquires Komplyd

• RAW rolling papers wins copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit

…and more. Let’s get to it.

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🚨 Roll Call

Policy

Funding for cannabis research. A new congressional bill aiming to eliminate obstacles for academic research of cannabis, protect universities and researchers who study it, and promote the responsible study of marijuana, was introduced this week by Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO).

The bill would allocate $150 million in federal funding for university-sponsored medical cannabis research.

Tech

Green Check Verified + Komplyd. Cannabis FinTech Green Check Verified announced this week that it has acquired compliance-as-a-service platform Komplyd. The acquisition will enable Green Check Verified to further integrate with seed-to-sale technologies and more seamlessly connect the supply chain of the plant to the supply chain of commerce. This comes on the heels of the company’s $6 million Series A, which it raised in February.

Green Check Verified previously acquired PayQwick in September of last year to bolster their payments and lending capabilities. In January, they launched a marketplace connecting CRBs to vetted financial services providers including banking, lending, insurance, payroll, human resources, and cash logistics.

Business

RAW is rolling in the paper. A federal judge ruled on Monday that Republic Tobacco, makers of OCB rolling papers, must pay HBI International, the company that owns RAW rolling papers, $1.5 million after a seven-year copyright and trade dress infringement lawsuit finally concluded.

🇺🇸 State of the Industry

California: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to stop accepting new dispensary applications through 2028. Applications currently under review will still be considered.

Louisiana: A Louisiana State University survey found 70% of respondents support legally allowing people to possess small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, up from 42% in 2013.

New Mexico: According to an analysis by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, cannabis businesses employ more than 4,500 people. Nearly 90% work in dispensaries.

New York: An effort to take action against unlicensed cannabis retailers is underway to help the state’s budding legal cannabis industry.

Pennsylvania: A state House bill is urging the federal government to remove cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

📊 Business

Red White & Bloom is buying Aleafia Health. The U.S. multi-state operator announced the acquisition less than two weeks after the struggling Canadian cannabis company launched a strategic review process. Once the deal closes, RWB shareholders are expected to own 76% of the combined company, leaving Aleafia shareholders with 24%.

💻 Tech

LeafLink forms strategic partnership with Leafgistics. In order to plan inventory, and coordinate the movement and storage of wholesale cannabis products, the wholesale cannabis platform is partnering with Leafgistics. As part of the arrangement, LeafLink has made an undisclosed investment in the cannabis logistics company.

New Frontier Data and Hearst join forces: The data and analytics firm has partnered with Hearst, one of the nation’s largest media companies, to create an easy and affordable marketing onramp to mainstream media for cannabis retailers and brands.

SpringBig being sued by Kind+: A lawsuit filed in Massachusetts state court alleges the cannabis loyalty and marketing company used a partnership with the cannabis subscription service to build a competing business.

🌏 Around the World

Nepal: The government plans to carry out a feasibility study on medicinal cannabis in the upcoming fiscal year.

💨 Quick Hitters

• The Kansas City Royals have partnered with Pure Spectrum CBD, becoming the second MLB team to partner with a CBD brand.

• Tilray CFO Carl Merton engaged with shareholders in a Reddit AMA.

• The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) cut its staff by almost half, leaving only six full-time team members.

📚 What We’re Reading

• These Are Rules to Live By for Weed Marketers Amid the Green Rush (Adweek)

• ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic Talks Cannabis, Conservation And Campaigning For President—From Prison (Forbes)

• Pot farmers are going broke growing for a New York legal weed market that’s not taking off: ‘We’re all losing money’ (Fortune)

• Food, drink, pot under one roof: California state bill could allow for cannabis cafes (ABC News)

📼 Video of the Week

🔎 Job Board

• Analyst, Corporate Development

  • Cresco Labs

  • $85,000—$95,000

• Senior Software Engineer, Full Stack

  • Jane Technologies

• Data & Reporting Analyst

  • Holistic Industries

Stay tuned for more cannabis industry news next week!

💚,

The Pre Roll Team

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