GET. HER. OUT.
Brittney Griner will be detained in Russia until at least May
It’s been weeks since WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested at an airport near Moscow for allegedly carrying cannabis vape oil cartridges, and it is still not public knowledge where exactly she is being held or how her case will be managed. Now, the Russian state news agency TASS is reporting that Griner will be detained until May, reports NBC News.
Many have pointed out the double-standard that appears to have emerged in the wake of the very worrisome news. If a pro-NFL player was detained by Russian authorities, what would the response from the American government and media be? And what if it had nothing to do with cannabis?
“Biden has outdone himself with his hatred for cannabis this time,” commented cannabis veteran Steve DeAngelo on LinkedIn. “The failure of the White House to stand up and denounce Brittney’s detention and demand her immediate release is a grotesque act of racism and cannabis stigma. If any other US citizen had been seized by Russia, the Biden White House would be screaming about it from the rooftops.”
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2020 > 2021?
How 2021 differed from 2020’s COVID-fueled cannabis gains
Cannabis sales grew in the US in 2021, but at a much slower pace than the previous pandemic-fueled year, reports MJBizDaily, showing that sales may be returning to pre-pandemic levels in the near future.
So what was different? Well, a few things:
- No stimulus cheques or other programs in 2021, less spare money
- Potentially less pressure to stock up—stores closed in 2020, but the majority stayed open through virus waves in 2021
- Other entertainment sources such as movie theaters and restaurants stayed open as well, making homebound cannabis consumption less frequent and affordable
The takeaway
But there are still more flexible and varied ways of purchasing, distributing and learning about products than ever—something retailers will continue to capitalize on.
SETH’S MY MENTOR
Seth Rogen’s Houseplant brand launches mentorship program
Houseplant, led by actor Seth Rogen, is seeking new applicants to its mentorship program called In-House, which is designed to assist California-based cannabis entrepreneurs who have been impacted by the War on Drugs, reports High Times.
The details:
- It’s a part-time, six-month program for those in both plant-touching and ancillary businesses
- The application asks questions such as whether or not the applicant has a California equity licence, how they’ve been affected by prohibition and what challenges the company is facing
- The program was launched after the success of last year’s pilot program
“[The mentors] made themselves extremely accessible,” said last year’s mentee Moises Estrada of Itty Bitties. “I know about cultivating, but I needed help with running a business, and [In-House] gave me a ton of insight.”
AKANDA ????
Akanda Corp’s stock soars after IPO
British medical cannabis company Akanda Corp’s stock rose 350% over its listing price after going public on the Nasdaq on Tuesday, reports BusinessCann.
The company’s market cap more than quadrupled earlier projection, which was $116 million.
The company raised $16 million, which CEO Tej Virk says will go toward building infrastructure in southern Africa and some M&A.
