Anthony Kirlew

California cannabis industry update ⬇️ Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget offers a few wins for the state’s $4.6B marijuana industry — including no increase in licensing fees and promised action against illicit operators. But here’s the catch: no tax relief for the legal market. With the excise tax set to jump from 15% to 19% on July 1, retailers and supply chain operators are bracing for impact — and consumers may once again turn to the unregulated market for cheaper alternatives. The industry is running out of time to convince lawmakers and a budget-minded governor to throw it a lifeline. Full story in the comments 🔗

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🚨 Santa Ana, CA Cannabis Retail Licensing October 2025: What You Need to Know (and How to Win) 🚨 Santa Ana has announced a new round of 5 storefront retail licenses (capped at 30 citywide). The process is merit-based and highly competitive—success will depend on real estate, preparation, and experience. 🗓️ Key Dates Phase 1 (Eligibility): Oct 13 – Nov 12, 2025 Phase 2 (Merit Competition): Jan 5 – Feb 5, 2026 📍 What’s Required 👉 Secure a compliant property (site control is essential). 👉 Meet buffer requirements (500 ft from another retailer; 1,000 ft from schools/parks/residential zones). 👉 Be ready to compete on merit: experience, community benefits, compliance, and local nexus. 🌟 Why WeCann? No one has more experience in Santa Ana cannabis licensing than WeCann: ✅ Our CEO & Founder became the 4th licensed dispensary in Santa Ana by navigating the process firsthand. ✅ In 2018, WeCann submitted 6 applications for 11 available permits—and all 6 won. ✅ We’ve also managed countless non-retail applications, renewals, violations, and license transfers in the City. 💡 The bottom line: ☑️ Phase 1 is eligibility. ☑️ Phase 2 is competition. ☑️ Only the most prepared teams will win. 👉 If you’re serious about securing one of these 5 new licenses, now is the time to move. WeCann’s track record in Santa Ana is unmatched—we know exactly what it takes to succeed here.

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 5 Tax Deductions Cannabis Businesses Often Miss Even with 280E, there are deductions you can take advantage of: 1️⃣ Cost of Goods Sold (COGS).  2️⃣ Packaging materials.  3️⃣ Certain inventory-related labor costs.  4️⃣ Security expenses for product protection.  5️⃣ Business license and permit fees. 💡 Why this matters: Maximizing legal deductions reduces your tax liability and protects your cash reserves—critical in a high-tax industry. ✅ How we can help: We ensure you’re claiming every allowable deduction while staying 100% compliant with IRS and state laws. 📅 Book your free consultation: https://lnkd.in/ejCe3nNd 

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📊 Cannabis Social Equity Compliance – Upcoming Facebook Live 🗓️ June 5 | 🕙 10am PT Social equity programs in Cannabis require more than standard accounting. Businesses face complex financial requirements, from revenue sharing to ongoing reporting, that can impact both compliance and partnerships. Join Andrew Hunzicker, CPA as he breaks down the financial compliance essentials for Cannabis social equity programs. You’ll learn: ✅ State-specific financial requirements ✅ Documentation and accounting for equity partnerships ✅ Ongoing reporting obligations ✅ Structuring partnerships for compliance ✅ Common mistakes to avoid ✅ Best practices for accurate records 🔗 Watch live on Facebook: https://hubs.ly/Q03q2fZ00 #CannabisCompliance #SocialEquity #DOPECFO #CPA #CannabisBusiness

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Hawai‘i’s cannabis market is estimated at $240 million annually, yet a staggering 79% remains in a "gray market" — an underground network with high social acceptance but ambiguous legal status. As the industry hangs in flux, the debate over its future remains deeply polarized. Advocates argue that full legalization offers a path to a strictly tested, taxed, and regulated system that ensures consumer safety and state revenue. However, opponents fear that legalizing personal adult use could negatively impact tourism, introduce complex new enforcement challenges and create lasting threats to public health. With no clear consensus in sight, we dive into the arguments shaping this critical conversation. Read More: https://lnkd.in/ghDvcuVk

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Cannabis retailers: Are you maximizing your search visibility? With advertising restrictions on Google and Meta, dispensary SEO isn’t optional, it’s essential. We break down how to: - Optimize your Google Business Profile - Target high-intent, local search traffic - Use schema and mobile-friendly design - Turn organic traffic into paying customers Whether you're running one location or scaling a retail chain, this blog post offers practical, compliant tactics to improve discoverability. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gSfVhRcq #CannabisRetail #SEO #DigitalMarketing #DispensaryGrowth #Budvue

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Nevada Adult‑Use & Medical Cannabis (Las Vegas) Sales are declining in Nevada's mature market. In fiscal 2024 (July 2023–June 2024), legal cannabis sales hit $829 million, down from a peak of over $1 billion in FY 2021 The illicit market still thrives, estimated at $242 million to $370 million annually, siphoning roughly 25–35 % of the state’s cannabis market Headset.io reports for June 2025 show: Average item price: $21.00, slightly down from $21.06 Total sales: $48.5 million, down 8.9 % month‑over‑month and 16.1 % year‑over‑year ccb.nv.gov Price elasticity estimated at –0.74, indicating that consumers remain fairly loyal even as prices rise ccb.nv.gov Key challenges: excessive supply, stagnant consumer demand, growing illicit competition. Recommendations include targeting underserved regions with new licenses, stepping up illicit market enforcement, and exploring tourism-linked opportunities to expand regulated sales ccb.nv.gov

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Cannabis Growth Is Hard Enough. Workforce Chaos Shouldn’t Be. Most cannabis operators don’t struggle because they lack vision. They struggle because workforce complexity quietly erodes margins. Payroll fragmentation. 280E compliance exposure. Workers’ comp volatility. EEOC risk. HR admin overload. It’s death by a thousand administrative cuts. The KIND Cannabis Advantage Program was built specifically to solve that problem—by integrating payroll, HR, compliance, risk management, benefits, and workers’ compensation into one cannabis-focused workforce optimization platform. KIND Cannabis Advantage Program!!! Not piecemeal. Not generic. Not retrofitted from another industry. Purpose-built for cannabis by cannabis. What makes this different isn’t just consolidation—it’s alignment: ✔ Full-service payroll with automated processing and tax filing ✔ 280E tax code compliance support and state/federal oversight ✔ EPLI protection for harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims ✔ Exclusive Workers’ comp programs, including SIGs and Captives ✔ Injury & Illness Prevention Programs and safety training ✔ Unified HR technology with onboarding, time & attendance, and employee self-service ✔ Competitive benefits including medical, telemedicine, MEC 125 plans, and 401(k)s This isn’t just administrative support. It’s risk transfer, cost control, and workforce stabilization wrapped into one ecosystem. In cannabis, workforce risk equals financial risk. Every compliance miss. Every comp claim. Every disengaged employee. Every delay in onboarding. It compounds. Programs like KIND aren’t about outsourcing responsibility—they’re about professionalizing infrastructure so leadership can focus on growth, licensing, operations, and market expansion. Our tagline says it best: Protect. Streamline. Grow. KIND is powered by Green Leaf Payroll and Business Solutions, Inc., a champion and partner of the cannabis industry! For cannabis executives, the question isn’t whether workforce complexity exists. It’s whether you’re managing it strategically—or reacting to it quarterly. The operators who win long term treat HR, payroll, compliance, and safety as operational infrastructure—not back-office tasks. That’s how you scale responsibly in this industry. Go to https://lnkd.in/gDdzp7Uz to learn more. #CannabisIndustry #ExecutiveLeadership #RiskManagement #CannabisCompliance #WorkersComp #JPSquaredConsulting #AXEL #KINDPEO #GreenLeafBizSolutions

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Los Angeles Cannabis Policy Update: What You Need to Know 🌿 WHO: City of Los Angeles City Council, SPECIAL MEETING – Government Operations Committee WHAT: Agenda item #9: a proposed motion to modernize Los Angeles’ cannabis ordinance, specifically focusing on Delivery and Cultivation licensing. WHERE: JOHN FERRARO COUNCIL CHAMBER, ROOM 340, CITY HALL 200 NORTH SPRING STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 WHEN: Friday, March 27, 2026 - 8:00 AM WHY IT MATTERS: Los Angeles established its legal cannabis framework in 2017, but the market has evolved significantly: • State regulations have changed, creating misalignment with local laws • Delivery now accounts for ~25% of cannabis sales (Headset data) • Cultivation and delivery licenses opened to the general public as of Jan 1, 2026 • The City has yet to launch a general application process for these licenses 👉 Agenda Item 9 – Key Motion Highlights regarding the City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR): The Council is considering directing the DCR to develop a clear, phased process for issuing cultivation and delivery licenses to the broader public, while the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney prepares a supporting ordinance. This signals a major shift toward: ✔ Expanding legal market participation ✔ Increasing tax revenue ✔ Strengthening regulatory alignment with California ✔ Reducing illicit market activity ✔ Supporting modern consumer behavior (online + delivery) Bottom line: The City of Los Angeles is positioning itself for the next phase of cannabis regulation, one that prioritizes access, compliance, and economic growth. 🔗 Full Agenda: https://lnkd.in/guGNPeD7 Submit written comment at LACouncilComment.com Stay tuned for more cannabis sector news, regulatory updates, events, and more on WeedingTheNews.com. California NORML Fat Nugs Magazine Rolling Stone Culture Council Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association #LosAngeles #Cannabis #Policy #Regulation #WeedingTheNews

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