Marijuana
Melissa Etheridge is facing a legal battle over her brief foray into the cannabis business, filed by two business partners in Northern California who claim that the singer “abandoned them” and left them in “financial ruin.”
The Grammy-winning songwriter, who rose to stardom in the 1990s with hits like “Come to My Window” and “I’m The Only One,” announced in 2019 that she would launch Etheridge Farms, which aimed to bring the benefits of cannabis to middle-aged women. “They’re looking to cannabis, and I want Etheridge Farms to be right there to answer what they’re looking for,” the singer said at the time.
But five years later, her former business partners now claim that Etheridge and her wife effectively torpedoed the company by refusing to support it. In a legal petition filed July 9 and obtained by Billboard, Josephine and D’Angelo Roberto say they’ve been “left with nothing.”
Trending on Billboard
“The Robertos trusted the Etheridges and invested their life’s work into the businesses,” writes attorney Christopher Frost of the law firm Frost LLP, representing the Robertos. “Unfortunately, their hard work did not end in a success story, but rather betrayal and abandonment.”
The filing is a demand for arbitration, which initiates a litigation-like case that will play out similar to a lawsuit. But such cases, often required under corporate operating agreements, are decided by an arbitrator behind closed doors rather than by a judge in an open courtroom.
Representatives for the Etheridges, including their attorney who received the arbitration demand, did not return repeated requests for comment on the dispute. Attorneys for the Robertos declined to comment.
A Budding Partnership
The Robertos (nicknamed Jozee and Cricket) say they met Etheridge and her wife Linda Wallem-Etheridge via mutual friends in Northern California in 2017, and that the foursome then hatched a plan to launch a series of cannabis businesses, including Etheridge Farms and Etheridge Botanicals. In a 2019 article in San Jose’s Mercury News, the singer said she had been inspired in part by using cannabis amid a battle with breast cancer in the 2000s.
“I came out of chemotherapy saying, I want to be an advocate for this, I believe in this as medicine so deeply,” she told the Mercury News. “I started looking around California going, OK, what do I need to do — I want to be part of this — I actually turned to my friends and said, I want to be the face of cannabis.” In that same article, Jozee was quoted as saying that the Etheridges “genuinely share the same values that Cricket and I share about health and wellbeing.”
According to legal filings, the group secured a rental lease in 2018 on a large facility in Soquel, Calif. to manufacture and distribute their products, and also locked down important regulatory licenses for that property.
The plan, according to the Robertos, was for the couple to contribute their extensive cannabis industry expertise and work on product development, while the Etheridges would use their celebrity status to promote the business, seek outside investors, and continue to support the business financially.
Left High and Dry?
But while the Robertos say they “devoted every ounce of their money, time and attention” to the businesses, they claim the Etheridges failed to do the same. They say she failed to promote the business, and then stopped supporting the business financially. According to legal filings, by 2020 that allegedly included failing to pay the rent at the Soquel facility as promised; when the landlord finally booted them, the Robertos say it cost the business crucial regulatory licenses that had been tied to that property.
“Despite their persistent efforts, following the Etheridges’ complete lack of engagement and financial support to the Etheridge entities, the LLC sales and performance eventually withered away,” attorneys for the couple write in the demand for arbitration.
The alleged breakdown in the business came amid great personal tragedy for Etheridge. In May 2020, the singer announced that Beckett Cypher, her son with former partner Julie Cypher, had died from causes related to opioid addiction. Months later, the singer launched the Etheridge Foundation to advocate for and support research into new treatments for opioid addiction.
Those tragic events are not directly mentioned in the new legal filings, but attorneys for the Robertos allude to them in making their case.
“The Etheridges suffered personal losses for which the Robertos have much empathy,” the couple’s lawyers write in their filing earlier this month. “However, notwithstanding these personal losses and given the challenges faced by the parties, the Etheridges ultimately decided to let all of the joint ventures ‘die on the vine,’ stopped covering expenses that they promised to pay, and left the Robertos in a much worse situation.”
In technical terms, the demand for arbitration accuses the Etheridges of breaching their fiduciary duty to the companies; breaching their contract with the Robertos; violating legal promises they made to the couple; and making fraudulent and negligent misrepresentations.
The pair are seeking an undetermined amount of damages, but say they’re entitled to at least $3 million: “The Robertos have not pursued this action and are not proceeding to arbitration for fame or fortune or as a vendetta,” their lawyers write. “Rather, they simply seek compensation for the suffering they have had to endure and the financial ruin they have experienced due to the Etheridges abandoning them.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
It’s 4/20! To help pot lovers get the celebration started, we’ve rounded up a list of weed gifts and weed accessories for stoners everywhere.
From air fresheners to ash trays and everything in between, see below for a list of the 13 best weed accessories designed for the cannabis lover in your life.
Plan on blazing up for 4/20? Apps like Gopuff, Eaze, WeedMaps and Leafly offer weed deliveries and snacks (in case you get the munchies). Doordash is offering 30% off hemp THC & CBD Items (max $20 off) when you use code: 30HEMP; offer expires on April 29.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
See more below.
Amazon
RAW Matte Black Murder’d Cigarette Rolling Tray | Size – Small |
Ready to roll up? This matte black rolling tray features a sleek finish, round edges and the Raw logo on the front. The rolling tray measures 10.8 x 6.8 inches.
Trending on Billboard
Edie Parker
Eddie Parker Glass Cherry Fruit Pipe
$71
$91
22% off
4/20 with a cherry on top! The Glass Fruit Pipe from Edie Parker is made from borosilicate glass and available in cherry, grape, banana and strawberry. Click here to shop handmade glass pipes from Etsy.
Loud Box 5 Pack Colorful Metal King Sized Pre-Roll Cone Holder
Looking for a discrete way to organize your joints? The Loud Box Case holds up to three cones or blunts at a time. The tin case slips easily into you’re a pocket, purse or backpack to keep your pre-rolls close by.
Amazon
Blazy Pink Cones 50ct Pack | Pink Rolling Cones |
$16.59
$19.99
17% off
For smokers who want to love all things pink, roll up Barbicore-style with Blazy Susan rolling cones. The pack includes 50 vegan and smooth, super thing burning cones.
Amazon
Sploofy PRO II – Personal Smoke Air filter – With Replaceable Cartridge
$18.99
$24.99
24% off
This smoke trapper is an an eco-friendly, personal air filter that’s useful indoors and outdoors. It has a rubber mouthpiece and a removable filter to eliminate smoke and smell. Hitting the road soon? Grab a travel size Smoke Buddy ($20).
Amazon
Alien Smoking Ashtray
You can’t get any higher than space, so why not get an alien ashtray? The ash tray measures 4 inches and can be mounted on a dashboard, table or another flat surface (with double-sided tape).
Edie Parker Gum Lighter
Nope, not gum — but still a must-have for smokers. The Big Edie lighter takes a page from the vintage Big Red gum design from the ’80s. It’s cool and cute and only $10 at Edie Parker.
OWLSTEM Grinder, 2.2 Inch Stronger Grip Biscuit Shape
This easy-to-use, handheld grinder grinds minces your marijuana in seconds, but if you’re tired of twisting and turning, let an electric grinder do the work for you.
The Food Has Weed In It Oven Mitt
A gift to bake up weed goodies. The Food Has Weed In It oven mitt has a matching apron that you can wear to your next cannabis cookout.
Smoke Cartel Dip Devices Dipper Vaporizer
A portable vaporizer that promises to deliver smooth hits and deep dabs on the go. The palm-sized vaporizer is available in chrome, charcoal, rose gold and rainbow. Save up to 30% off at Smoke Cartel.
Edie Parker Burn Clutch
$188
$250
25% off
The ultimate smoker’s clutch. Edie Parker’s Burn Clutch features a retractable lighter in the front, an interior pocket with satin lining and it’s large enough to fit all iPhones. This vegan leather clutch is available in several colors including black, white, red, metallic silver and the pea green croc design pictured above.
Amazon
Rolling Tray Stash Box
If you prefer a box to a bag, this bamboo stash box will keep your weed, rolling papers, pipes, lighters, wraps and more in one place.
Malin + Goetz
Malin + Goetz Cannabis Candle
Malin + Goetz Canabis Candle is described as a “rich, earthy scent” with top notes of bergamot, black pepper and orange. The slow-burn candle features middled notes of cannabis accord, muguet + magnolia and cedarwood, patchouli, sandalwood, amber + musk at its base.
For more cannabis-related products, check out our list of musician-backed CBD and THC brands.
Vice President Kamala Harris and rapper Fat Joe led a White House discussion Friday (March 15) on easing marijuana penalties, with Harris saying it’s “absurd” that the federal government classifies marijuana as more dangerous than fentanyl, the synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of deaths annually the United States.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Harris, a former state prosecutor in California, also criticized the federal classification of cannabis as “patently unfair.” The government currently is reviewing how it classifies marijuana, and Harris urged that the process be wrapped up as quickly as possible.
Fat Joe, a Grammy-nominated artist and philanthropist whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, moderated a subsequent closed-door discussion that included Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and individuals who received pardons for prior marijuana convictions.
Trending on Billboard
President Joe Biden has issued pardons to thousands of people for federal marijuana possession and commuted long sentences handed down for nonviolent drug offenses. In 2022, he urged governors to pardon state offenses. Beshear then invited people convicted of simple marijuana possession to apply for pardons in Kentucky. Biden launched the process to review how marijuana is classified in 2022.
A full seven in 10 U.S. adults favor legalizing marijuana, according to Gallup polling. Support for legalization is closer to eight in 10 among 18- to 34-year-olds, a demographic whose support for Biden, who is seeking reelection, has softened since he took office.
“I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible and we need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment,” Harris said of the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice, which are handling the review.
“But this issue is stark when one considers the fact that on the schedule currently marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin,” she said during the public portion of the meeting. “Marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd. Not to mention patently unfair.”
“So I’m sure DEA is working as quickly as possible and will continue to do so and we look forward to the product of their work,” the vice president said, referring to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of deaths annually in America.
U.S. regulators are studying reclassifying marijuana shifting it from a drug that has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” known as “Schedule I,” to the less tightly regulated “Schedule III.”
Biden mentioned the marijuana classification review during his State of the Union address earlier this month. He said during a campaign appearance in Milwaukee this week that “no one should be jailed for marijuana.”
“If you’re just using, you should have that wiped off your record,” Biden said.
Cartagena opened the roundtable by saying he’s hot on the issue of price transparency in health care “but, today, when the vice president calls me, I stop everything.”
He got a little ahead of himself when he proceeded to dismiss journalists so the closed-door discussion could begin, prompting Harris to tell him to “hold on” because she had a statement to make, too.
Since the day he rolled into our lives in 1992 on Dr. Dre’s debut solo single, “Deep Cover,” Snoop Dogg has been laser focused on two things: bars and blunts. The famously high like every single day rapper, 52, shocked the world on Thursday (Nov. 17) when he made the most unexpected statement possible: he’s going to kick-y his sticky icky habit to the curb.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“After much consideration and conversation with my family, I’ve decided to give up smoke,” Snoop posted to his socials. At press time there was no additional information on Snoop’s alleged sinsemilla cessation kick, and it was unclear if his dope holiday referred to just inhaling or if the Leafs By Snoop cannabis brand owner will trade his bountiful many-blunts-per-day count with edibles, tinctures or other weed-delivery methods.
In a nod to the seriousness of the nugs news, Snoop added, “please respect my privacy at this time,” alongside a photo of the glassy-eyed MC making prayer hands.
The post came as a shock to fans who are used to the sight of Snoop burning one — or 5 — blunts during his live shows, appearing on late night in a clearly buzzed state, or blunting the reality of fellow celebs like Ed Sheeran, who recently told Conan O’Brien that the D-O-G-G smoked him out so hard once that he “couldn’t see.”
Some fans were skeptical of the news, with one writing, “this is probably just gonna be some viral campaign where he launches his own line of vapes or edibles or something,” another adding, “today isn’t April Fools day Snoop” and a third bravely promising, “don’t worry Snoop, we your disciples will carry on your legacies… we’ll smoke on your behalf… stay strong for us.”
Snoop’s brand has been associated with his weed intake for so long it’s hard to imagine him doing junkets without his skunk. But in an interview with the Daily Mail earlier this year, Snoop hinted that becoming a grandfather may have “changed” him in several ways. “The main way is being concerned with how I live, how I move, the kind of people I’m associated with, because I want to see my grandkids grow old,” he said. “The only way I can do that is to take precautionary steps as far as how I move, who I hang out with, where I go out, my intake… I just don’t want to do this to my body anymore. I want to survive.”
Some of Snoop’s cheeba chums gave him props for his decisions, including Sean Paul (“Big Up mi bredda Snoop. I’ll keep it blazin’ in your honor 2nite”) and Meek Mill, who said he plans to follow Snoop’s herb holiday path. “Ima go to Dubai and completely stop smoking … ima follow snoop, my doctor said I got a lil bit emphysema in a chest if I don’t stop smoking it cuts my lifeline in half, I was addicted to the nicotine and this new weed got too many chemicals and too risky to play with my mental!” Meek tweeted.
See Snoop’s post and celeb reaction below.
Ima go to Dubai and completely stop smoking … ima follow snoop, my doctor said I got a lil bit emphysema in a chest if I don’t stop smoking it cuts my lifeline in half, I was addicted to the nicotine and this new weed got too many chemicals and too risky to play with my mental! https://t.co/NYAJ9BzJ6e— MeekMill (@MeekMill) November 16, 2023
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs never does anything halfway. On Friday (Nov. 4) the music/fashion/sprits/media mogul announced that he plans to make a major investment in the legal marijuana game with a $185 million deal to buy licensed weed operations in three states.
If approved, the deal would create the nation’s largest Black-owned and licensed cannabis company, a platform Diddy said he wants to use to increase Black participation in the field.
“It’s diabolical,” Combs, 53, told the Wall Street Journal about his desire to get into the pot business to help address long-running inequities that have seen Black people disproportionately arrested and jailed for marijuana crimes even as they make up a “tiny” percentage of the market for legal weed. “How do you lock up communities of people, break down their family structure, their futures, and then legalize it and make sure that those same people don’t get a chance to benefit or resurrect their lives from it?”
The Journal noted that in the quarter century since California first legalized medical marijuana cannabis has grown into a $27 billion legal business in the U.S. even as many Black entrepreneurs looking to get into the mix have said they’ve faced obstacles in finding financing, capital and banking services; Black cannabis entrepreneurs currently account for less than 2% of the nation’s marijuana businesses, which employs around 500,000 people.
“Two percent?” Diddy said. “All the years, all the pain, all the incarceration… To me, it was important to do a big deal like this.”
Diddy will dive in by purchasing the cannabis operations of Cresco Labs Inc. (valued at $1 billion) and Columbia Care Inc. (valued at $500 million), two of the biggest cannabis companies in the country. The buy-in — which includes a $110 million cash payment and $45 million in debt financing — will give the Bad Boy boss nine retail stores and three production facilities in New York, Massachusetts and Illinois, according to a release announcing the deal.
“My mission has always been to create opportunities for Black entrepreneurs in industries where we’ve traditionally been denied access, and this acquisition provides the immediate scale and impact needed to create a more equitable future in cannabis,” said Combs in a statement. “Owning the entire process — from growing and manufacturing to marketing, retail, and wholesale distribution — is a historic win for the culture that will allow us to empower diverse leaders throughout the ecosystem and be bold advocates for inclusion.”
The operations in the three states will give Combs the ability to grow and manufacture cannabis products and wholesale and distribute those branded products to licensed dispensaries in major metro areas including New York, Boston and Chicago, as well as operate retail stores in all three states.
“Today’s announcement is bigger than the Transaction – and it couldn’t come at a time of greater significance and momentum,” said Cresco Labs CEO Charles Bachtell in a statement. “We’ve seen executive power exercised to address matters of cannabis injustice, we’re seeing bi-partisan support for elements of federal reform, and we’re seeing some of the largest and most influential states in the country launch cannabis programs prioritizing social responsibility – this announcement adds to that momentum.”
Bachtell noted that the transaction is a major step toward closing his company’s previously announced acquisition of Columbia Care and their push for greater diversity of leadership and perspective in the market. “The substantial presence of a minority-owned operator in some of the most influential markets in the country being led by one of the most prolific and impactful entrepreneurs of our time is momentous… and incredibly exciting. We’re thrilled to welcome Sean and his team to the industry,” he said.
Columbia CEO Nicholas Vita added that, “These assets offer the Combs’ team significant market presence, enabling them to make the most impact on the industry as a whole. It’s been clear to us that Sean has the right team to carry on the strong legacy of these Columbia Care and Cresco Labs facilities, and we can’t wait to see how he helps shape the cannabis industry going forward through his entrepreneurial leadership and innovation.”
Though marijuana is legal in 19 states for recreational use by adults and in 39 states for medical use it is still illegal under federal law.
-
Pages