The Bengal Bite 🐯 | Cannabis Momentum | December 4, 2020
In November a green wave swept across the U.S., evidence of the growing political momentum of cannabis. As we enter the first week of December we continue to see this building “cannabis momentum” - from sports & entertainment to finance, cannabis is seemingly at the forefront of every conversation.
This week's Bite:
Iron Mike's Uppercut: Mike Tyson stepped back into the ring this past Sunday for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr., but it wasn’t what happened inside the ropes that made headlines. (USA Today)
I got 99 problems but a SPAC ain’t one: Subversive Acquisition Corp teamed up with Jay-Z, Rhianna, and Meek Mill to acquire Caliva and Left Coast Ventures in order to create the largest vertically integrated cannabis operation in California. (Benzinga)
November rally: On the back of election results and stellar earnings from multi-state operators, the American Cannabis Operator Index is up 40% in November. (New Cannabis Ventures)
U.N.-precedented: The United Nations has reclassified cannabis potentially clearing the way for an expansion of international cannabis research and medical use. (New York Times)
Read more below:
Mike Tyson says he smoked marijuana before fight vs. Roy Jones Jr.: 'It's just who I am'
Iron Mike’s pre-bout ritual includes cannabis. The match may have ended in a draw, but the headline is a likely winner for the visibility of cannabis use in athletics (often used as an aid in recovery) and Mr. Tyson’s own cannabis brand, Tyson Ranch.
Jay-Z inks largest cannabis SPAC deal ever with Subversive Capital
2020 has been a breakout year for SPACs, and now music industry mogul Jay-Z is set to join a newly formed cannabis company - through the partnership between Caliva, Left Coast Ventures, and Roc Nation - that Subversive Capital expects to become the largest in California.
American Cannabis Operator Index soars 40% in November
The American Cannabis Operator Index exploded higher in November, jumping 40%. During November, the index included 17 companies, including 14 multi-state operators. Three companies posted gains in excess of 50%, while none rose by less than 10%.
U.N. reclassifies cannabis as a less dangerous drug
The United States and European nations led the vote for reclassification of cannabis at the U.N., ultimately removing cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. This change was hailed by Britain’s delegate as “in line with the scientific evidence of [cannabis’s] therapeutic benefits.” While individual governments will still have ultimate control over how to classify cannabis, many countries look to global conventions for guidance, so this United Nations recognition is a symbolic win for drug policy advocates.