Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

UPDATED: Weedmaps CEO Cites 'Slow' Legal Markets as Reason for Layoffs

New Layoffs Hit Cannabis Tech Giant Weedmaps
New Layoffs Hit Cannabis Tech Giant Weedmaps

Sign Up for The Bluntness Newsletter for Your Weekly Dose of Cannabis News


UPDATED: October 18, 2019.



Layoffs this week at cannabis tech giant Weedmaps are seemingly connected to the company’s recent pause in advertising with unlicensed cannabis sellers, this according to the Orange County Register.


On Wednesday, we reported Weedmaps had reportedly laid off members of its editorial team, this according to social media reports.


Late Wednesday morning, Lindsey Bartlett, an associate editor at the Orange County based technology platform shared the news on her Twitter feed.


“News: I was just laid off from @weedmaps,” Bartlett Tweeted. “I am okay with it. A lot of my brilliant coworkers were laid off, as well, and that part I am not okay with. They deserve better.”


Additionally, Bartlett cited the plight of journalism as the reason for the layoffs.


#Journalism is a tough gig no matter where you go, kids,” she Tweeted. “Now open for all the freelance gigs. Get at me.”


She also included a photo with the caption: “Peace out @weedmaps.”


Weedmaps CEO Chris Beals addressed the news, making a statement about the layoffs on his Twitter feed:


"Today was my toughest day during my tenure as CEO," he said. "We will continue to grow and drive forward," he continued.


Included in the Tweet was a link to a Medium article outlining the decision. 


Though Beals didn't expressly say the cuts were a result of financial issues stemming from the company’s recent pause in advertising with unlicensed cannabis sellers, he did attribute challenges to the slow pace of legal cannabis markets.


"The speed of new markets opening has been slow over the last year," Beals noted. "Many markets that have legalized (e.g. Massachusetts) have failed to issue sufficient licenses to foster a stable and functioning legal market."


Beals expressly stated that "employee count" was slashed by 25% in the layoffs. 


"These colleagues worked tirelessly to ensure patients and consumers could safely and conveniently access cannabis," he said. "I am forever grateful for their contributions to helping us build Weedmaps to the company it is today."


Despite the news, Beals said he was looking forward to the company's progress in 2020.


"As we look towards the coming year, Weedmaps will continue to be a first mover on delivering the software and solutions to power the cannabis market," he said. "We will also continue to be a leading voice in the cannabis legalization movement and pushing for access across all jurisdictions."


Read Beals' full statement here.

More For You

11 Movies to Watch While Tripping on Your Next Shroom Trip

11 Movies to Watch While Tripping on Your Next Shroom Trip

Many activities are amplified for the better when you're tripping on magic mushrooms, and watching trippy movies is definitely near the top of that list.

Shrooms provide consumers with an almost otherworldly experience: one where colors are brighter, music is magical, and everything is open to a seemingly unprecedented interpretation.

Keep ReadingShow less
How Long Does One Hit of Weed Stay in Your System

How Long Does One Hit of Weed Stay in Your System

How long does one hit of weed stay in your system? You are probably concerned about an upcoming drug test if you're asking this question. Perhaps not something you’d normally fret over, but after taking a hit off a joint last weekend, you are now in full-blown panic mode. Will I lose my job? Could one hit of weed make me fail a drug test? 

In short—don’t panic. We’ve got plenty of information about what factors influence THC detection time and what you can do to pass a drug test.

Keep ReadingShow less
Why is Golden Teacher so popular?
Why is Golden Teacher so popular?

Golden Teacher Mushrooms: Everything You Need to Know

Golden Teacher mushrooms (GT Mushrooms) are one of the most popular strains of psilocybin mushrooms. They are mostly cultivated for their above-average psilocybin potency, which serves as a beginner's gateway to psychedelic mushrooms. They feature caramel-colored stems and caps speckled with yellow hence the name Golden Teacher. 

These psychedelic mushroom strains are also known as golden caps, boomers, goldies, caps, and cubies. While the information on their origin is quite unknown or undocumented, anecdotal reference shows that the golden teacher mushrooms were first reported in a scientific literature in 1906 in Cuba, while research on the strains is most likely to have started in the early eighties. 

Keep ReadingShow less
Magic mushrooms taste gross. Let's fix that.
Magic mushrooms taste gross. Let's fix that.

6 Ways to Consume Magic Mushrooms (that don't involve a peanut butter sandwich)

If you have ever consumed magic mushrooms or truffles, then you know they don’t always have the most pleasant taste, in fact, some of them are like eating a mouthful of dirt.  

However, with the recent rise of popularity through legalization, decriminalization, and the public becoming more aware of the benefits and potential good that comes with these psilocybin-packed fungi, we see why people may overlook the flavor.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own - The Bluntness

The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own - The Bluntness

Cannabis Candle Facts & DIY

The Truth About THC Candle: Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own

There are several different ways to consume cannabis, and some of them don’t even involve actual consumption. Cannabis candles are beginning to take over the candle game, allowing cannabis enthusiasts to enjoy the smells they’re used to having to cover up and hide: the danky goodness of weed.

As cannabis becomes less stigmatized in modern culture, people are beginning to come out and admit to their cannabis use. While smoking weed used to be something people felt they had to keep on the down low, the culture is becoming increasingly mainstream and the scent is now sought after rather than condemned. Many cannabis candles feature complex scent profiles, including notes of amber, which contribute to a rich and layered aromatic experience.

Keep ReadingShow less