CNN starts cannabusiness coverage, hires Wallace

CNN Business general manager Jason Farkas and executive editor Rich Barbieri sent out the following announcement on Friday:

Team,

Today CNN Business launches a new content initiative focused on one of the most dynamic growth industries in America: the cannabusiness sector. The next generation of entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers are captivated by this storyline, and CNN Business is making a new commitment to cover every aspect of the cannabis industry, from innovation to regulation.

Rich and I want to welcome Alicia Wallace, one of the nation’s most-seasoned reporters on cannabusiness, to help lead our coverage. Alicia, who developed the national marijuana policy and business reporting beat for The Denver Post, has been on the leading edge of cannabusiness reporting since Colorado became the first state in the nation to launch recreational cannabis sales. Alicia brings deep industry knowledge and expert investigative skills to this complex story. She joins us most recently as a Fellow of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism at Columbia University.

Our new cannabusiness initiative will be based in CNN Business’ San Francisco bureau and use daily articles, videos, and data-driven special reports to cover multiple angles of the industry:

• Capital: From private equity to retail investors, the money propelling the industry forward
• Companies: Emerging Brands vs. Big Food & Beverage
• Personalities: The most interesting and controversial entrepreneurs
• Policies: The rules that dictate the economics of cannabusiness
• Impact: How America’s next growth industry is changing culture and society

This is another example of our commitment to cover business for the next generation, with cannabusiness emerging as a clear industry of the future. We shared the exciting news of this initiative in a press release here.

Jason & Rich