In the fall of 2021, an acquaintance of Alex Norman, the founder of a cannabis apparel and lifestyle brand called Budega NYC, reached out to congratulate him on making a deal to open several dispensaries in Southern California.
There was just one problem, Mr. Norman said: “It wasn’t me.”Instead, an international conglomerate had claimed the Budega name, which Mr. Norman, 50, said was a nod to the longstanding role of New York’s neighborhood bodegas in supplying weed before legalization.
It was the first of a series of copycats that have forced Mr. Norman, who lives in Brooklyn, to decide whether to wage costly legal battles to defend his brand, work out deals to coexist or start over with a new name.
Cases like his have played out across the country as states legalize cannabis and allow businesses to open stores and release products under similar-sounding names.
Jessica Gonzalez, a cannabis and trademark attorney, said the trend will only accelerate if the federal government legalizes cannabis and companies begin competing for national dominance.
Persons:
Alex Norman, Norman, Jessica Gonzalez
Organizations:
Industry
Locations:
Southern California, York’s, Brooklyn