Welcome back to Higher Law, our weekly briefing on all things cannabis. I'm Cheryl Miller, reporting for Law.com from Sacramento. It's in the 20s and snowing in parts of Michigan today, conditions that may help explain why sales of recreational marijuana in the state topped $1.6 million in their first eight days.

This week we're looking at:

• A cannabis alliance (but not a merger) between two firms
• An SEC settlement with a pot stock promoter
• More CBD lobbying work for Akin Gump
• Brazil joining the international pot club