Former High Times exec sues for $6M in damages

Bad times for High Times?

David Kohl, a veteran media executive whose resume includes stints at Viacom, Vivendi and Xbox, is suing Trans-High Corp., the parent company of High Times magazine, for wrongful termination, according to the New York Post.

Kohl, who served as CEO of High Times, was fired without notice in March, and is now seeking $6 million in damages, claiming he wasn’t paid his full severance package.

In a filing with the Manhattan Supreme Court, Kohl charged he was hired to diversify company operations and raise capital, but found an unprofessional and lackadaisical culture. Not long after trying to correct things – he chastised the company’s board of directors for being “ineffective,” reprimanded an employee for misconduct, and suggested a company restructuring – Kohl was fired, he alleges.

In August, the High Times website for the first time was surpassed in unique visitors by The Cannabist, which was founded in 2013.

According to the Denver Post, which owns The Cannabist, the news site drew 885,000 unique visitors. High Times, founded in 1974, attracted 558,000 unique visitors for August, a 38.4% year-over-year decrease. Marijuana.com, which started in 1995 and is owned by WeedMaps, attracted 915,000 unique visitors in August, the Denver Post reported.