EATONTOWN, NJ—Integrated marketing communications agency lotus823 has acquired Rachel Litner Associates, a Livingston, NJ, PR firms specializing in culinary, housewares and lifestyle public relations. RLA founder and president Rachel Litner will become chief strategy officer of lotus823. The Stevens Group, a mergers and acquisitions facilitator to the public relations industry, provided counsel on the deal.

NEW YORK—North 6th Agency has launched the N6A Cannabis Services Group, a newly dedicated division solely focused on the cannabis industry. The N6A Cannabis Services Group will provide clients in the legal cannabis industry with strategic media campaigns, branding, creative services and marketing services. It will be led newly promoted N6A director Robert Vanisko and is currently seeking additional account staff.

PHOENIX, AZ—O'Connell Communications, a boutique PR firm specializing in high technology, is moving its headquarters from Chicago to Phoenix. In addition to Silicon Valley business, the move to Phoenix also gives O'Connell Communications greater proximity to its many West Coast clients, including Toshiba America Information Systems in Irvine, CA and Moxa in Brea, CA.