Terrific puzzle, and your LAT grid from today was wonderful as well. First I though you had a G-T thing going in the LAT puzzle and was waiting for gin and tonic. Not there, alas, but I can always make myself one! Keep 'em coming - I always enjoy your puzzles!
I do the LA Times Crossword first thing every morning. I was glad to see you there again! Two awsome puzzles from the same constructor in one day - excellent!
West coast daily, for short (where you can find an absolutely delightful crossword by your humble constructor on Monday, August 14th)
7A
Potent cannabis strain
8A
___ Corp (investment firm founded, owned, and operated by a former N.Y. Yankees player)
10A
2001 Billboard chart-topper by 3-Down that inspired an actual legal defense strategy named after 3-Down
12A
Aeschylus, Sophocles, or Euripides
13A
Unpleasant post-bender portmanteau
14A
"No" vote
15A
Sellout inits.
Verticali
1D
Bested in a footrace
2D
Tongue heard in Botswana (that's also seen in "Botswana")
3D
See 10-Across
4D
Director John of "Animal House," "The Blues Brothers," "Trading Places," "Three Amigos," "Coming to America," and the music video to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
5D
More pretentious
6D
"You say ___, I say ___" ("Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" lyric)
7D
Friends and acquaintances, quaintly
9D
Say 10-Across, e.g.
11D
Focus of study at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute