Case Studies
Ascend Wellness Holdings Reports Q2 2025 Financial Results
NEW YORK – Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc., a multi-state Cannabis ...
New York’s Licensing Blunder
NEW YORK – NY’s adult-use cannabis market, now boasting 436 ...
Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Backs Psilocybin Decriminalization in Historic Move
BOSTON – In a groundbreaking development for psychedelic policy reform, ...
Senate Panel Flags Misleading Cannabis Marketing, Backs Psychedelics Research
LOS ANGELES- The Senate Appropriations Committee released a report accompanying the 2026 agriculture and FDA spending bill that raises concerns over deceptive marketing in the cannabis sector while endorsing expanded federal support for psychedelics research. ...
McConnell Seeks to Close 2018 Hemp “Loophole” in Senate Funding Bill
LOS ANGELES- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is advancing a provision in the FY 2026 agriculture appropriations bill aimed at revising the federal hemp definition to bar products containing any “quantifiable” amount of THC. The action ...
Psilocybin Study Suggests Potential for Longevity Benefits
LOS ANGELES- New preclinical research indicates that psilocybin the active psychoactive compound in psychedelic mushrooms—may significantly extend lifespan in both human cells and aged mice. Published July 8, 2025, in npj Aging, the study found ...
Analysis: A Tale of Two Markets: U.S. Cannabis at a Crossroads as Global Momentum Builds — and Backtracks
LOS ANGELES-The U.S. cannabis industry stands divided. Some state markets are opening and expanding, while others are contracting under the weight of high taxes, regulatory friction, and unrelenting illicit competition. But across all markets, uncertainty ...
California’s Cannabis Tax Hike Could Break the Legal Market — Just as It Was Starting to Stabilize
LOS ANGELES- California's legal cannabis market, already strained by price compression, regulatory overload, and illicit competition, took another hit on July 1 as the state’s cannabis excise tax officially jumped from 15% to 19%. The ...
Analysis: California’s Cannabis Catastrophe: Why the July 1 Tax Hike Threatens an Already-Struggling Industry
LOS ANGELES-California's legal cannabis industry just got hit with a devastating blow. As of July 1, 2025, the cannabis excise tax jumped from 15% to 19% — a nearly 27% hike — pushing total taxes ...
Thai Cannabis Stores Face Uncertainty as Government Tightens Sales Regulations
LOS ANGELES- Thailand’s government has introduced a new order—published in the Royal Gazette on June 26, 2025—mandating that cannabis can now only be sold with a valid medical prescription from licensed practitioners. Cannabis buds have been reclassified ...
Senate Panel Flags Misleading Cannabis Marketing, Backs Psychedelics Research
LOS ANGELES- The Senate Appropriations Committee released a report accompanying the 2026 agriculture and FDA spending bill that raises concerns over deceptive marketing in the cannabis sector while endorsing expanded federal support for psychedelics research. ...
McConnell Seeks to Close 2018 Hemp “Loophole” in Senate Funding Bill
LOS ANGELES- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is advancing a provision in the FY 2026 agriculture appropriations bill aimed at revising the federal hemp definition to bar products containing any “quantifiable” amount of THC. The action ...
Psilocybin Study Suggests Potential for Longevity Benefits
LOS ANGELES- New preclinical research indicates that psilocybin the active psychoactive compound in psychedelic mushrooms—may significantly extend lifespan in both human cells and aged mice. Published July 8, 2025, in npj Aging, the study found ...
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Reduces Stake in COMPASS Pathways by 11.8% in Q2
LOS ANGELES- Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. has reduced its stake in COMPASS Pathways plc (NASDAQ: CMPS) by 11.8% during the second quarter, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). ...
BudLabs: The App Innovating How Cannabis Cultivators Measure Their Success
LOS ANGELES — In cannabis cultivation, staying ahead of the curve requires not only the best products but also the best tools. Advanced Nutrients has taken a significant step in this direction with the development ...
Out-of-State Applicants Dominate Minnesota’s Early Cannabis License Applications
LOS ANGELES- Minnesota's newly established cannabis market is attracting significant interest from out-of-state applicants, according to recent data from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Of the 1,817 pre-applications submitted this summer for various cannabis ...
Bipartisan Lawmakers Push for MDMA Therapy for PTSD as FDA Decision Looms
LOS ANGELES- In a rare show of bipartisanship, 80 members of Congress have united to urge President Joe Biden and the FDA to prioritize research on MDMA-assisted therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The ...
Morocco Pardons 5,000 for Illegal Cannabis Cultivation in Push Toward Legal Market
LOS ANGELES- Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has pardoned nearly 5,000 individuals previously convicted or wanted for illegal cannabis cultivation, a move aimed at facilitating the transition to the legal cannabis market. The royal pardon is ...
Willow Biosciences Posts Record Revenue in Q2
LOS ANGELES- Willow Biosciences Inc. a synthetic biology company specializing in pharmaceutical ingredients, reported record revenue of $1 million for the second quarter of 2024, a 660% increase compared to the same period last year. ...
New York Cannabis Market Report Highlights Progress and Challenges
LOS ANGELES- New York state officials released a comprehensive report this week, reviewing the progress made in the three years since the state's cannabis legalization law was signed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2021. The ...
Week’s In Review: Federal Policy Uncertainty Continues to Challenge U.S. Cannabis Industry; LeafLink Acquires Leaf Trade to Enhance Cannabis Wholesale Platform; Canopy Growth Appoints New CEO Amid Financial Challenges; New York’s Legal Cannabis Sales Approach $1 Billion Milestone
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week’s In Review: GOP Senator Calls for Comprehensive Cannabis Reform, Criticizes Partial Measures; MAPS Wins FDA Approval for Clinical Trials of Medical Cannabis; Curaleaf Secures Massachusetts’ First Cannabis Research License
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week’s In Review: How Do You Target the Right SEC-Accredited Investors in Cannabis?; Amethyst Health Secures Conditional Medical Cannabis License in New York; California’s Cannabis Excise Tax Set to Increase Amid Industry Concerns
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week’s In Review: Trump’s Return to Office: What it Means for the Cannabis Industry; Planet 13 Launches Initiative to Support Florida Veterans and First Responders with Medical Cannabis Access; Mixed Results for Cannabis Initiatives in U.S. States; Texas Voters Approve Local Cannabis Decriminalization in Dallas, Bastrop, and Lockhart
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week’s In Review: Criticism Mounts Over New York’s Social Equity Cannabis Fund for High Costs and Limited Impact; Arizona to Launch Recreational Cannabis Home Delivery; DeSantis Uses Opioid Settlement Funds for Anti-Cannabis Ads Ahead of Ballot Initiative
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week’s In Review: Alabama Judge Appoints Mediator in Medical Cannabis Licensing Dispute; Ascend Wellness Shares Climb 5.3% Amid Low Trading Volume; Unlicensed New York Cannabis Retailer Hit with $9.5 Million Judgment
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: Cannabis Industry Poised for $112 Billion Impact in 2024; New York Opens Applications for $5 Million Cannabis-Funded Community Grants Program; Tennessee Introduces New Regulations for Hemp Product Sales
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: New Hampshire Senate Blocks Cannabis Greenhouse Bill Despite Overwhelming House Support; Tilray Reports 13% Decline in Cannabis Revenue for Q1 FY25; Missouri Health Department Requests $877K to Enforce Hemp Product Ban
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: New York Cannabis Market Report Highlights Progress and Challenges; TerrAscend Secures Additional $26 Million in Loan Draw to Pay Down High-Interest Debt; Harris’s Comments Over Cannabis Reform in the 2024 Presidential Race; FBI Data: Over 200,000 Arrests for Cannabis Possession in 2023
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: California Permits Lounges; Los Angeles County Targets Unlicensed Cannabis Dispensaries with “Deplatforming” Motion; California Bans Hemp-Derived THC Products Amid Regulatory Concerns; California’s New Hemp Regulations Raise Concerns for Industry and Consumers
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: South Carolina AG Confirms Legality of Hemp-Derived THC Beverages; COMPASS Pathways Receives Analyst Ratings; Pennsylvania Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis.
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: Green Thumb Secures $150 Million Syndicated Credit Facility; FDA Consideration of Psilocybin Therapy Could Impact Millions of Depression Patients; Cannabis Sector Volatility Deepens After DEA Rescheduling Delay
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: Ohio Recreational Cannabis Sales Reach Over $44 Million in First Month; DEA Reclassification of Cannabis Raises Regulatory Questions for States; Michigan Cannabis Prices Reach Historic Lows Amid Market Oversupply
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: Curaleaf Reports Revenue Growth in Q2 2024; DEA’s Postponement of Cannabis Rescheduling Raises Uncertainty for Industry; Pakistan Enters Global Hemp Market with Plans for 2025 Cultivation
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Week’s In Review: TerrAscend Corp. Announces $10 Million Share Buyback Program; Bipartisan Lawmakers Push for MDMA Therapy for PTSD as FDA Decision Looms; Verano Acquires Cannabist Company’s Operations in Arizona and Virginia for $105 Million
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...
Ascend Wellness Expands Recreational Cannabis Sales in Ohio
LOS ANGELES- Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. a cannabis operator, announced the expansion of recreational cannabis sales in Ohio to its fifth dispensary in Carroll. The move comes after the company successfully transitioned four other locations—Cincinnati, ...
Maine Regulators Reject Plan to Report High Electricity Usage to Law Enforcement
LOS ANGELES- Maine's Public Utilities Commission has rejected a proposal that would have allowed electric utilities to report high electricity usage to law enforcement as a possible indicator of illegal cannabis cultivation. The measure, proposed ...
California Seizes Over $120 Million in Illegal Cannabis Since January
LOS ANGELES- The Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF) announced this month that it has seized over $120 million worth of illegal cannabis since the beginning of 2024. The task force’s operations also led ...