Business
Planet 13 Exits California, Focusing on Nevada and Florida
LAS VEGAS – Planet 13 Holdings Inc., the vertically integrated Cannabis operator known for its expansive Las Vegas flagship, disclosed plans this week to sell off its sole California retail outlet and shutter its cultivation operation there, signaling a deliberate shift toward its primary strongholds. The moves involve transferring the company's Orange County dispensary license ...
Alcohol Giants Press Congress to Outlaw Intoxicating Hemp Derivatives
WASHINGTON – In a letter sent Tuesday, a coalition of leading alcohol trade groups urged congressional leaders to suspend sales of intoxicating hemp-derived products until federal rules can be established, warning that the market's unchecked growth endangers consumers and violates existing law. The American Distilled Spirits Alliance, Beer Institute, Distilled Spirits Council of the United ...
Missouri Trade Group Report Finds 96% of Tested Hemp Products Exceed THC Thresholds
KANSAS CITY – A new investigation by the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade) has concluded that nearly all hemp-derived products sold at unregulated retailers in the state contain illegal levels of THC, raising questions about consumer safety and market oversight in the $1.2 billion U.S. hemp sector. The report, titled Missouri Hemp Hoax, details testing ...
Stiiizy Halts Sales at Catalyst Outlets as Leadership Clash Deepens
LOS ANGELES – Stiiizy, California's dominant Cannabis brand with a footprint in Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, has stopped supplying its products to Catalyst Cannabis Co. stores, marking a sharp break in what was once a key retail partnership. The move, confirmed by Stiiizy, stems from ongoing friction between the companies' leadership teams. The decision affects ...
Bioxyne Reports Record Revenue, Yet Cash Outflows Climb on Expansion Push
SYDNEY – Bioxyne Limited, an Australian life sciences and wellness products company, posted its highest quarterly revenue on record for the period ended September 30, with sales reaching A$14.1 million, a 210% jump from the prior-year quarter and 47% above the previous three months. The results signal robust demand in Europe and the United Kingdom, ...
Lebanon Legalizes Cannabis, Forms Oversight Body, Targeting $1B in Annual Revenue
BEIRUT – In a significant step forward in leveraging its Cannabis sector for economic relief, the Lebanese government established a dedicated committee to regulate the cultivation and sales of Cannabis under a long-dormant 2020 law. The move could channel up to $1 billion yearly into the state treasury, according to projections from McKinsey & Company. ...
Verano Shareholders Approve Corporate Home Relocation to Nevada
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. secured strong backing from investors to move its parent company's legal base from British Columbia, Canada, to Nevada. The approval came during a special shareholder meeting, clearing a key hurdle in the company's effort to align its structure more closely with its American operations. The vote passed with broad support, ...
MariMed Strikes Licensing Deal to Bring Edibles Line to New York Market
NORWOOD – MariMed Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Farm 2 Hand, LLC, a licensed cultivator and processor in New York, to roll out its lineup of edibles across the state starting in 2026. Under the pact, Farm 2 Hand will handle manufacturing and distribution for MariMed's key brands, including Betty’s Eddies fruit chews, ...
Germany Boosts Medical Cannabis Import Cap
BERLIN – German health authorities have increased the annual limit on medical Cannabis imports to 192.5 metric tons, in an effort to keep up with the rapid growth in patient demand while the country navigates regulatory challenges and supply issues. The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) adjusted the quota upward from an ...
Emerald Intel Acquires Cannabiz Media, Expanding Reach in Cannabis Intelligence Sector
ANNAPOLIS – Emerald Intel, a key player in Cannabis market data, revealed its purchase of Cannabiz Media, a long-standing directory of licensed operators and decision-makers in the North American Cannabis space. The transaction, announced via a joint press release, aims to fuse the companies' datasets into a single, more robust resource for sales teams, compliance ...
Circle K Eyes National Expansion for Hemp THC Drinks in 2026
LOS ANGELES – Circle K, the convenience store chain with nearly 7,000 locations across the United States, disclosed plans this week to distribute hemp-derived THC beverages in up to 3,000 stores starting next year. The initiative partners the retailer with Horticulture Co. and Viola to introduce THC-infused drinks nationwide. The rollout begins with a limited ...
Manitoba Cannabis Sales Accelerate, Leaving Liquor in the Rearview
WINNIPEG – Cannabis revenues in Manitoba posted double-digit gains, handily surpassing liquor sales and underscoring the steady climb of the province's legal Cannabis trade. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, the corporation charged with distributing both products, reported Cannabis sales reaching $170.1 million, a 10.7% increase from $153.6 million the year before. That added $16.5 million to ...
FLUENT Consolidates NY Retail Presence
NEW YORK – FLUENT Corp., a Cannabis operator with roots in Florida and Pennsylvania, has completed the rebranding of two key dispensaries in New York, bringing its retail operations in the state under a single corporate FLUENT banner for the first time. The company unveiled the changes at its Manhattan location and the White Plains ...
Australian Policy Group Cautions TGA on Medicinal Cannabis Restrictions, Fearing Shift to Illicit Sources
SYDNEY – A prominent drug policy organization in Australia has urged federal regulators to avoid curtailing access to prescription medicinal Cannabis, arguing that such steps could drive patients toward unregulated street supplies and erode the stability of the legal sector. In a submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released last week, the Penington Institute ...
Pre-Rolls Claim Top Spot in Canadian Cannabis Sales, Signal Shift Across the US
LOS ANGELES – Pre-rolled Cannabis joints have quietly moved ahead of loose flower to become the leading product in Canada's $5.8 billion 2024 legal market, a milestone that underscores a broader turn toward convenience in North American consumption habits. In the United States, where the category trails flower but posts the sharpest gains, analysts see ...
LinkedIn Research Study: People Don’t Trust What You Say — They Trust What Others Say About You
LOS ANGELES- According to LinkedIn’s 2025 B2B Marketing Benchmark, video is now the #1 driver of trust — outperforming every other content format for credibility and conversion. The study shows that brands using video and creator-led storytelling build trust up to 2.5x faster and generate 2–3x higher engagement than those relying on static content. That ...
What’s Changing Now for Cannabis Operators: Lessons from Anaheim’s IgniteIt 2025
LOS ANGELES- The cannabis industry has always been about resilience, reinvention, and relentless adaptation. At this year’s IgniteIt Market Spotlight: California (formerly the Benzinga Cannabis Conference) in Anaheim, that message was louder than ever. The event gathered California’s leading operators, investors, regulators, and innovators for a candid look at what comes next—and what must change ...
Global Cannabis Market Tightens Amid Surging Demand and Supply Snags
LOS ANGELES – Germany's medical Cannabis imports jumped more than 400% in H1 2025, pushing the European market into a period of rapid expansion and testing the limits of international supply chains. That surge has drawn heavy exports from Canada and created openings for established players while squeezing margins for others. The Federal Institute for ...
Alternaleaf Rolls Out Targeted Cannabis Program for UK Women’s Health Issues
LONDON – Alternaleaf, the United Kingdom's online medical Cannabis clinic, launched a new service this week aimed at treating gynecological and hormonal disorders with therapies involving Cannabis. The initiative marks the first of its kind in the country, offering an option for patients frustrated by public health delays and limited conventional remedies. The service targets ...
Tilray Medical Expands to Panama Market
NEW YORK – Tilray Medical, the pharmaceutical arm of Tilray Brands Inc., has secured a medical Cannabis license in Panama, marking its latest step into Central America. The company formed a joint venture with local firm Top Tech Global Inc. to handle operations, gaining approval for cultivation, manufacturing, import, export, distribution, and sales of Cannabis ...
Verano Launches Dispensary in Restored Ohio Train Depot
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. marked another step in its Ohio operations with the announcement of a grand opening for its Zen Leaf dispensary in Antwerp, a small village in northwest Ohio. The site, set to welcome customers Friday, occupies a meticulously restored 19th-century train depot that dates to 1880 and holds a place on ...
Glass House Brands Marks Milestone as First U.S. Cannabis Stock Tradable on Robinhood
LOS ANGELES – Glass House Brands Inc. began trading on the Robinhood app this week, opening the door for a broader swath of retail investors to access shares in a vertically integrated multistate Cannabis operator. The listing, effective October 13, positions Glass House as the first major American Cannabis company whose stock can be bought ...
Planet 13 Expands Florida Footprint
LAS VEGAS – Planet 13 Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated Cannabis operator with cultivation, production, and retail operations in four states, launched its latest medical Cannabis outlet in DeLand, Florida. The store, situated in the city's downtown district, marks the company's 33rd location in the state and its 37th across the United States. The DeLand ...
AYR Wellness Kicks Off Public Auction in Debt Restructuring Push
LOS ANGELES – Miami-based AYR Wellness Inc. moved ahead with its financial reset by starting Article 9 foreclosure proceedings under the Uniform Commercial Code to auction core assets. Odyssey Trust Company, serving as collateral trustee for the senior noteholders, sent out notices of disposition. The public sale takes place November 10, 2025, in the New ...
From Cherokee to California: The New Bipartisan Crackdown on ‘Kid-Friendly’ Cannabis Marketing
LOS ANGELES- The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) issued fresh guidance this week reminding licensees that marketing, packaging, and labeling that could appeal to minors is strictly prohibited under MAUCRSA. It specifically highlighted bright candy-like visuals, seasonal promotions, and digital ordering systems as risk areas — the exact same themes Tillis (main image) cited ...
