Business

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 is rising — and it’s not just an American story anymore. Globally, cannabis policy is advancing in some countries and ...

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 increase, part of a 2022 legislative compromise, is being called a potential death blow by operators and advocates who have ...

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 on legal cannabis to as high as 50% in some localities when state and local taxes are combined. For an ...

LOS ANGELES- IM Cannabis Corp. a Canada-based medical cannabis provider operating in Israel and Germany, has filed a registration statement for a mixed securities shelf worth up to USD 50 million. The filing, submitted June 26 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, enables the company to issue common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, or units as ...

LOS ANGELES- The global Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) market is forecast to grow from $2.88 billion in 2025 to $5.19 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%, according to a recent analysis by ResearchAndMarkets. The projected expansion is fueled by rising demand for cloud-based solutions, increasing adoption of automation in ...

DALLAS - In a move that stunned the Texas political establishment and delighted the state’s burgeoning hemp industry, Governor Greg Abbott last weekend vetoed Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), a measure that would have banned virtually all hemp-derived THC products—including popular variants like Delta-8, Delta-9, and Delta-10. The veto not only exposed a rare public ...

LOS ANGELES- Verano Holdings Corp. a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator, entered into an exclusive distribution partnership with Arizona-based Grow Sciences to launch a curated selection of premium cannabis flower and solventless extracts in Illinois. Starting June 21, thirteen Grow Sciences strains—including Prickly Pear, Florida Jack, and Jelly RTZ—will be available at all ten Zen Leaf dispensaries across the state, with ...

LOS ANGELES— The expansion of high-potency cannabis products—such as concentrated extracts, edibles, and potent vaping liquids is increasingly challenging health-care facilities and legal systems across North America. Emergency departments in the U.S. and Canada report rising visits due to high-THC cannabis use. Symptoms include acute psychosis, severe anxiety, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) a debilitating ...

LOS ANGELES- Zamnesia—a European online retailer specializing in cannabis seeds—has partnered with Method Man’s cannabis brand, TICAL, to launch eight exclusive premium seeds across the U.S. and Europe. The collaboration, announced in early June 2025, targets both seasoned home growers and collectors. The seed collection, personally curated and approved by the hip‑hop artist, includes strains ...

LOS ANGELES- Aurora Cannabis Inc. publicly refuted recent reports claiming it was acquiring New Zealand–based MedLeaf Therapeutics. In a statement issued on June 18, 2025, the Edmonton-headquartered company confirmed it “has not entered into any such agreement, has had no discussions with MedLeaf Therapeutics with respect to any business combination transaction, and has not made ...

LOS ANGELES- Apex Labs Ltd. has secured approval from Israel’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and relevant ethics boards to expand its ongoing Phase 2b SUMMIT‑90 clinical trial assessing macrodose psilocybin therapy (APEX‑90) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The company will add two new sites: Tel Aviv University’s Institute for Psychedelic Research at the Sagol Brain Institute ...

LOS ANGELES- Rose Hill Apothecary, the research-grade psilocybin arm of Rose Hill Life Sciences, has executed its inaugural international export deal, shipping 18 kilograms of dried psilocybin-containing mushrooms to Biocase Brasil Importação e Comércio de Medicamentos Ltda. The export took place under Brazil’s regulatory framework to support medicinal research initiatives. The shipment marks a significant ...

LOS ANGELES- Brown‑Forman Corp., producer of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, cites three primary factors contributing to reduced whiskey consumption in the U.S.: increasing cannabis use, the popularity of GLP‑1 weight‑loss medications, and softer demand among Generation Z. CEO Lawson Whiting emphasized that these are pressing challenges for the category, noting that this trend has persisted ...

LOS ANGELES- AYR Wellness Inc. a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator, has entered into a Limited Waiver Agreement with holders of a majority of its senior secured notes . Under this agreement, noteholders temporarily agree not to enforce certain default-related provisions relating to AYR’s delayed filing of interim financial results for Q1 2025 and potential non-payments ...

LOS ANGELES- Village Farms International Inc. has finalized the transaction to privatize its fresh produce operations, marking a strategic shift to concentrate on its cannabis ventures. The deal, completed on May 30, 2025, involves the transfer of the majority of its produce assets to Vanguard Food LP, a joint venture with private investment firms including ...

LOS ANGELES- Running a cannabis business means speaking more than the language of cultivation and branding — it means speaking compliance, with all its acronyms. You’ve likely seen a wall of them — ADA, OSHA, EEOC, FMLA, DOL, and more — and thought, “Do I really need to know all this?” The answer: absolutely. These ...

LOS ANGELES- FLUENT Corp.a vertically integrated cannabis operator, has initiated cultivation at its new Rosa indoor facility in Tampa, Florida. This development adds 9,200 square feet of high-efficiency indoor canopy to the company's operations, marking a significant step in its 2025 growth strategy. The Rosa facility comprises three sealed indoor grow rooms equipped with advanced ...

LOS ANGELES- A collaborative study led by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies has constructed the most comprehensive genetic map of Cannabis sativa to date, analyzing 193 genomes from 144 biological samples. This pangenome reveals extensive genetic diversity, offering insights into cannabinoid biosynthesis, plant resilience, and potential for crop improvement. Key Findings: Genetic Diversity: The ...

LOS ANGELES- AYR Wellness Inc., a U.S.-based multi-state cannabis operator, announced a delay in filing its Q1 2025 financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), originally due on May 30, 2025. The company cited ongoing negotiations with creditors and a comprehensive strategic review as primary reasons for the postponement. The delay is attributed to ...

LOS ANGELES- Three of New Zealand's medicinal cannabis companies—Helius Therapeutics, Green Leaf Group, and Elysian Group—have announced plans to merge into a single entity named Helius Health. The proposed consolidation aims to integrate the full value chain of prescribing, manufacturing, and dispensing medicinal cannabis products. The merger is subject to shareholder approval, with finalization anticipated ...

LOS ANGELES- MediPharm Labs Corp. has commenced production of its cannabis metered dose inhalers for the European Union and United Kingdom markets. This initiative is part of an exclusive sales and distribution agreement with Blackpoint Limited, targeting the €834 million European medicinal cannabis market projected for 2024 . The inhalers are manufactured under Good Manufacturing ...

LOS ANGELES- Rubicon Organics Inc. has announced the fulfillment of all conditions precedent related to its agreement with MediPharm Labs Inc. for the acquisition of a 47,500-square-foot indoor cultivation facility located in Hope, British Columbia. The transaction, valued at $4.5 million in cash, is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2025. The facility, ...

LOS ANGELES- Curaleaf International, in collaboration with Jupiter Research LLC, a subsidiary of TILT Holdings Inc., has secured European Union (EU) medical device certification for a handheld liquid inhalation device designed for precise medical cannabis administration. The device is now certified as a Class IIa medical device under EU Regulation 2017/745, meeting stringent European regulatory ...

DALLAS-In a sweeping move that could reshape Texas' booming hemp industry, the state House of Representatives has passed an amended version of Senate Bill 3 that bans all hemp products containing any form or amount of THC—including widely available Delta-8 and Delta-10 products. The legislation, passed late Wednesday night, follows intense pressure from Republican Lt. ...