Business
Alcohol Trade Group Welcomes Hemp-Derived THC Beverage Maker as First in Category
WASHINGTON – The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), a key advocacy organization for the beverage alcohol distribution sector, has accepted CannaBuzz, a Kentucky-based producer of hemp-derived THC drinks, as its inaugural associate member in the THC beverage category. The move, detailed in a company announcement last week, underscores efforts to integrate regulated cannabinoid ...
EU Releases Cannapol Toolkit to Aid Member States in Crafting Adult-Use Cannabis Rules
BRUSSELS – The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) unveiled the Cannapol toolkit, a set of resources intended to help national governments build regulated markets for recreational Cannabis. Developed over months of consultation with experts and regulators, the toolkit draws on data from early adopters like Germany and Malta to offer practical guidance on everything from ...
Starmer Rules Out Cannabis Legalization in UK
LIVERPOOL – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made clear during a question-and-answer session with high school students this week that his government has no plans to legalize Cannabis, a position that stands in contrast to shifting attitudes across the country. Speaking Tuesday at the Liverpool Echo offices ahead of the Labor Party's annual conference here, ...
Ohio Cannabis Health and Business Summit Returns to I-X Center October 3-4, 2025
CLEVELAND, OH – September 16, 2025 — The Ohio Cannabis Health and Business Summit (OCHBS), founded by entrepreneur and community leader Lenny Berry, returns this fall with its biggest gathering yet. Some of the organizers of OCHBS What began as a grassroots effort to bring healthcare leaders, business innovators, and the cannabis community together has grown ...
Cannabis Stocks Surge After Trump Champions CBD for Seniors — But Is It Another False Dawn?
LOS ANGELES- Cannabis and hemp company shares surged Monday after President Donald Trump publicly endorsed cannabidiol (CBD) as a potential game changer for senior healthcare. His remarks, shared on Truth Social, called for CBD to be integrated into the healthcare system and even covered under Medicare — sparking renewed optimism for federal reform. But for ...
Cracking the Code to California Cannabis Success: Anaheim Hosts Market Spotlight on October 8
LOS ANGELES- California is the largest Cannabis market in the world, setting trends that shape global culture, regulation, and business strategy. On October 8, 2025, leaders from across the industry will gather in Anaheim for IgniteIt’s Market Spotlight: California — a one-day event focused on actionable strategies for operators, investors, and policymakers. After two sold-out ...
Week In Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – Wrapping up September 2025, it's clear the U.S. Cannabis sector is buzzing with a mix of encouraging expansion signs and sobering challenges, ranging from record-breaking sales in emerging markets to the frustrating realities of illicit infiltration, margin squeezes, and Trump’s tariff pressures. While psychedelics research simmers quietly without major breakthroughs, Cannabis operators ...
Texas Regulators Set Age Limit on Hemp-Derived THC Sales
AUSTIN – The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) voted unanimously on Tuesday to bar liquor-license holders from selling hemp-derived THC products to customers under 21, marking the state's initial response to Governor Greg Abbott's call for tighter controls on the multibillion-dollar industry. Enforcement of the emergency rule begins October 1, with violators facing immediate license ...
High Tide Expands Canna Cabana Footprint in Ontario and Alberta
CALGARY – High Tide, Inc. announced plans to open three new Canna Cabana stores in the coming weeks, adding dispensaries in North York and Etobicoke, Ontario, and Fort McMurray, Alberta. The move pushes the company's total to 210 locations nationwide, with 88 in Ontario and 89 in Alberta. The North York site sits in a ...
Grown Rogue Takes Full Ownership of Illinois Cultivation Project
MEDFORD – Grown Rogue International Inc. has acquired the remaining 30% stake in its Illinois subsidiary, Rogue EBC LLC, for $1.5 million. The transaction, announced Sunday, brings the company's ownership to 100% and clears the way for unencumbered development of a new indoor facility in the state. The payment structure spreads the cost over time: ...
Winners and Losers in Cannabis: The Efficiency Divide
LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Cannabis industry is evolving—but not in the way headlines suggest. Yes, national retail sales remain strong at a $32 billion annualized pace. And yes, states like New York and Ohio are posting impressive gains following adult-use rollouts. But the real story—the one determining which operators thrive and which fade away—is ...
Highly Capitalized Network Launches “Battle of the Brands” — A New Show Redefining Cannabis Marketing Conversations
LOS ANGELES— Highly Capitalized Network (HCN), a leading business and financial media platform for Cannabis, today announced the launch of its newest original series: Battle of the Brands. This new podcast series brings together some of the most respected voices in the industry for candid conversations about the future of Cannabis branding, marketing, and consumer ...
Curaleaf Gains Entry to S&P/TSX Composite Index, Today Officially
TORONTO – Today, Curaleaf Holdings Inc. officially joined the S&P/TSX Composite Index, becoming the first U.S.-based Cannabis company to achieve this status. The addition, effective before the market open and following a two-week set period, positions Curaleaf under the healthcare category within Canada's main equity benchmark, which tracks roughly 250 large-cap stocks. Curaleaf's inclusion reflects ...
GTI Launches $50M Share Buyback Program
CHICAGO – Green Thumb Industries announced that its board has approved a program to repurchase up to $50 million of its subordinate voting shares over the next year. The initiative, set to begin on September 23 and run through September 22, 2026, allows the company to acquire as many as 10.4 million shares through open ...
Switzerland Advances Draft for Regulated Cannabis Sales with Centralized Online Distribution
BERN – Switzerland has released a draft proposal for legalizing adult-use Cannabis, featuring a tightly controlled system that includes one authorized online retailer alongside licensed brick-and-mortar stores. The plan, now open for public input through a three-month consultation period starting this month, aims to shift consumers away from the black market while prioritizing public health ...
GTI Opens Rise Dispensaries in Minnesota, Expanding Access to Adult-Use Cannabis Buyers
CHICAGO – Green Thumb Industries (GTI) announced opening its Rise dispensaries across Minnesota, marking a key step in the state's shift to broader access for adult consumers. The move comes two years after lawmakers approved legalization, allowing established medical providers to expand into the general market ahead of a full retail licensing rollout. Sales start ...
Verano Adds Crystal River Location, Reaching 82 Dispensaries in Florida
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. has expanded its presence in Florida by opening a new MÜV dispensary in Crystal River, bringing its total to 82 stores statewide and 152 nationwide. This move bolsters Verano's network along Florida's western edge, close to existing outlets in Ocala, Spring Hill and Lady Lake. The company runs one of ...
Verano Announces Redomicile from British Columbia to Nevada
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. has put forward a plan to shift its parent company's incorporation from British Columbia to Nevada. The board gave its nod to the proposal on September 15, and the company now aims to secure shareholder backing at a special meeting. The move, outlined in a preliminary proxy statement filed with ...
Rad Recruitment Launches “AIRS – AI Recruitment Systems” to Help Cannabis Operators Hire Faster, Smarter, and at Lower Cost
LOS ANGELES - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Rad Recruitment Launches “AIRS – AI Recruitment Systems” to Help Cannabis Operators Hire Faster, Smarter, and at Lower Cost Embedded, AI-powered talent system greatly reduces time-to-hire and talent spend while strengthening employer branding and compliance across tightly regulated markets. September 9, 2025 — Rad Recruitment, a division of ...
Rhode Island Launched Applications for Additional Cannabis Retail Licenses
PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission has started taking applications for 24 additional adult-use Cannabis retail licenses, a step that expands the state's recreational market three years after legalization. The licenses are spread across six geographic zones, with a cap of four stores per zone to ensure balanced distribution. Among them, six are ...
Week In Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – Wrapping up the first half of September 2025, it's worth noting that the Cannabis & Psychedelics industries continue proving their resilience amid political uncertainty and turbulent market dynamics. From stock rallies signaling undervaluation to regulatory shifts aimed at stabilizing operations, this Week in Review highlights a sector balancing regulatory and financial pressures ...
Cannabist Expands Ohio Footprint with Norwalk Dispensary Opening
NORWALK – The Cannabist Company marked a key step in its regional strategy by opening its first branded retail outlet in Norwalk, Ohio. The location represents the company's sixth storefront in the state and introduces Cannabis sales to Huron County for the first time, under a license that accommodates both medical Cannabis patients and recreational ...
Cannabis Real Estate Trends: What’s Selling Right Now
LOS ANGELES- The Cannabis industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace — but one thing remains constant: real estate is the foundation of every successful Cannabis business. The right property doesn’t just house operations; it determines whether a company can get licensed, open its doors quickly, and compete effectively in a tightly regulated environment. ...
Morocco Approves Licenses for 67 Cannabis-Based Products
RABAT – Moroccan regulators have cleared 67 Cannabis-derived products, signaling steady progress in the country's push toward a structured legal framework for the plant. The batch includes 26 cosmetic items and 41 dietary supplements, each vetted and registered by the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products for either local distribution or overseas shipment. This ...
The Scrappy Cannabis Retailer’s Playbook
LOS ANGELES- A Practical Guide to Building a Smarter Marketing System by Tim Naughton. The Cannabis retail landscape is competitive, taxed heavily, and increasingly crowded by new entrants including Hemp and THCA brands selling direct to consumer. In this hyper-competitive and dynamic environment, marketers ought to live on the cutting edge, looking for opportunities to ...
