Insights
Case Study: Grupo Flor: A Cannabis Turnaround Driven by Strategic Focus
SALINAS- When Mark Collins joined Grupo Flor as Chief Financial Officer, the California-based vertically integrated Cannabis company was in severe financial and operational distress. The business held multiple licenses across retail, cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution—far more than it could manage profitably. Heavy tax liabilities and operational inefficiencies threatened the company’s survival. This case study details ...
Did Psilocybin Arrive From Outer Space? New Genomic Study Opens the Door to a Cosmic Possibility
LOS ANGELES — The psychedelic compound psilocybin has long intrigued researchers for its potential to treat mental health conditions, but a groundbreaking study is now shedding new light on where these mushrooms came from—and it’s sparking speculation that their origins could be cosmic. A team from the University of Utah and the Natural History Museum ...
Cannabis Giants Grapple with Weak ROIC, Viridian Report Finds
LOS ANGELES – A recent analysis by Viridian Capital Advisors paints a somber picture for the Cannabis industry, projecting that none [!] of the 11 major companies studied will achieve a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) exceeding their Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) in 2025. This gap signals potential value destruction for investors, as ...
Cannabis Real Estate Valuations Highlight Sector Dynamics
LOS ANGELES – A recent report from Viridian Capital Advisors sheds light on the valuations of four key players in the U.S. Cannabis real estate sector: Chicago Atlantic and AFC Gamma, the leading specialty lenders, and NewLake Capital and Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR), the top sales-leaseback providers. These companies, critical to the infrastructure of Cannabis ...
Ayr Wellness Faces Drastic Restructuring as Noteholders Take Control
LOS ANGELES – Ayr Wellness Inc., a prominent player in the U.S. Cannabis industry, is set to undergo a seismic restructuring that could mark the end of the company as it exists today. On July 30, Ayr announced a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) that hands significant control to its senior secured noteholders. The move signals ...
Cannabis Rescheduling Omitted from Cole’s Priorities, Raising Questions About Trump’s Stance
LOS ANGELES – In a surprising turn, newly appointed DEA administrator Terrance Cole has sidelined Cannabis rescheduling, despite pledging it as a top priority during his April 2025 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. According to a recent strategic priorities document released by Cole, Cannabis reform was conspicuously absent, leaving advocates and analysts questioning the administration’s direction ...
New York’s Licensing Blunder
NEW YORK – NY’s adult-use cannabis market, now boasting 436 licensed dispensaries [a 93-store increase since late 2024] has hit a snag. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) recently acknowledged a critical error in its compliance measurements and issued a proximity correction. A state law prohibits dispensaries within 500 feet of schools or places of ...
Hemp Fiber Market Set to Soar to $30 Billion by 2033, New Analysis Reveals
LOS ANGELES – The global hemp fiber market is poised for explosive growth, with a recent analysis forecasting a valuation exceeding $30 billion by 2033. According to a report by Astute Analytica, the market, valued at $5.78 billion in 2024, is expected to achieve a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.12% over the ...
Rep. Salud Carbajal Responds to DHS Claims After ICE Raid at Cannabis Farm
LOS ANGELES- U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D‑CA‑24) is facing criticism following a July 10 ICE raid at two Glass House Farms cannabis cultivation sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges Carbajal “doxxed” an ICE public affairs officer by publicly displaying the agent’s business card to protesters, leading to injuries ...
Pennsylvania Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- Pennsylvania lawmakers today announced the introduction of two parallel bipartisan bills aimed at legalizing adult-use recreational cannabis. The effort builds on mounting momentum amid state budget pressures and growing public support. In the Senate, Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin (R‑49) and Democratic Sen. Sharif Street (D‑3) unveiled Senate Bill 120 on July 10. The legislation would permit adults ...
DaySavers Introduces ‘Higher Potential’ Scholarship with Over $25,000 in Cannabis Education Awards
LOS ANGELES- DaySavers, the pre‑roll accessories brand under Custom Cones USA, has launched its inaugural Higher Potential Cannabis Education Scholarship—a collective effort backed by industry partners, offering more than $25,000 in financial support for current and aspiring cannabis professionals The scholarship bundle includes direct monetary grants, tuition‑free access to cannabis-related courses and certification programs, mentorships, ...
California Farmworker Dies Following Greenhouse Fall During Chaotic ICE Raid
LOS ANGELES- A 57‑year‑old farmworker, identified as Jaime Alanis Garcia, has died from injuries sustained after falling approximately 30 feet from a greenhouse roof during a July 10 ICE-led raid at a Glass House Farms cannabis facility in Camarillo, California — the first fatality linked to the Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement efforts. The raid targeted two ...
Verano Elevates James Leventis to Chief Strategy & Compliance Officer
LOS ANGELES- Verano Holdings Corp. Announced the promotion of James Leventis to Chief Strategy and Compliance Officer. Leventis, a licensed attorney with nearly 15 years of experience across the healthcare, pharmaceutical, consulting, and cannabis sectors, has been with Verano since 2019 and most recently served as Executive Vice President of Legal, Regulatory and Government Affairs. In ...
HYTN Secures Health Canada Drug Licence to Propel Cannabinoid Prescription Drug Pathway
LOS ANGELES- Vancouver-based HYTN Innovations Inc. (CSE: HYTN; OTC Pink: HYTNF) announced on July 14, 2025, that it has been granted a Cannabis Drug Licence (CDL) by Health Canada, effective July 2. This licence enhances HYTN’s existing Drug Establishment Licence (DEL) and federal cannabis licences, placing it among a select number of Canadian firms authorized to manufacture cannabis-derived pharmaceutical drugs. ...
AYR Wellness Secures Extension of Debt Waiver Ahead of Financial Deadline
LOS ANGELES- AYR Wellness Inc. a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator, announced on July 11, 2025, that it has secured an additional amendment to its Limited Waiver Agreement with holders of a majority of its senior secured notes, extending the waiver period to July 18, 2025. The waiver protects the company from default-related remedies tied to its ...
Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Federal Cannabis Prohibition
LOS ANGELES- A recent survey by the Pew Research Center reveals that just 12 percent of U.S. adults support a federal prohibition on cannabis, with the remaining 88 percent favoring legalization in some form—either solely for medical use or both medical and recreational purposes. The January–February 2025 poll, involving more than 5,000 American adults, found ...
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. Although the legislation includes language to ban hemp-derived products containing any detectable THC, the accompanying report urges further action on ...
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 responds to what McConnell described as an unintended loophole from the 2018 Farm Bill, passed with his support, which legalized ...
Challenges Emerge Over Kentucky’s Medical Cannabis License Lottery
LOS ANGELES- A coalition of Kentucky-based businesses has filed legal proceedings challenging the fairness and constitutionality of the state’s April 2024 medical cannabis license lottery. The lawsuit, lodged in Jefferson Circuit Court on June 27, argues that the Kentucky General Assembly improperly delegated authority to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and its Office ...
New Lawsuit Challenges Lottery Process for Kentucky Medical Cannabis Licenses
LOS ANGELES- A group of Kentucky-based applicants has filed a lawsuit arguing that the state’s lottery system for awarding medical cannabis licenses is unconstitutional and unfairly structured. The suit, filed on June 27 in Jefferson Circuit Court, names the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Sam Flynn, former executive director of the state’s Office of Medical Cannabis ...
Clampdown on Australian Medicinal Cannabis Prescribing Raises Questions on Effectiveness
LOS ANGELES- Health regulators in Australia recently issued reinforced guidance aimed at improving prescribing standards for medicinal cannabis, reflecting growing concerns over patient safety and industry conduct. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), along with the Medical Board of Australia and Nursing and Midwifery Board, have reiterated that medicinal cannabis should be treated with ...
Canadian Court Sides with Psychedelic Therapy Advocates in Psilocybin Exemption Case
LOS ANGELES- A Canadian federal court has ordered Health Canada to revisit its denial of psilocybin exemptions for health-care professionals, marking a significant development in the country’s evolving drug policy landscape. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Therapsil, a non-profit advocating for legal access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Therapsil initially received exemptions under the ...
Dallas Halts Enforcement of Voter‑Approved Cannabis Depenalization Charter
LOS ANGELES- Dallas city officials have suspended the enforcement of a charter amendment approved by 67 percent of voters in November, which decriminalized possession of up to four ounces of cannabis and prohibited arrests based solely on its odor. The pause follows a recent ruling by the 15th Court of Appeals in Austin that temporarily blocked ...
Brazilian App Turns Patient Adoption Into a Cannabis Data Asset
LOS ANGELES- Brazil’s health-tech startup Blis says its mobile platform now supports more than 300,000 registered patients, generates roughly R$2 million (about US$363,000) in monthly revenue and reaches users in more than 1,800 municipalities. By integrating tele-consultation, ANVISA authorization under RDC 660/2022 and direct-to-patient import logistics, the company is accumulating what industry observers describe as ...
Blüm Holdings to Acquire Northern California Cannabis Dispensary
LOS ANGELES- Blüm Holdings Inc, a California-based publicly traded holding company and cannabis operator, has signed a binding all‑stock agreement to acquire a majority stake in a licensed adult‑use and medical cannabis dispensary in Northern California. The deal is valued at up to USD 5.0 million, with additional performance‑based earn‑outs linked to revenue and EBITDA targets. The ...
