Insights
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 ...
Curaleaf Takes Full Control of European Arm in Bold Strategic Move
LOS ANGELES - In a major development out of the cannabis industry, Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA, OTCQX: CURLF) has just announced it’s taken full ownership of Curaleaf International, buying out its minority partner’s stake in a deal finalized on July 2. Sources confirm the transaction, executed through a 2021 Put/Call Option agreement, hands Curaleaf ...
TerrAscend Exits Michigan Market; Bay City–Burton Dispensaries to Close
LOS ANGELES -TerrAscend Corp., a publicly traded multi-state cannabis operator, announced plans to exit its Michigan operations by September 2025. The decision includes closing 20 retail outlets, including dispensaries in Bay City and Burton, along with four cultivation and processing centers. Approximately 250 employees across the state are expected to lose their positions. In a ...
Vireo Growth and Curio Wellness Forge Partnership to Enter New York Market
LOS ANGELES- Vireo Growth Inc. and Curio Wellness have announced a manufacturing-and-distribution agreement aimed at introducing Curio’s Best Self Collection into New York’s licensed cannabis market. Vireo will leverage its existing infrastructure to produce and distribute Curio’s full product portfolio—topicals, tablets, chews, and vapes—under a licensing model The deal adopts a capital-light approach: Curio gains ...
SAFER Banking Act Frozen as Lawmakers Tackle War and Budget Issues
LOS ANGELES – The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act, a bipartisan effort to grant state-legal cannabis businesses access to traditional banking services, remains mired in political gridlock, overshadowed by competing legislative priorities. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), a lead sponsor of the bill, recently acknowledged that despite his efforts to push the legislation ...
Nebraska Reverses Access to Botanical Cannabis Under Emergency Regulations
LOS ANGELES- Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen approved emergency rules on June 29, establishing a medical cannabis licensing framework effective immediately for up to 90 days. The regulations respond to Measure 438, approved by voters in November 2024, which permits patients access to up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a practitioner’s recommendation. The emergency rules propel the ...
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 as controlled herbal medicine, and sales without prescriptions are subject to potential penalties including up to one year in jail ...
Atai and Beckley Psytech Report Positive Phase 2b Results for BPL‑003
LOS ANGELES- Atai Life Sciences and Beckley Psytech have announced positive topline results from their Phase 2b clinical trial of BPL‑003, an intranasal formulation of mebufotenin benzoate, in patients with treatment‑resistant depression (TRD). The multicenter, randomized, quadruple‑masked study involved 193 patients across six countries and met its primary endpoint: a single dose (8 mg or 12 mg) ...
Kentucky Nears Operational Start for Medical Cannabis Dispensaries
LOS ANGELES- Kentucky is approaching the launch of medical cannabis sales as state regulators complete final preparations for the opening of licensed dispensaries. Although the state’s medical cannabis law took effect on January 1, 2025, retail access remains unavailable. Governor Andy Beshear recently indicated that dispensaries could begin operations by late 2025, with regulators currently ...
