Insights
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 ...
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 ...
AYR Wellness Delays Q1 2025 Filing
LOS ANGELES- AYR Wellness Inc. a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., has reported a delay in filing its interim financial statements, MD&A, and related CEO/CFO certification for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The postponement stems from ongoing negotiations with creditors and assessments of accounting classifications for debt obligations being discussed with ...
Aurora Cannabis Refutes AI-Generated Deal Reports on Investing.com
LOS ANGELES- Aurora Cannabis Inc. has officially dismissed two recent articles published on Investing.com that falsely claimed the company entered into a $215 million acquisition of New Zealand’s MedLeaf Therapeutics and a strategic partnership with Germany-based MediPharm GmbH for cannabis distribution in Europe. According to a company-issued press release, both stories were created with “the support ...
Minnesota Enacts Law Enhancing Employment Protections for Medical Cannabis Patients
LOS ANGELES— A new Minnesota law, Senate File 2370 (SF 2370), which took effect on May 24, 2025, introduces expanded employment protections for registered medical cannabis patients. Under the law, employers must now provide a 14-day written notice before taking any adverse employment action—such as termination or discipline—against a medical cannabis patient who tests positive ...
Legislative Wave Follows Growth of Hemp-Infused Beverage Market
LOS ANGELES- The market for hemp-derived cannabis beverages has expanded rapidly since the 2018 federal legalization of hemp, reaching an estimated value of over $1 billion today and projected to exceed $30 billion by 2035. These ready-to-drink products—including seltzers, tonics, and teas infused with cannabinoids such as delta-8 and delta-9 THC—are sold outside traditional dispensaries, ...
Emerging Programs Aim to Democratize Cannabis Cultivation
LOS ANGELES- Governments, industry groups, and educational institutions are launching a wave of initiatives aimed at lowering barriers to entry in cannabis cultivation and production—efforts collectively referred to as “democratizing cannabis production.” These programs focus on expanding access to resources, training, and licensing, with a particular emphasis on supporting small growers, social equity participants, and ...
Hawaii Governor Vetoes Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Over Privacy Concerns
LOS ANGELES– Hawaii Governor Josh Green has vetoed House Bill 302 (HB 302), a measure aimed at expanding the state’s medical cannabis program, due to concerns over patient privacy provisions, his office confirmed on June 9, 2025. The legislation would have authorized certified medical professionals to issue cannabis certifications via telehealth and introduced several regulatory updates, ...
Michigan Dispensary Agrees to $205K Settlement Over Withheld Tip Dispute
LOS ANGELES- A Michigan-based cannabis dispensary chain, Timber Cannabis, has agreed to pay $205,000 to resolve a lawsuit filed by employees claiming management withheld customer tips. While the company did not admit to any wrongdoing, U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman described the settlement as “fair and appropriate” during a hearing earlier this month. Lead plaintiff ...
ProStar SEO Identifies Key Google Ranking Factors for Cannabis Businesses
LOS ANGELES- ProStar SEO, a Canadian firm specializing in search engine optimization, has released new insights identifying the most influential Google ranking factors specific to cannabis industry websites. The report, based on a large-scale analysis of more than 5,000 potential variables, aims to guide cannabis businesses in enhancing their organic search visibility amid stringent advertising ...
Michigan Cannabis Retailer to Pay $205K in Settlement Over Workers’ Lost Tips
LOS ANGELES— Federal Judge Matthew Leitman has approved a $205,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by employees of Timber Cannabis, a seven-location cannabis dispensary chain in Michigan. The lawsuit alleged that management appropriated tips left by customers in 2024, after budtenders had previously earned up to $150 per shift in gratuities The lead plaintiff, budtender ...
Cannabis Stocks Decline as Federal Reform Stalls in U.S
LOS ANGELES- U.S. cannabis stocks have declined sharply as investor enthusiasm dampens amid continued delays in federal reform. The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF dropped around 48% in 2024, with company shares like Curaleaf, Verano, and Green Thumb falling between 31% and 73%. The market’s downturn is rooted in persistent regulatory obstacles: Congress has not ...
Minnesota Awards 249 Cannabis Business Licenses in State’s First Lottery
LOS ANGELES- Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) held its inaugural lottery on June 5, 2025, awarding 249 provisional licenses for social equity and general applicants across four categories: cultivator, manufacturer, mezzobusiness, and retailer. The recipients were selected from 776 qualified applicants, with social equity participants—including military veterans, individuals from economically disadvantaged areas, and those ...
Trump Administration Proposes Elimination of Federal Protections for State Medical Cannabis Programs
LOS ANGELES- The Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal includes the removal of a longstanding provision that prohibits the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using federal funds to interfere with state-legal medical cannabis programs. This provision, known as the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, has been in place since 2014 and has been renewed annually to protect ...
Italy Enacts Security Decree Targeting Protests, Squatting, and Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES— Italy's Senate has passed a comprehensive security decree introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition, intensifying penalties for public demonstrations, unauthorized property occupations, and the commercial sale of certain cannabis products. The legislation, approved with 109 votes in favor, 69 against, and one abstention, follows prior approval by the lower house and ...
Cannabis Use Among Seniors Sees Significant Uptick
LOS ANGELES- A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine highlights a notable increase in cannabis use among U.S. adults aged 65 and older. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that past-month cannabis use in this demographic rose from 4.8% in 2021 to 7.0% in 2023, marking a nearly 46% ...
Atai Life Sciences and Beckley Psytech Announce Strategic Merger to Form Atai Beckley
LOS ANGELES- Atai Life Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company, and Beckley Psytech, a private UK-based biotechnology firm, have announced a definitive agreement to merge, creating a new entity named Atai Beckley. The all-share transaction values Beckley Psytech at approximately $370 million, with its shareholders set to receive about 105 million new shares, representing a 31% stake ...
California Cannabis Industry Pursues Self-Regulation
LOS ANGELES- In response to ongoing regulatory challenges and concerns about product safety, California's cannabis industry is exploring self-regulation measures to bolster consumer trust and ensure compliance within the legal market. The Environmental Consumer Compliance Organization (ECCO), a newly established industry-led group, recently conducted its inaugural audit of a licensed cannabis business in California. This ...
