News
Cybin Raises $175M in Direct Offering, Reinforcing Psychedelic Pipeline
TORONTO – Cybin Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on psychedelic-based treatments for mental health disorders, disclosed a $175 million registered direct offering, drawing commitments from a roster of established biotech investors. The deal, priced at $6.51 per share or pre-funded warrant, stands as the biggest capital infusion in the psychedelics field [!] this year, ...
MariMed Steps Away from Missouri Operations
NORWOOD – In a sharp turn from expansion plans, MariMed Inc. announced it is shutting down its Missouri operations, ending a yearlong effort to build a foothold in the state's burgeoning recreational market and opting instead to channel investments into states where it already holds solid ground. The decision, detailed in a company statement, marks ...
Lebanon Legalizes Cannabis, Forms Oversight Body, Targeting $1B in Annual Revenue
BEIRUT – In a significant step forward in leveraging its Cannabis sector for economic relief, the Lebanese government established a dedicated committee to regulate the cultivation and sales of Cannabis under a long-dormant 2020 law. The move could channel up to $1 billion yearly into the state treasury, according to projections from McKinsey & Company. ...
Verano Shareholders Approve Corporate Home Relocation to Nevada
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. secured strong backing from investors to move its parent company's legal base from British Columbia, Canada, to Nevada. The approval came during a special shareholder meeting, clearing a key hurdle in the company's effort to align its structure more closely with its American operations. The vote passed with broad support, ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – Executives and operators in the Cannabis and psychedelics sectors wrapped up another fortnight with a mix of regulatory headwinds, financial maneuvers, and market validations that underscore the sector's resilience. From bipartisan efforts to safeguard youth exposure to breakthroughs in debt management and explosive sales in new recreational states, these developments reveal a ...
MariMed Strikes Licensing Deal to Bring Edibles Line to New York Market
NORWOOD – MariMed Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Farm 2 Hand, LLC, a licensed cultivator and processor in New York, to roll out its lineup of edibles across the state starting in 2026. Under the pact, Farm 2 Hand will handle manufacturing and distribution for MariMed's key brands, including Betty’s Eddies fruit chews, ...
Germany Boosts Medical Cannabis Import Cap
BERLIN – German health authorities have increased the annual limit on medical Cannabis imports to 192.5 metric tons, in an effort to keep up with the rapid growth in patient demand while the country navigates regulatory challenges and supply issues. The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) adjusted the quota upward from an ...
Emerald Intel Acquires Cannabiz Media, Expanding Reach in Cannabis Intelligence Sector
ANNAPOLIS – Emerald Intel, a key player in Cannabis market data, revealed its purchase of Cannabiz Media, a long-standing directory of licensed operators and decision-makers in the North American Cannabis space. The transaction, announced via a joint press release, aims to fuse the companies' datasets into a single, more robust resource for sales teams, compliance ...
Whiskey Maker Trims Footprint as Buyers Turn to Cannabis
SEATTLE – Heritage Distilling Company, a craft spirits producer based in the Pacific Northwest, disclosed plans this week to streamline its operations, pointing to changing buyer habits that favor Cannabis products over traditional liquor. The company, known for its award-winning whiskeys and vodkas produced at facilities in Oregon and Washington, will shutter its tasting rooms ...
Circle K Eyes National Expansion for Hemp THC Drinks in 2026
LOS ANGELES – Circle K, the convenience store chain with nearly 7,000 locations across the United States, disclosed plans this week to distribute hemp-derived THC beverages in up to 3,000 stores starting next year. The initiative partners the retailer with Horticulture Co. and Viola to introduce THC-infused drinks nationwide. The rollout begins with a limited ...
Manitoba Cannabis Sales Accelerate, Leaving Liquor in the Rearview
WINNIPEG – Cannabis revenues in Manitoba posted double-digit gains, handily surpassing liquor sales and underscoring the steady climb of the province's legal Cannabis trade. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, the corporation charged with distributing both products, reported Cannabis sales reaching $170.1 million, a 10.7% increase from $153.6 million the year before. That added $16.5 million to ...
FLUENT Consolidates NY Retail Presence
NEW YORK – FLUENT Corp., a Cannabis operator with roots in Florida and Pennsylvania, has completed the rebranding of two key dispensaries in New York, bringing its retail operations in the state under a single corporate FLUENT banner for the first time. The company unveiled the changes at its Manhattan location and the White Plains ...
Australian Policy Group Cautions TGA on Medicinal Cannabis Restrictions, Fearing Shift to Illicit Sources
SYDNEY – A prominent drug policy organization in Australia has urged federal regulators to avoid curtailing access to prescription medicinal Cannabis, arguing that such steps could drive patients toward unregulated street supplies and erode the stability of the legal sector. In a submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released last week, the Penington Institute ...
Revolving Credit Lines Break New Ground in Cannabis Debt Markets
LOS ANGELES – Two leading multistate Cannabis operators, Verano Holdings Corp. and Curaleaf Holdings Inc., have closed pioneering revolving credit agreements in recent weeks, marking a quiet but telling step forward for the sector's access to debt financing. Verano secured a $75 million facility on October 1, arranged by Chicago Atlantic Admin LLC and backed ...
Alcohol Giants Intensify Capitol Hill Push on Hemp THC Drinks
WASHINGTON – Major players in the beer, wine, and spirits sectors disclosed a sharp increase in federal lobbying during the third quarter of 2025, zeroing in on regulations for hemp-derived THC beverages that some executives view as direct challengers to traditional alcohol sales. The effort comes as lawmakers in both chambers weigh measures that could ...
Pre-Rolls Claim Top Spot in Canadian Cannabis Sales, Signal Shift Across the US
LOS ANGELES – Pre-rolled Cannabis joints have quietly moved ahead of loose flower to become the leading product in Canada's $5.8 billion 2024 legal market, a milestone that underscores a broader turn toward convenience in North American consumption habits. In the United States, where the category trails flower but posts the sharpest gains, analysts see ...
LinkedIn Research Study: People Don’t Trust What You Say — They Trust What Others Say About You
LOS ANGELES- According to LinkedIn’s 2025 B2B Marketing Benchmark, video is now the #1 driver of trust — outperforming every other content format for credibility and conversion. The study shows that brands using video and creator-led storytelling build trust up to 2.5x faster and generate 2–3x higher engagement than those relying on static content. That ...
What’s Changing Now for Cannabis Operators: Lessons from Anaheim’s IgniteIt 2025
LOS ANGELES- The cannabis industry has always been about resilience, reinvention, and relentless adaptation. At this year’s IgniteIt Market Spotlight: California (formerly the Benzinga Cannabis Conference) in Anaheim, that message was louder than ever. The event gathered California’s leading operators, investors, regulators, and innovators for a candid look at what comes next—and what must change ...
Ohio Cannabis Sales Exceed $1.2B Since Recreational Launch
COLUMBUS – State records show Ohio's Cannabis sector has recorded more than $1.2 billion in combined medical and adult-use sales since recreational dispensaries opened in August 2024, a mark that underscores consistent buyer turnout in a market still finding its footing. The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control reported cumulative figures: adult-use purchases totaled $871 million ...
Global Cannabis Market Tightens Amid Surging Demand and Supply Snags
LOS ANGELES – Germany's medical Cannabis imports jumped more than 400% in H1 2025, pushing the European market into a period of rapid expansion and testing the limits of international supply chains. That surge has drawn heavy exports from Canada and created openings for established players while squeezing margins for others. The Federal Institute for ...
Ex-Prosecutor Calls for Psilocybin Therapy Legalization in NY
NEW YORK – A former narcotics prosecutor who once enforced drug laws now argues that New York must open the door to psilocybin-assisted therapy, framing it as a necessary step toward treating chronic pain and mental health disorders with evidence-based care. In an opinion piece, Victoria Cvitanovic, a Louisiana-trained attorney now practicing in psychedelic medicine, ...
Supply Bottlenecks Stall Minnesota’s Adult-Use Cannabis Launch
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota's adult-use Cannabis sector kicked off with fanfare, but operators on the ground report bare shelves and mounting bills as wholesale supplies fail to keep pace with licensed retail outlets. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has greenlit 61 Cannabis enterprises to date, with retailers comprising about two-thirds of that total, roughly 40 ...
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry Champions Ibogaine Research at Dallas Documentary Films Event
DALLAS – Former Texas Governor Rick Perry called for broader access to ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the African iboga shrub, during a panel discussion following a screening of documentary clips on Thursday night. The event, held at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, underscored Perry's growing role in pushing for clinical trials of the substance as ...
Poll Finds Broad Voter Support for Legal Hemp with Stricter Safeguards
WASHINGTON – A national survey released this week reveals that a solid majority of American voters back the continued legality of consumable hemp products, provided federal authorities introduce tougher safety and licensing rules aimed at shielding children and ensuring consumer protections. The poll, carried out by McLaughlin & Associates on behalf of the Hemp Industry ...
Alternaleaf Rolls Out Targeted Cannabis Program for UK Women’s Health Issues
LONDON – Alternaleaf, the United Kingdom's online medical Cannabis clinic, launched a new service this week aimed at treating gynecological and hormonal disorders with therapies involving Cannabis. The initiative marks the first of its kind in the country, offering an option for patients frustrated by public health delays and limited conventional remedies. The service targets ...
