News
STUDY: Cannabis Consumers Engage in Greater Levels of Physical Exercise
OKLAHOMA CITY–Middle-aged adults are more likely to engage in physical activities on days when they also consume cannabis, according to data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors. Researchers affiliated with the University of Oklahoma assessed the relationship between cannabis use and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a cohort of 98 healthy middle-aged adults. They found that participants typically engaged in ...
Agrify Corp Rebrands to RYTHM Inc Following $50M Green Thumb Brands Portfolio Acquisition
CHICAGO – Agrify Corporation has acquired a portfolio of intellectual property from Green Thumb Industries (GTI) for $50 million, including cannabis brands like RYTHM, Dogwalkers, Beboe, incredibles, &Shine, Doctor Solomon’s, Good Green, and Señorita. Concurrently, Agrify announced it will rebrand as RYTHM, Inc., with its Nasdaq-listed shares trading under the ticker RYM starting September 2. ...
DPA Petition Urges Trump to Fully Deschedule Cannabis Amid Rescheduling Discussions
LOS ANGELES – The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) has launched a petition urging the Trump administration to remove Cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), arguing that a proposed shift to Schedule III fails to end criminalization. The effort, started this week, cites Trump’s 2024 campaign support for stopping arrests for minor Cannabis possession. The ...
Ibogaine Gains Spotlight as Former House Speaker Calls for Wider Access
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Newt Gingrich, a Former House Speaker, has drawn attention to ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the African iboga shrub, calling it a potential game-changer for treating addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). During the recent "Newt's World" podcast episode, the Georgia Republican sat down with W. Brian ...
Colombian President Pushing Congress for Swift Action on Full Cannabis Legalization
BOGOTÁ – Colombia's House of Representatives First Committee has passed a bill to legalize adult-use Cannabis, marking an early win for reformers in a country long at the center of global drug policy debates. Sponsored by Rep. Alejandro Ocampo, the legislation cleared the panel last week and now heads to the full chamber for debate. ...
Missouri Activists Gird Up for 2026 Ballot Measure to Unify Hemp and Cannabis Regulations
LOS ANGELES – Missouri Cannabis advocates, led by hemp business owners, plan to submit a ballot initiative in the coming days that would combine regulations for hemp and Cannabis products under a single framework for the 2026 election. The proposal seeks to establish equal treatment between the two sectors by overhauling the state's licensing process, ...
Australian Cannabis Prices Drop to New Lows, Pressuring Domestic Producers
MELBOURNE – Medicinal Cannabis flower prices in Australia have fallen to a minimum of $3.30 per gram at the patient level, a development that has intensified debates over the viability of the country's homegrown industry. This marks a sharp decline, with nearly 40% of flower products now available for under $10 per gram, compared to ...
Google Launches Limited Test of Cannabis Advertising on Its Search Platform in Canada
TORONTO – Google has started a restricted trial allowing select Canadian Cannabis companies to place ads on its search engine, marking a cautious step toward easing long-standing prohibitions on such promotions. The initiative, which went live on August 25, 2025, permits only federally licensed operators to run advertisements for Cannabis products and services through Google ...
Ricky Williams Urges Trump to Advance Cannabis Rescheduling Despite Policy Pushback
WASHINGTON – Retired NFL player Ricky Williams has renewed calls for President Trump to reclassify Cannabis to Schedule III, positioning the change as vital for medical access and economic stability in an op-ed that highlights his personal reliance on the substance post-career. Published Sunday in USA Today, Williams detailed how Cannabis supported his recovery from ...
Cannabis Stocks Climb 79% in a Month, But Path to Past Highs Remains Uncertain
LOS ANGELES – Publicly traded Cannabis companies have seen sharp gains recently, with the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS) climbing about 79% over the past month. This rally prompts questions about sustainability and potential for further upside, according to analysis from Viridian Capital Advisors. The firm's latest chart highlights monthly price increases for 11 ...
Vape Users Prioritize Lab Testing for Brand Trust, Survey Finds
NEW YORK – A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. vape users reveals that nearly half (48%) consider lab testing and safety certifications the top factor influencing their trust in a brand. Conducted by EJuiceDB, the poll highlights a strong consumer demand for transparency and accountability in the vaping industry, with implications for the closely related ...
SynBiotic Builds North American Ties to Secure Overseas Funding
DÜSSELDORF – SynBiotic SE, a publicly traded European company focused on medical Сannabis and industrial hemp, has formed alliances with several North American advisory firms to broaden its reach among global investors. The move aims to support the firm's acquisition-driven growth plan by tapping into fresh capital sources beyond Europe. Announced recently, the partnerships include ...
Seasoned Media Executives Launch IgniteIt Inc., a New Media and Events Powerhouse formerly operated as Benzinga Cannabis
Detroit, MI —Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025 —Today, IgniteIt Inc. (IgniteIt) announced that the cannabis industry’s premier business conference and media platform, formerly operated by Benzinga Cannabis, is entering a new chapter, separate and not affiliated with Benzinga. Led by former Benzinga executives, IgniteIt will serve as a dedicated platform for the cannabis industry to connect, ...
Cannara Biotech Secures $10M Credit Expansion for Valleyfield Facility Growth
MONTREAL – Cannara Biotech Inc., has announced a $10 million expansion of its credit facility with Bank of Montreal (BMO) to fund enhancements at its Valleyfield, Quebec, facility. This strategic move supports the company’s ambition to reach an annual production capacity of 100,000 kilograms of premium-grade Cannabis, leveraging its two Quebec-based facilities spanning over 1.65 ...
DCC and Metrc Advance California Cannabis Safety with QR Recalls
LAKELAND – In a move aimed at strengthening public health protections in the state's regulated Cannabis sector, Metrc has introduced a new recall notification system tied to its Metrc Retail ID™ QR codes. The feature, developed alongside the California Department of Cannabis Control, allows buyers to scan product packaging with their phones to check for ...
German Health Ministry Draft Sparks Patient Backlash Over Medical Cannabis Access
FRANKFURT – A recent survey by MedCanOneStop, a German medical Cannabis platform, has highlighted sharp concerns among patients about a proposed amendment from the Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit, BMG) that would limit digital services in Cannabis care. The study, which polled 9,583 individuals, comes as the ministry weighs changes to tighten regulations ...
Trump’s Potential Cannabis Rescheduling Sparked Stock Rise and Industry Uncertainty
LOS ANGELES – On August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump’s public comments on potentially rescheduling Cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act skyrocketed Cannabis stocks. The AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF (MSOS) jumped 28%, its best day since 2022, while the Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) gained over 26%, marking ...
Hemp-Derived THC Beverages Gain Traction as U.S. Alcohol Consumption Declines
LOS ANGELES – Hemp-derived THC beverages generated $382 million in sales in 2024, a marked increase from previous years, yet 2025 projections indicate tempered growth at $571 million, climbing to $756 million by 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 14%. THC beverages are gaining momentum as alternatives to alcohol, particularly as ...
Crafting Cannabis Excellence: How Quality Builds Lasting Brands
In the bustling Cannabis market, where fierce competition and economic pressures have driven prices down, many products risk blending into a sea of sameness. Yet, a select group of companies stands out by prioritizing premium materials and meticulous craftsmanship, securing their edge in a maturing industry. Growth’s Toll on Standards Rapid expansion in the Cannabis ...
Cannabis Legalization Drives Property Growth, Research Finds
LOS ANGELES – The legalization of recreational Cannabis has had a substantial positive impact on home values across the United States, effectively dispelling myths that it harms property markets. From 2009 to 2024, homes in states with legal recreational Cannabis saw values rise by $222,958 on average, $60,327 more than the $162,631 increase in states ...
LEEF Brands Reports Q2 2025 Financial Results
VANCOUVER – LEEF Brands Inc. disclosed its second-quarter financials, showing steady revenue gains offset by squeezed margins and ongoing losses. The company reported $8.7 million in revenue for the period ended June 30, a 10% rise from $7.9 million a year earlier, fueled by a 19% jump in unit sales. Gross margins dipped to 24% ...
Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works for Cannabis Leaders
LOS ANGELES -The Cannabis industry is filled with ambitious operators, visionary founders, and well-funded enterprises. Yet despite enormous energy and investment, many companies still struggle to answer the most fundamental question in business: what is our strategy? Too often, Cannabis leadership mistakes survival for strategy. But survival alone is not a winning aspiration. To move ...
MSOs Confront Billions in Uncertain Tax Liabilities
LOS ANGELES – U.S. Cannabis operators continue to navigate the constraints of IRS Section 280E, which bars deductions for standard business expenses and drives up effective tax rates. Major multi-state Cannabis operators (MSOs) have leaned on legal opinions to expense these taxes without immediate payment, instead accruing them as uncertain tax liabilities (UTLs) on their ...
Psilocybin Shows Promise for Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery
LOS ANGELES – A scientific review published in the journal Brain Sciences has outlined how psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, might support recovery for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. The analysis, released in late May 2025, draws from nearly 30 studies to suggest that the substance could reduce inflammation, encourage new neural connections, ...
Cannabis Companies Secure Extension in Federal Prohibition Case
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court has extended the deadline for a group of Cannabis businesses to file a petition seeking review of their case against the Justice Department, which aims to strike down the federal ban on Cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued the order last Friday, moving the ...