News
Planet 13 Launches Initiative to Support Florida Veterans and First Responders with Medical Cannabis Access
LOS ANGELES- Planet 13 Holdings Inc., a multi-state cannabis company, recently launched the "Healing Heroes" initiative in Florida to support veterans and first responders. This program, active from November 1 to 14, 2024, aims to reduce the costs associated with obtaining or renewing medical cannabis cards. Planet 13 is collaborating with The Grateful Veteran, a ...
Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Becomes Key Battleground in 2024 Presidential and Senate Races
LOS ANGELES- Nebraska's unique role in the 2024 presidential election lies in its allocation of Electoral College votes. Unlike most states, Nebraska, alongside Maine, uses a split system where two votes are awarded to the statewide winner, and one vote goes to the winner in each of its three congressional districts. This makes Nebraska's 2nd ...
Week’s In Review: Criticism Mounts Over New York’s Social Equity Cannabis Fund for High Costs and Limited Impact; Arizona to Launch Recreational Cannabis Home Delivery; DeSantis Uses Opioid Settlement Funds for Anti-Cannabis Ads Ahead of Ballot Initiative
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's get to it! Cannabis Industry Highlights #1) Criticism Mounts Over New York’s Social Equity Cannabis Fund for High ...
DeSantis Uses Opioid Settlement Funds for Anti-Cannabis Ads Ahead of Ballot Initiative
LOS ANGELES- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration has drawn attention for using opioid settlement funds to finance an anti-cannabis campaign. The Florida Department of Children and Families reportedly allocated $4 million for advertisements discouraging cannabis and other drug use, coinciding with a broader push against Amendment 3—a ballot initiative aiming to legalize recreational cannabis for ...
Arizona to Launch Recreational Cannabis Home Delivery
LOS ANGELES- Starting November 2024, Arizona will permit home delivery for recreational cannabis, marking a significant shift in state policy. The Arizona Department of Health Services has approved this expansion, previously limited to medical cannabis patients. Now, residents aged 21 and older can receive home deliveries facilitated by licensed dispensaries or partnered third-party services. Recreational ...
Cannabis Means Business — a Bold New Vision for CWCBExpo
NEW YORK (New York)-- Cannabis Means Business (CMB) is a new vision for the show previously run as CWCBExpo. This evolution is a significant shift in the landscape of cannabis industry events and reflects the needs of today and the future of the industry. Taking place June 4-5, 2025, at the Javits Center in New ...
AICPA Calls for IRS Guidance on Cannabis Tax Policy Amid Potential Rescheduling
LOS ANGELES- The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is calling on the IRS and Treasury Department to provide updated guidance on tax policy for cannabis businesses in light of a potential rescheduling of cannabis to a Schedule III substance. This change would relieve these businesses from the restrictions of Section 280E of the ...
Green Dragon and Eaze to Close Operations Amid Financial Challenges and Industry Downturn
LOS ANGELES- Green Dragon, a multi-state cannabis operator with facilities in Colorado and Florida, is set to cease operations by the end of 2024. This move will affect all 17 of its dispensaries in Colorado and 39 in Florida, alongside layoffs impacting 59 workers in Colorado and 113 in Florida. The shutdown follows Green Dragon's ...
NCIA Among Speakers Approved for DEA’s Landmark Cannabis Rescheduling Hearing in December
LOS ANGELES-The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is preparing for its cannabis rescheduling hearing set for December 2 by selecting speakers to participate. Several organizations, including the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), have received approval to testify, as reported by publication Marijuana Moment. NCIA's CEO and co-founder Aaron Smith expressed excitement about the opportunity to represent ...
U.S. Cannabis Market Growth Reaches $50 Billion as Industry Grapples with Worker Unionization Efforts
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. cannabis market is on track for substantial growth, with projections indicating retail sales could exceed $50 billion annually within the next several years. In 2023, combined medical and recreational cannabis sales were estimated at around $33.6 billion, with significant growth expected as additional states legalize recreational use and expand medical programs. ...
New Report Highlights Key Insights and Challenges in U.S. Alzheimer’s Patient Experience
LOS ANGELES- A new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, "Alzheimer's Disease in the United States: Understanding the Alzheimer's Patient Experience," provides a data-driven view of the experiences of nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's. The report, based on input from 500 patients and caregivers, covers key aspects of life with the disease, such as symptom management, ...
Did You Know… Cannabis Was Once a Legal Cross-Border Import?
LOS ANGELES- A hundred years ago, the U.S. government held a different view on cannabis, or Cannabis sativa L. Known then as “marihuana,” it was also called hemp, Mary Jane, and Mary Warner, among other names. Most Americans were unaware of its existence, let alone its potential as a drug. By the 1930s, several states and ...
Trulieve Throws the Kitchen Sink at Adult-Use Cannabis in Florida
MIAMI — (HCN) As Florida’s November 5th election approaches, Trulieve, a dominant force in the state’s medical cannabis market, is making an unprecedented push to legalize adult-use cannabis. With a jaw-dropping $141 million contribution to the Smart & Safe Florida political committee, Trulieve has funded nearly the entire campaign for Amendment 3—a proposed constitutional amendment ...
Industrial Hemp Market Poised for Growth, Projected to Reach $25 Billion by 2032
LOS ANGELES-The industrial hemp market is projected to grow substantially, with a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.29% through 2032, reaching an estimated value of $25.33 billion. This growth is primarily driven by favorable shifts in regulatory policies that have supported hemp cultivation, a rising awareness of hemp's environmental benefits, and its expanding ...
Massachusetts Ballot to Decide on Psychedelics Legalization in November
LOS ANGELES- Massachusetts voters are set to decide on a significant measure this November with Question 4, a ballot initiative to legalize certain plant-based psychedelics, including psilocybin, mescaline, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). If approved, Massachusetts would follow Oregon and Colorado in creating a regulated framework for adult psychedelic use, focusing on mental health applications. Proponents argue ...
European Cannabis Update: Embracing the Growing Dutch Medical Cannabis Market
EUROPE — As a pioneer in the recognition and regulation of the medical use of cannabis, the Netherlands has emerged as a prominent hub for cannabis investment, driven by a combination of progressive policies, established infrastructure, and growing consumer demand for cannabis in both medical and recreational contexts. Current Situation Since the establishment of the ...
Shared Liability in Cannabis: A Smarter Approach to Managing Employee Compliance with Paylient
LOS ANGELES — As the cannabis industry continues to grow, so do the challenges that come with managing employees within a highly regulated environment. From payroll and benefits to labor compliance and HR management, cannabis business owners face a web of responsibilities that, if mismanaged, can lead to significant legal and financial consequences. Enter Paylient, ...
The Rise of the Clean Label Movement in Cannabis
LOS ANGELES — Consumer preferences in the cannabis market are evolving toward healthier and more transparent products. By 2024, the global cannabis market is projected to reach $57 billion, driven largely by the increasing legalization and normalization of cannabis use across North America, Europe, and other regions. However, this rapid growth has also led to ...
U.S. States Prepare for Key Cannabis Ballot Measures in November
LOS ANGELES- Voters in several U.S. states will soon weigh in on significant cannabis-related ballot initiatives, potentially leading to broader legalization nationwide. On November 5, 2024, Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Oregon will vote on measures addressing either recreational or medical cannabis, adding momentum to the movement for reform across state legislatures. ...
Criticism Mounts Over New York’s Social Equity Cannabis Fund for High Costs and Limited Impact
LOS ANGELES- New York’s Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, a public-private initiative launched to support individuals disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition, has faced growing criticism over its high operating costs and limited results. Since its establishment in 2022, the fund has managed to open only 21 dispensaries, despite an initial target of 150 locations. This ...
Week’s In Review: Alabama Judge Appoints Mediator in Medical Cannabis Licensing Dispute; Ascend Wellness Shares Climb 5.3% Amid Low Trading Volume; Unlicensed New York Cannabis Retailer Hit with $9.5 Million Judgment
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's get to it! Cannabis Industry Highlights #1 Alabama Judge Appoints Mediator in Medical Cannabis Licensing Dispute: A judge in Alabama ...
France: The Investment Landscape of the Medical Cannabis Sector
PARIS — Encouraged by the advances of Germany, the investment climate in France's medical cannabis industry is evolving on a promising trajectory, marked by a transition from a history of strict prohibition and stigma to a transparent, albeit stringent, regulatory framework aimed at promoting therapeutic use. As the country gears up for the legalization of ...
Delaware Awards First Cannabis Cultivation and Manufacturing Licenses in Initial Lottery
LOS ANGELES- Delaware has initiated its adult-use cannabis licensing process, awarding the first cultivation and manufacturing permits through a lottery held on October 24, 2024. This inaugural lottery, organized by the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC), drew from over 1,260 applications to randomly allocate licenses across cultivation, manufacturing, and social equity categories for the ...
Cybin Secures Patent for CYB005 Program in Push for New CNS Disorder Treatments
LOS ANGELES- Cybin Inc., a neuropsychiatric biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has secured a U.S. patent (No. 12,122,741) covering the composition of matter for key molecules in its CYB005 program. This patent represents a strategic step for Cybin in developing non-hallucinogenic treatment options targeting central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The company’s CYB005 compounds, derived from ...
Unlicensed New York Cannabis Retailer Hit with $9.5 Million Judgment
LOS ANGELES- A New York Supreme Court judgment has ordered George West, owner of Jaydega 7.0 in Canandaigua, to pay $9.5 million after findings that his business sold cannabis products without the required state license. This penalty includes $1 million in profit disgorgement and $8.4 million in daily fines imposed due to ongoing sales following ...