News
Oklahoma to Launch State-Run Cannabis Testing Lab for Industry Oversight by February 2025
LOS ANGELES- Oklahoma is preparing to launch a state-operated cannabis testing laboratory in February 2025, aiming to enhance the accuracy and reliability of product assessments within the state's medical cannabis industry. This initiative addresses longstanding concerns regarding inconsistent testing outcomes and aims to standardize procedures across the sector. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) has ...
Climate First Bank Introduces Cannabis-Focused Financial Services in Florida
LOS ANGELES- Climate First Bank, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, has introduced specialized banking services tailored for the cannabis industry. This initiative aims to address the financial challenges faced by cannabis businesses, particularly in accessing traditional banking services. The bank's offerings include deposit accounts, cash management, and lending solutions, all designed to comply with federal and ...
Florida’s Cannabis Legalization Measure Fails Despite Majority Support
LOS ANGELES- In the recent election, Florida's Amendment 3, which proposed the legalization of recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and over, received 56% voter support. However, it fell short of the 60% supermajority required for constitutional amendments in the state, resulting in its failure. The campaign for Amendment 3 was notably backed by Trulieve, ...
DEA Postpones Cannabis Rescheduling Hearings to 2025
LOS ANGELES-The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has postponed its hearings on the proposed rescheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to early 2025. The delay follows a preliminary order from Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney II, who identified deficiencies in the information provided about the 25 designated participants selected by DEA ...
The Vegas Classic: A Premier B2B Networking Event in Partnership with MJBiz
LAS VEGAS- As the cannabis industry continues to evolve and expand, networking, collaboration, and innovative partnerships are more critical than ever. That’s why we’re incredibly excited to introduce The Vegas Classic, an exclusive B2B networking event during MJBiz Week 2024, set to take place at the iconic Las Vegas Country Club this coming December 3. ...
Ohio Legislature Considers Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products
LOS ANGELES- Ohio lawmakers are evaluating Senate Bill 326, introduced by State Senator Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), which aims to prohibit the sale of intoxicating hemp products. The proposed legislation defines such products as those containing more than 0.5 milligrams of delta-9 THC per serving, 2 milligrams per package, or 0.5 milligrams of total non-delta-9 ...
Breadstack: Is This The Winning Formula for Cannabis eCommerce?
LOS ANGELES—As a founding member of the Cannabis Open Standards Technology Alliance (COSTA), Breadstack has firmly established itself as a trailblazer in cannabis e-commerce. Based in Canada, the company has risen to meet the unique challenges of an increasingly evolving industry, offering dispensaries the tools and strategies they need to thrive. By focusing on innovative ...
Week’s In Review: Federal Policy Uncertainty Continues to Challenge U.S. Cannabis Industry; LeafLink Acquires Leaf Trade to Enhance Cannabis Wholesale Platform; Canopy Growth Appoints New CEO Amid Financial Challenges; New York’s Legal Cannabis Sales Approach $1 Billion Milestone
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) Federal Policy Uncertainty Continues to Challenge U.S. Cannabis Industry: The U.S. ...
HYTN Innovations Secures UK Import Permits and Initial Order from 4C Labs
LOS ANGELES- HYTN Innovations Inc., a pharmaceutical company specializing in psychoactive and psychotropic compounds, including cannabis and psilocybin, has received initial orders and import permits from the United Kingdom's 4C Labs. This development enables HYTN to commence exporting cannabis-based pharmaceuticals to the UK under recently established agreements. The first shipment, produced in compliance with Good ...
A LIFE IN A DAY: Riel Roussopoulos: Head of Marketing: Breadstack
Riel Roussopoulos is a Canadian marketer and technologist with extensive experience driving growth in a variety of industries, including e-commerce, entertainment, real estate, fitness, and cannabis. He leverages his expertise in SEO, video production, copywriting, and e-commerce to assist companies in achieving online success. Roussopoulos' approach begins with engaging customers and amplifying their success stories ...
Federal Policy Uncertainty Continues to Challenge U.S. Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. cannabis industry remains in a state of flux due to ongoing federal policy uncertainties, impacting market dynamics, investment strategies, and regulatory compliance. In August 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) postponed a hearing on reclassifying cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act. ...
New York’s Legal Cannabis Sales Approach $1 Billion Milestone
LOS ANGELES- New York State's legal cannabis market is on track to surpass $1 billion in sales by the end of December 2024, marking a significant achievement since the market's inception two years ago. As of the latest reports, cumulative sales have reached approximately $863.9 million, with projections indicating that the billion-dollar threshold will be ...
Green Thumb Industries Secures $150 Million Credit Facility to Retire Existing Debt
LOS ANGELES- Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTI), a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of RISE Dispensaries, has closed a $150 million five-year syndicated credit facility led by Valley National Bank. The company plans to use the proceeds, along with existing cash, to retire its $225 million senior secured debt due April 30, ...
LeafLink Acquires Leaf Trade to Enhance Cannabis Wholesale Platform
LOS ANGELES- LeafLink, a cannabis wholesale platform, has acquired Leaf Trade, a wholesale marketplace serving multi-state operators (MSOs) and enterprise cannabis companies. This strategic move aims to streamline operations for cannabis businesses of varying scales. The combined entity is projected to facilitate approximately $9 billion in annual gross merchandise value (GMV). Initially, both platforms will ...
Canopy Growth Appoints New CEO Amid Financial Challenges
LOS ANGELES- Canopy Growth Corp., a cannabis industry, has announced the appointment of Luc Mongeau as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 6. Mongeau succeeds David Klein in this leadership role. With over 25 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods sector, Mongeau has previously held significant positions, including CEO of eSolutions Furniture ...
Nebraska Judge Upholds Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Initiatives
LOS ANGELES- A Nebraska district court has affirmed the validity of two voter-approved measures concerning medical cannabis, dismissing allegations of fraudulent signature collection. The legal challenge aimed to invalidate Measures 437 and 438, which were approved by 71% and 67% of voters, respectively, during the recent election. Measure 437 permits qualified patients to possess and ...
Germany’s Cannabis Legislation Faces Criticism
LOS ANGELES- Germany's recent legalization of cannabis has encountered significant criticism from various stakeholders, highlighting challenges in its implementation and effectiveness. Criticism from Berlin's Justice Senator Felor Badenberg, Berlin's Justice Senator, has expressed concerns that the new cannabis laws have hindered efforts to combat the black market and organized crime. She points out that police ...
Cannara Biotech Reports Record Growth in Fiscal 2024
LOS ANGELES- Montreal-based Cannara Biotech Inc a vertically integrated cannabis producer, announced record-breaking financial results for its fiscal year ended August 31, 2024. The company reported total annual revenues of $82.2 million, a 43% increase year-over-year, driven by strong growth across its operations and expanding market share. Key Financial Highlights Q4 and Fiscal Year Revenues: ...
A LIFE IN A DAY: Guy Rocourt: CEO of GR Consulting and Papa & Barkley
In this edition of A LIFE IN A DAY, we catch up with Guy Rocourt, a pioneering force in the cannabis industry with more than 25 years of experience. Guy Rocourt is the Co-Founder and former Chief Product Officer of Papa & Barkley, where he revolutionized cannabis wellness products and championed clean manufacturing practices. Now, ...
Texas Attorney General Challenges Dallas Cannabis Decriminalization Measure
LOS ANGELES- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal action against the City of Dallas following the adoption of Proposition R, a voter-approved measure aimed at decriminalizing the possession of up to four ounces of cannabis within city limits. The lawsuit, filed in Dallas County District Court, contends that the amendment contravenes state law ...
Tennessee Lawmakers Implement Hemp Product Ban
LOS ANGELES- In November 2024, numerous licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Los Angeles area received notices from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) indicating a shift in their tax payment schedules from quarterly to monthly, effective January 1, 2025. This change is attributed to the increasing tax liabilities within the cannabis industry. ...
Senate Farm Bill Draft Proposes Redefinition of Hemp
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee has released a draft of the 2024 Farm Bill, introducing significant changes to the federal definition of hemp. The proposed legislation aims to address concerns over intoxicating hemp-derived products, such as delta-8 THC, which have proliferated due to ambiguities in the 2018 Farm Bill. Under the 2018 Farm ...
California Cannabis Dispensaries Face New Tax Payment Rules
LOS ANGELES- In November 2024, numerous licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Los Angeles area received notices from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) indicating a shift in their tax payment schedules from quarterly to monthly, effective January 1, 2025. This change is attributed to the increasing tax liabilities within the cannabis industry. ...
Week’s In Review: GOP Senator Calls for Comprehensive Cannabis Reform, Criticizes Partial Measures; MAPS Wins FDA Approval for Clinical Trials of Medical Cannabis; Curaleaf Secures Massachusetts’ First Cannabis Research License
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) GOP Senator Calls for Comprehensive Cannabis Reform, Criticizes Partial Measures: In ...
Willow Biosciences Reports Q3 2024
LOS ANGELES- Willow Biosciences Inc., a biotechnology firm specializing in the industrial production of functional ingredients, has reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024. The company achieved record revenue of $1.7 million during this period, marking a significant increase from the $674,000 reported in the same quarter of 2023. Despite this revenue ...
