News
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 ...
The Geneva Opium Conference and The Century-Long Campaign Against Cannabis
LOS ANGELES – In the early 20th century, a pivotal moment in the global history of Cannabis regulation unfolded at the Geneva Opium Conference, held from November 1924 to February 1925. Organized by the League of Nations, this gathering aimed to address the growing concerns over narcotics like opium and cocaine. However, it also marked ...
Missouri Cannabis Sales Fall to $118.9M in September
ST. LOUIS – Retailers in Missouri reported $118.9 million in Cannabis sales for September, a drop from the previous month's total and the second-lowest figure of the year so far. The decline of about 9% from August's $130.5 million reflects a familiar pattern after summer highs, when consumer spending often eases before the holidays. Adult-use ...
Tilray Medical Expands to Panama Market
NEW YORK – Tilray Medical, the pharmaceutical arm of Tilray Brands Inc., has secured a medical Cannabis license in Panama, marking its latest step into Central America. The company formed a joint venture with local firm Top Tech Global Inc. to handle operations, gaining approval for cultivation, manufacturing, import, export, distribution, and sales of Cannabis ...
Verano Launches Dispensary in Restored Ohio Train Depot
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. marked another step in its Ohio operations with the announcement of a grand opening for its Zen Leaf dispensary in Antwerp, a small village in northwest Ohio. The site, set to welcome customers Friday, occupies a meticulously restored 19th-century train depot that dates to 1880 and holds a place on ...
Glass House Brands Marks Milestone as First U.S. Cannabis Stock Tradable on Robinhood
LOS ANGELES – Glass House Brands Inc. began trading on the Robinhood app this week, opening the door for a broader swath of retail investors to access shares in a vertically integrated multistate Cannabis operator. The listing, effective October 13, positions Glass House as the first major American Cannabis company whose stock can be bought ...
Cannabis Industry Eyes Quadrupled Growth Through 2033, Research and Markets Reports
LOS ANGELES – A new report from Research and Markets forecasts the global Cannabis market will expand from $39.1 billion in 2024 to $151.72 billion by 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.26% over the next eight years. This projection, detailed in the firm's latest analysis, attributes the surge to steady rises ...
Curaleaf Secures $100M Revolving Credit Facility
STAMFORD – Curaleaf Holdings Inc. closed an expanded revolving credit agreement with Needham Bank, increasing its borrowing limit to $100 million from $40 million and extending the term to as long as five years. The deal, the largest of its kind for a Cannabis company in the United States, allows Curaleaf to retire at least ...
Planet 13 Expands Florida Footprint
LAS VEGAS – Planet 13 Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated Cannabis operator with cultivation, production, and retail operations in four states, launched its latest medical Cannabis outlet in DeLand, Florida. The store, situated in the city's downtown district, marks the company's 33rd location in the state and its 37th across the United States. The DeLand ...
California Governor Approves Fast Track for Cannabis and Psychedelics Studies
LOS ANGELES – Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed Assembly Bill 1103 into law on Friday, October 10, clearing hurdles for researchers studying Cannabis and psychedelics in the state. The measure targets delays in approving projects on controlled substances, with a focus on treatments for veterans facing opioid addiction, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and post-traumatic stress ...
AYR Wellness Kicks Off Public Auction in Debt Restructuring Push
LOS ANGELES – Miami-based AYR Wellness Inc. moved ahead with its financial reset by starting Article 9 foreclosure proceedings under the Uniform Commercial Code to auction core assets. Odyssey Trust Company, serving as collateral trustee for the senior noteholders, sent out notices of disposition. The public sale takes place November 10, 2025, in the New ...
