News
Hemp Industry Anticipates Expansion
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a leading advocacy organization for the hemp sector, has strengthened its leadership by appointing two prominent figures from the hemp beverage industry. In September 2024, Art Massolo, Vice President of Business Development at Cycling Frog, assumed the role of Executive Vice President, while Aaron Nosbisch, founder of BRĒZ, was ...
Federal Restrictions on Cannabis Sales in Washington
LOS ANGELES- A coalition of Republican lawmakers and Washington, D.C. officials is advocating for the removal of federal restrictions that prevent the District from regulating and taxing cannabis sales. During a recent House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Chairman Dave Joyce (R-OH) expressed opposition to the longstanding appropriations rider that prohibits D.C. from using local funds to ...
Illinois Cannabis Market Leads in Diversity with 100th Social Equity Dispensary
LOS ANGELES- In July 2024, Illinois marked a significant milestone by opening its 100th social equity-owned cannabis dispensary, underscoring the state's commitment to fostering diversity within the industry. A comprehensive study by the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office revealed that 60% of all adult-use cannabis licenses have been awarded to minority- or women-owned businesses, positioning Illinois ...
Massachusetts Cannabis Market Sees Surge in Strain Diversity
LOS ANGELES- As of December 2024, Massachusetts' legal cannabis market boasts 740 active strains, marking a 29% increase from the 572 strains available in December 2023 and an 84% rise from 401 strains in December 2022. This expansion reflects the industry's rapid growth and the evolving preferences of consumers seeking diverse cannabis experiences. Sales Performance ...
Arizona Cannabis Sales and Tax Revenue: Recent Trends and Milestones
LOS ANGELES- In October 2024, Arizona's cannabis industry experienced a modest rebound, with recreational marijuana sales reaching $75.3 million, up from $67.3 million in September. Despite this month-over-month increase, sales remained below the previous year's figures, indicating a 14.5% decline compared to July 2023. November 2024 marked a significant fiscal milestone for Arizona, as marijuana ...
Trump’s Appointments and the Future of Federal Cannabis Policy
LOS ANGELES- The Trump administration’s recent appointments have raised questions about the trajectory of federal cannabis policy. With nominees holding diverse views on legalization and regulation, the decisions made in the coming months will play a pivotal role in shaping the cannabis industry’s future. Among the significant nominations is Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. Gaetz, ...
Oh Cannabis, An Industry Is Yet To Land…
TORONTO—It didn’t have to be this way. I mean, in spite of what so many whinge and whine about, Canada had a lot to leverage. Canada is pretty big, with a population of about 40 million Canada is pretty vibrant, with a GDP of about $5.8 trillion Canada is relatively affluent, with a median disposable ...
Dennis Peron: The Gay Revolutionary Who Pioneered Medical Cannabis in America
SAN FRANCISCO-Dennis Peron, the "Father of Medical Marijuana," is a towering figure in the history of cannabis advocacy. His relentless dedication to compassion and justice not only changed the lives of countless patients but also sparked a movement that continues to shape cannabis policy today. At Highly Capitalized Network (HCN), we honor trailblazers like Dennis ...
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Facilitate Expungement of Pardoned Federal Offenses
LOS ANGELES- On November 22, 2024, Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) introduced H.R. 10248, known as the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungements Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, aims to establish a process for the expungement of federal offenses that have been ...
Week’s In Review: Ohio Legislature Considers Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products; Florida’s Cannabis Legalization Measure Fails Despite Majority Support; Climate First Bank Introduces Cannabis-Focused Financial Services in Florida; DEA Postpones Cannabis Rescheduling Hearings to 2025
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) Ohio Legislature Considers Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products: Ohio lawmakers are ...
Global Developments in Cannabis Legalization in 2023
LOS ANGELES- In 2023, several countries made significant strides in cannabis legalization, reflecting a global shift in drug policy. Germany's Legislative Progress Germany advanced toward legalizing cannabis for adult use, aiming to become the European Union's largest economy to do so. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach unveiled an updated legalization plan in April, with legislative texts ...
RIV Capital’s Revenue Doubles Amid New York Cannabis Market Expansion
LOS ANGELES- RIV Capital Inc. reported a significant increase in net revenue for the third quarter ending September 30, 2024, achieving $4.9 million—a 28% rise from the previous quarter and a 186% surge compared to the same period in 2023. The company's retail operations contributed $3.4 million, up from $1.5 million in the corresponding quarter ...
Cannabis Industry Faces Rising Threat of Ransomware Attacks
LOS ANGELES- The cannabis industry is increasingly becoming a target for ransomware attacks, with the Everest Ransomware group recently focusing on this sector. In November 2024, two cannabis operators were listed as victims on Everest's dark-web blog within a single week. The second victim was identified as a client of the first, a software-as-a-service vendor, ...
Michigan Transfers Hemp Regulation to USDA
LOS ANGELES- Michigan has concluded its state-managed industrial hemp program, transitioning regulatory oversight to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) effective January 1, 2025. This shift, prompted by the enactment of House Bill 5977, dissolves the state's industrial hemp fund and transfers cultivation and regulatory responsibilities to the federal level. Under USDA governance, hemp producers ...
Psychedelic Drugs Market Poised for Growth: From $0.7B in 2022 to $2.6B by 2032
The global psychedelic drugs market is projected to expand from $0.7 billion in 2022 to $2.6 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%.According to Allied Market Research This growth is driven by increasing acceptance of alternative mental health treatments and substantial investments in psychedelic research and development. Market Drivers Rising ...
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 ...
