News
Montana Lawmaker Proposes Consumer Registration and Surveillance for Cannabis Purchases
LOS ANGELES- A Republican lawmaker in Montana has introduced legislation that would require individuals aged 21 and older to register with the state Department of Revenue and pay a $200 annual fee to legally purchase cannabis. The proposed bill mandates that consumers obtain a registration card, which must be presented at the point of sale. ...
Senator Lankford Introduces Bill to Prevent Tax Deductions for Cannabis Businesses
LOS ANGELES- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the "No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act," aiming to prevent cannabis businesses from deducting business expenses on their federal taxes, even if cannabis is rescheduled under federal law. The bill seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code to ensure that businesses involved in the trafficking of marijuana remain ...
What You Need to Know: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Consolidation
LOS ANGELES—Every CFO needs to know that navigating mergers, acquisitions, and consolidation in cannabis and psychedelics industries requires a deep understanding of business valuation complexities and strategic deal-making. Effective M&A strategies are crucial to driving growth, expanding market share, increasing operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to the continued evolution of the industry. Valuation Complexities Valuing cannabis ...
Atai Life Sciences Reports Positive Results from BPL-003 Phase 2a Study
LOS ANGELES- Atai Life Sciences has announced favorable outcomes from a Phase 2a open-label study evaluating BPL-003, an intranasal formulation of 5-MeO-DMT benzoate, in patients with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study involved 12 participants who received a single dose of BPL-003 in conjunction with relapse prevention cognitive behavioral therapy. The findings ...
TILT Holdings Divests Massachusetts Dispensaries for $2 Million
LOS ANGELES- TILT Holdings Inc., a cannabis business solutions provider, has entered into an agreement to divest two of its Massachusetts dispensaries to In Good Health, a private single-state cannabis operator, for $2 million in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, TILT will transfer ownership of its Taunton dispensary to In Good Health and ...
Minnesota’s Cannabis Office Initiates Grant Program for Communities Affected by Prohibition
LOS ANGELES- The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has introduced the CanRenew Community Restoration Grants, a program designed to support communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis prohibition policies. In 2025, the program will allocate up to $1 million, with individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 per project. Eligible organizations—including nonprofits, tribal entities, educational ...
The Future of Cannabis Under Trump’s 2025 Administration: A Tough Road Ahead?
WASHINGTON, D.C.–As the new Trump administration takes shape in 2025, the future of cannabis policy in the United States remains uncertain. While President Trump has occasionally expressed support for a state's rights approach to cannabis legalization, his administration's key appointments and recent actions suggest a much more conservative stance. Key Appointments and Their Stance on ...
Missouri Expunges More than 140,000 Cannabis Cases
ST LOUIS- Missouri courts have expunged more than 140,000 cannabis-related cases since voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2022 to legalize recreational cannabis. However, the total number of expungements is unlikely to grow significantly beyond this point. As part of the amendment, courts were mandated to search their records for eligible cannabis-related charges and remove ...
New Mexico House Bill 331 Proposes Mandatory Labor Peace Agreements for Cannabis Businesses
LOS ANGELES- New Mexico House Bill 331 was introduced, proposing that cannabis establishments with ten or more employees be required to enter into, maintain, and adhere to labor peace agreements with bona fide labor organizations. This requirement would become a material condition for licensing, with non-compliance potentially leading to license refusal, suspension, or revocation. The ...
Maine Governor Advocates for Enhanced Regulation of Medical Cannabis Program
LOS ANGELES- In her recent State of the Budget address, Governor Janet Mills characterized Maine's medical cannabis program as the "wild, wild west," advocating for increased regulation to ensure consumer safety. She proposed implementing mandatory testing and tracking measures, similar to those in the state's adult-use cannabis market, to address concerns about product safety and ...
Germany’s Evolving Cannabis Landscape in 2025
LOS ANGELES- In 2025, Germany's cannabis sector is experiencing significant developments following the enactment of the Cannabis Act (Cannabisgesetz) on April 1, 2024. This legislation permits adults aged 18 and over to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public, store up to 50 grams at home, and cultivate up to three plants for ...
Illinois Cannabis Sales Surpass $2 Billion in 2024
LOS ANGELES- In 2024, Illinois' legal cannabis market achieved sales exceeding $2 billion, marking a 2.5% increase from the previous year. This total comprises approximately $1.722 billion in adult-use cannabis sales and over $285 million in medical cannabis sales. The state collected more than $490 million in sales taxes from these transactions. A record-setting 56,318,082 ...
California Cannabis Industry Faces Potential Crisis Amid Proposed Tax Increase
LOS ANGELES- The legal cannabis industry in California is confronting significant financial challenges as a proposed increase in the state excise tax looms. Currently set at 15%, the tax is scheduled to rise to 19% on July 1, 2025, unless state lawmakers intervene. Industry stakeholders express concern that this tax hike could exacerbate existing financial ...
Calgary Considers Permitting Cannabis Sales at Adult-Only Events
LOS ANGELES- Calgary city officials are evaluating a proposal to permit the sale of cannabis at adult-only events. Councillor Kourtney Penner has introduced a motion requesting city administration to draft bylaw and business license amendments that would align with provincial regulations established in January 2024. These provincial rules, set by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis ...
Week In Review: New York’s Cannabis Regulatory Body Introduces Banking Directory; Arkansas Senate Advances Bill to Fund Free School Breakfasts Using Medical Cannabis Revenue; Tennessee Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Legalize Recreational and Medical Cannabis
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) New York's Cannabis Regulatory Body Introduces Banking Directory: The New York ...
Aurora Cannabis Reports Record Revenue Driven by International Medical Sales
LOS ANGELES- Aurora Cannabis Inc. has announced a significant increase in revenue for its fiscal third quarter, primarily due to substantial growth in international medical cannabis sales. The company's total net revenue reached C$88.2 million, marking a 37% rise from the same period last year. Medical cannabis revenue accounted for C$68.1 million of this total, ...
Arkansas Senate Advances Bill to Fund Free School Breakfasts Using Medical Cannabis Revenue
LOS ANGELES- The Arkansas Senate has approved a bill to allocate revenue from medical cannabis taxes to fund free breakfasts for students statewide. The legislation, designated as SB 59, proposes supplementing federal meal programs with a state Food Insecurity Fund, financed by cannabis tax revenue, private grants, and the state's general fund. Introduced by Senator ...
New York’s Cannabis Regulatory Body Introduces Banking Directory
LOS ANGELES- The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has launched a Cannabis Banking Directory to assist licensed cannabis businesses in identifying financial institutions willing to provide banking services. This initiative aims to mitigate challenges faced by cannabis operators in securing compliant financial services. The directory lists ten financial institutions, including seven banks and ...
Tennessee Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Legalize Recreational and Medical Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- Tennessee legislators have introduced two separate bills aimed at legalizing both recreational and medical cannabis use within the state. Recreational Use Legislation: Senate Bill 0809, known as the Tennessee Cannabis Act, was introduced by Democratic State Senator Jeff Yarbro. The bill proposes establishing regulations for the production, distribution, and sale of recreational cannabis ...
Awakn Life Sciences Advances Therapeutics for Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
LOS ANGELES- Awakn Life Sciences Corp. a biotechnology company, has reported progress in its research and development programs targeting Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). AWKN-001: This investigational therapy combines intravenous ketamine with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for severe AUD. Currently in a Phase 3 trial in the UK, co-funded by the ...
Cannabis Brands Leverage for Marketing Amid Advertising Restrictions
LOS ANGELES- The Super Bowl presents a significant opportunity for cannabis businesses to enhance brand and product awareness, despite existing advertising limitations. While traditional advertising channels during the Super Bowl remain inaccessible to cannabis companies due to federal regulations and network policies, many brands have adopted alternative strategies to capitalize on the event's massive viewership. ...
Aurora Cannabis Reports Record-Breaking Q3 2025 Financial Results
LOS ANGELES- Aurora Cannabis Inc. announced its fiscal third-quarter 2025 results, highlighting significant growth in revenue and profitability. Financial Highlights: Net Revenue: The company reported net revenue of C$88.2 million for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, marking a 37% increase from C$64.4 million in the same period the previous year. Medical Cannabis Revenue: Medical ...
Enveric Biosciences Executes Reverse Stock Split and Announces Patent Milestone
LOS ANGELES- Enveric Biosciences, Inc. recently implemented a 1-for-15 reverse stock split, effective January 29, 2025, to comply with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement. Following the split, the company conducted a public offering, raising $5 million through the issuance of 1.67 million shares priced at $3 each, accompanied by Series A and B warrants. This ...
Kentucky Issues Initial Medical Cannabis Patient Identification Cards
LOS ANGELES- Kentucky commenced the distribution of its first medical cannabis patient identification cards. Governor Andy Beshear awarded the inaugural cards to Dr. Ryan Grell, an anesthesiologist and owner of the Kentucky Medical Marijuana Center, and Merissa Khumalo, a former educator at Rise STEM Academy for Girls. As of that date, approximately 2,200 applications for ...
Paraguay Considers Legalizing Recreational Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- Paraguay is evaluating the legalization of recreational cannabis, with the Senate scheduled to vote on a proposal in March 2025. The initiative aims to permit the sale of cannabis in regulated dispensaries, under the supervision of the National Directorate of Health Surveillance and Narcotics, as well as the National Directorate of Tax Revenue. ...
