News
New Hampshire Senate Blocks Cannabis Greenhouse Bill Despite Overwhelming House Support
LOS ANGELES- New Hampshire lawmakers have failed to override Governor Chris Sununu’s veto of a bill that would have allowed medical cannabis producers to cultivate cannabis in greenhouses. The House of Representatives had voted overwhelmingly, 270-55, to override the veto, but the Senate blocked the effort with a 14-9 vote. The bill, HB 1581, aimed ...
Czech Senate Approves Regulation of Kratom and HHC Sales
LOS ANGELES- The Czech Senate has approved new legislation regulating the sale of kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a move aimed at safeguarding public health, especially for minors. These changes follow a high-profile incident in January 2024 in Karlovy Vary, where primary school children were hospitalized after consuming HHC-infused sweets. The legislation introduces stricter controls on ...
Nebraska Officials Scrutinize Medical Cannabis Petition Signatures
LOS ANGELES- Nebraska state officials are questioning the validity of signatures supporting two medical cannabis ballot initiatives, sparking a legal battle over whether the measures should remain on the upcoming November ballot. Secretary of State Bob Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers have raised concerns about the legitimacy of roughly 49,000 signatures on each petition, ...
Tilray Reports 13% Decline in Cannabis Revenue for Q1 FY25
LOS ANGELES- Tilray Brands, a lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company, announced a 13% decline in its cannabis revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, ending August 31, 2024. Despite overall growth in other business segments, the cannabis division reported net revenue of $61.2 million. This comes as the company faces broader challenges ...
Arkansas Supreme Court Cannabis Ballot Case Advances as Two Justices Recuse Themselves
LOS ANGELES- Two Arkansas Supreme Court justices have recused themselves from a key case involving a cannabis ballot measure, without providing any explanation for their decisions. Chief Justice John Kemp and Associate Justice Courtney Hudson will be replaced by temporary appointees, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Don Curdie, chairman of the Arkansas State Board ...
Delaware Receives Over 1,200 Cannabis Business License Applications Ahead of Market Launch
LOS ANGELES- Delaware officials have received 1,269 applications for cannabis business licenses, significantly surpassing expectations, as the state prepares to launch its adult-use cannabis market. The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) opened the application window from August 19 to September 30, collecting approximately $4.1 million in fees. The high demand has prompted the state ...
Missouri Health Department Requests $877K to Enforce Hemp Product Ban
LOS ANGELES- The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has requested $877,000 to fund the enforcement of Gov. Mike Parson’s ban on intoxicating hemp products. The request is part of a preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year and would be available if approved by lawmakers in the state's budget by May 2024. ...
New Jersey Senate Committee Advances Therapeutic Psilocybin Bill
LOS ANGELES- The New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has approved Senate Bill 2283, advancing legislation to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin for medical purposes. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari (D), comes after months of deliberation and amendments that shifted the focus from adult recreational use to strictly medical applications. ...
Trulieve Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Florida GOP Over Cannabis Legalization Ads
LOS ANGELES- Trulieve, Florida's largest medical cannabis operator, filed a defamation lawsuit against the Republican Party of Florida on Wednesday, accusing the party of spreading misleading advertisements about Amendment 3. The amendment, which will appear on the ballot in November, seeks to legalize cannabis for adults aged 21 and older. The lawsuit claims that a ...
StateHouse Goes Into Receivership With $100 mm In Debt
LOS ANGELES- Pelorus Fund REIT has filed a request with a California court to place StateHouse Holdings, a vertically integrated cannabis operator, into receivership following the company’s default on four loans. Pelorus, a private mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) and the largest lender to StateHouse, expects the company’s management to support the move. Pelorus ...
Week’s In Review: New York Cannabis Market Report Highlights Progress and Challenges; TerrAscend Secures Additional $26 Million in Loan Draw to Pay Down High-Interest Debt; Harris’s Comments Over Cannabis Reform in the 2024 Presidential Race; FBI Data: Over 200,000 Arrests for Cannabis Possession in 2023
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 Cannabis Market Report Highlights Progress and Challenges: New York state officials released ...
Arkansas Supreme Court Orders Continuation of Signature Count for Cannabis Expansion Ballot Initiative
LOS ANGELES- The Arkansas Supreme Court has ordered Secretary of State John Thurston to continue counting approximately 18,000 signatures for a proposed medical cannabis expansion initiative, despite his earlier decision to invalidate them due to a paperwork issue. This decision comes as advocates from Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) challenge the state's rejection of their ...
New York Cannabis Market Report Highlights Progress and Challenges
LOS ANGELES- New York state officials released a comprehensive report this week, reviewing the progress made in the three years since the state's cannabis legalization law was signed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2021. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) outlined the development of the legal cannabis market, emphasizing ...
How Advanced Nutrients is Unlocking Profit Potential for Cultivators
LOS ANGELES — In the competitive world of cannabis cultivation, plant health has become synonymous with profitability. As the industry matures and consumer expectations rise, the pressure on cultivators to consistently produce high-quality cannabis has never been greater. At the heart of this challenge lies a critical but often overlooked factor: plant stress. Early Nutrient ...
The High Stakes of Cutting Corners in Regulatory Employee Compliance
LOS ANGELES — In the cannabis industry, regulatory compliance is not a mere formality, but it’s a vital safeguard against financial losses, legal challenges, and operational disruptions. An often overlooked yet incredibly high-stakes area of cannabis business operations is regulatory employee compliance management. While compliance is notoriously complex for cannabis businesses, failing to stay in ...
Arizona Court Rules THC Metabolites Alone Cannot Justify License Suspension
LOS ANGELES- The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that the presence of THC metabolites in a driver’s bloodstream is not sufficient grounds for suspending their driver’s license unless the driver is shown to be impaired. This decision, made in the case of Aaron Kirsten, upholds provisions in the 2020 voter-approved cannabis legalization law, Proposition ...
TerrAscend Secures Additional $26 Million in Loan Draw to Pay Down High-Interest Debt
LOS ANGELES- TerrAscend Corp. a North American cannabis company, has completed a second draw of $26 million as part of its senior secured term loan, bringing the total gross proceeds to $140 million. The loan, managed by FocusGrowth Asset Management, LP, and other syndicate members, was originally announced in August 2024. This recent capital will ...
Georgia’s Hemp Industry Faces New Regulations
LOS ANGELES- The Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which introduces new age restrictions and regulations for hemp products, took effect on October 1. The law prohibits the sale, purchase, and possession of consumable hemp products for individuals under 21, and mandates licensing for hemp retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. These regulations are intended to enhance public safety ...
California Legalizes Cannabis Cafes
LOS ANGELES- California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill legalizing cannabis cafes, where consumers can enjoy cannabis alongside food, drinks, and live performances. This move, which aligns California with cannabis cafe models seen in the Netherlands, comes as part of broader efforts to expand legal cannabis consumption options in the state. The law, authored ...
Ohio Recreational Cannabis Sales Exceed $76.2 Million in Under Two Months
LOS ANGELES- Recreational cannabis sales in Ohio have surpassed $76.2 million since launching in early August, according to data from the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC). As of September 21, sales totaled $76,280,490, with a 10% tax applied to all non-medical cannabis transactions. Ohio legalized recreational cannabis through the passage of ...
Vermont Halts New Cannabis Retail Licenses
LOS ANGELES- Vermont's Cannabis Control Board has temporarily stopped accepting new retail cannabis license applications, citing concerns about market saturation in certain regions. The pause, which takes effect on October 25, comes after issuing just over 90 retail licenses in less than two years. The Board aims to reassess market dynamics and will draft new ...
California Legalizes Cannabis Lounges: A Win for the Cannabis Industry and Leaders like Urbana
LOS ANGELES — In a landmark decision for California’s cannabis industry, Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed AB 1775 into law, allowing the creation of cannabis consumption lounges throughout the state. This move is set to revolutionize how Californians experience cannabis, providing new opportunities for businesses and establishing regulated environments where cannabis can be enjoyed ...
FBI Data: Over 200,000 Arrests for Cannabis Possession in 2023
LOS ANGELES- Despite growing momentum for cannabis legalization in the U.S., over 200,000 people were arrested for cannabis possession in 2023, according to new data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting system. The report, which covers 94% of the U.S. population, shows that 84% of the cannabis-related arrests were for possession alone. The data also ...
Harris’s Comments Over Cannabis Reform in the 2024 Presidential Race
LOS ANGELES- Harris's comments come amid a broader debate over cannabis reform in the 2024 presidential race. While Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz has suggested that cannabis legalization should be handled by individual states, Harris's stance signals a push for federal-level reform. Walz has emphasized the need for incremental steps, such as allowing veterans access ...
Week’s In Review: California Permits Lounges; Los Angeles County Targets Unlicensed Cannabis Dispensaries with “Deplatforming” Motion; California Bans Hemp-Derived THC Products Amid Regulatory Concerns; California’s New Hemp Regulations Raise Concerns for Industry and Consumers
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#In a landmark decision for California’s cannabis industry, Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed AB ...
