Consumer Research
IRS and Treasury Move to Clarify Cannabis Tax Rules
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the ...
BREAKING: DOJ Signs Cannabis into Schedule III
WASHINGTON – Today, the federal government took its most consequential ...
Cannabis Distributors Kiva Sales & Service and Petalfast Sign Letter of Intent to Combine
OAKLAND – Kiva Sales & Service (KSS), a leading sales and distribution agency focused on California’s Cannabis market, signed a letter of intent to combine operations with Petalfast, a national platform known for sales, distribution ...
New York Senate Health Committee Advances Bill for Out-of-State Medical Cannabis Access
ALBANY – The New York State Senate Health Committee approved legislation that would recognize medical Cannabis certifications from other states, granting those patients access to New York dispensaries under specific conditions. The measure, Senate Bill ...
High Tide Reports Q1 2026 Financial Results
CALGARY - High Tide Inc. released its financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2026, underscoring steady progress in its Canadian stores and its expanding medical Cannabis distribution business in Germany. High Tide ...
New 2026 Farm Bill Draft Targets Industrial Hemp Burdens
WASHINGTON – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) introduced a new Farm Bill draft (Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026), proposing changes that would ease certain federal requirements for industrial hemp growers. ...
Compass Pathways Advances in Second Phase 3 Trial for Psilocybin-Assisted TRD
LONDON – Compass Pathways PLC ADR, a UK-based mental health biotech company, announced that its second Phase 3 trial met the primary endpoint in evaluating COMP360, a synthetic formulation of psilocybin, for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). ...
350 Retail Cap and Tier V Cultivation Limits: What Virginia’s Scarcity Model Means for License Strategy
RICHMOND- Virginia’s adult-use design is built on scarcity and structural oversight. The 350 retail cap materially limits market density, shaping site selection and long-term valuation models. Tier V cultivation remains limited to five large operators. ...
Virginia Adult-Use Applications Expected in 2026: Operators Should Begin Structuring Now
NEW YORK- Virginia’s adult-use Cannabis legislation is now in reconciliation after both the House (HB 642) and Senate (SB 542) advanced competing sales frameworks. For operators, the question is no longer whether retail will launch—but ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – The Cannabis and Psychedelics sectors delivered clear signals of financial stability, policy refinement, consumer-driven changes, and therapeutic expansion. State-level sales held firm in key markets, major MSOs shared Q4 and FY 2025 ...
Starting a Cannabis Business: The Real-World Founder Guide for an Industry That Gives You ZERO Margin for Error
LOS ANGELES - Starting any business is hard. Starting a Cannabis business is harder. A founder in a typical startup may need to deal with branding, hiring, websites, customer acquisition, and cash flow. A founder ...
LEGAL UPDATE: California Cannabis & Hemp Industry: What Operators & Investors Need to Know
LOS ANGELES- California’s cannabis and hemp markets are navigating a perfect storm of declining retail sales, shifting local tax policies, and a federal hemp reckoning that could reshape the competitive landscape for years to come. ...
Arrests Made in Multi-Nation JuicyFields Cannabis Investment Fraud
LOS ANGELES- The investigation into the JuicyFields cannabis investment scam, believed to involve fraudulent activities amounting to nearly $700 million, has culminated in the arrest of nine individuals. This case, noted as one of the ...
Dutchie Payments System Buckles Under Pressure on 4/20
LOS ANGELES- On April 20th, the cannabis community celebrates a day of significance – a day marked not only by camaraderie but also by substantial commercial activity. However, this year’s 4/20 brought a bitter experience ...
MedMen Winds Up Getting Wound Up: Files for Bankruptcy, Assets Placed in Receivership
NEW YORK- MedMen Enterprises has declared bankruptcy in Canada, announcing the decision on April 24 amid escalating financial troubles. With liabilities amounting to C$561 million ($410.4 million), the cannabis company has appointed B. Riley Farber ...
California Moves Closer to Legalizing Cannabis Cafés
LOS ANGELES- California's legislative efforts to allow cannabis cafés took a significant step forward as Assembly Bill 1775, championed by Representative Matt Haney (D), passed through a second Assembly committee. The bill received favorable votes ...
Study Finds THC Increases Survival Time in Palliative Care Patients
LOS ANGLES- A recent study conducted by German researchers has found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may significantly extend the survival time of ambulatory palliative patients. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, the study ...
Expanded Record Sealing Opportunities Approved in Maine
LOS ANGELES- Maine's Legislature has recently approved two significant bills that enhance the state's ability to seal criminal records. Among these, one particular bill stands out for its focus on cannabis-related offenses. This legislation now ...
DEA Challenges Right to Try Psilocybin Use in Court
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has requested a federal appeals court to refuse Dr. Sunil Aggarwal's application to use psilocybin for terminally ill patients, citing the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) which does ...
Louisiana Committee Advances Cannabis Regulatory Framework Bill
LOS ANGELES- The Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee has unanimously passed House Bill 707, setting the stage for a comprehensive regulatory framework for recreational cannabis use. Introduced by Rep. Edmond Jordan, the bill aims ...
Cannabis Industry on Track to Deliver 800,000 American Jobs by 2028
SAN DIEGO — In a recent report, CannabizTeam, a leading cannabis staffing and executive search firm, detailed optimistic projections for the U.S. job market within the legal cannabis industry, forecasting substantial growth and compensation boosts ...
Study Reveals High THC Levels in Smokable Hemp Products
LOS ANGELES- A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has revealed that a significant majority of smokable hemp products contain THC levels that exceed federal legal limits, classifying them ...
Cresco Labs Workers Vote to Leave Union
LOS ANGELES- In a notable development in the cannabis industry, employees at Cresco Labs' cultivation facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, have opted to de-unionize. The decision, made ahead of the expiration of their current contract ...
Louisiana Legislators Clash Over THC Consumables Regulation
LOS ANGELES- Louisiana's legislative bodies are currently entangled in a debate over the future of hemp-derived THC consumables, with contrasting bills passed by the House and Senate. According to NOLA.com, the Louisiana House has passed ...
Expansion of Japan’s Cannabis Market
LOS ANGELES- The cannabis market in Japan has shown remarkable growth from $26.3 million in 2019 to $173.8 million in 2023. This growth, detailed in a report by Euromonitor International, reflects a burgeoning demand for ...
Heritage Cannabis Seeks Creditor Protection
LOS ANGELES-Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp. has sought creditor protection, reflecting broader financial distress within Canada’s adult-use cannabis market. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), ...
Minnesota House Advances Social Equity in Cannabis Licensing
LOS ANGELES- The Minnesota House of Representatives has passed significant amendments to the state's adult-use cannabis program, focusing on enhancing social equity in cannabis licensing. The changes were detailed in a recent MinnPost report and ...
Adjustments to Federal Drug Testing Guidelines Proposed
NEW YORK- The Department of Health & Human Services is considering revisions to the federal drug testing panels, as detailed in a recent Federal Register publication. The proposed adjustments include the addition of fentanyl to ...
Canopy Growth Corp Expands into U.S. Cannabis Market
LOS ANGELES- Canopy Growth Corp, a Canada-based cannabis company, has secured approval from its shareholders to venture into the American cannabis market via its newly established subsidiary, Canopy USA. This strategic move involves a novel ...
Strategic Merger: Nature’s Miracle and Agrify Unite in Controlled Environment Agriculture
LOS ANGELES- Nature's Miracle Holding Inc., a vertical farming technology, has successfully completed its acquisition of Agrify Corporation, a provider of advanced cultivation and extraction solutions. This merger positions the combined entity at the forefront ...
North Carolina’s First Medical Cannabis Dispensary Opens
NEW YORK- North Carolina witnessed the opening of its first medical cannabis dispensary on April 20, a significant event as it marks the only legal, regulated, and safe sale of cannabis within the state. Located ...
Governor Pritzker Campaigns for Biden, Highlighting Cannabis Policy and Political Strategy
LOS ANGELES- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker campaigned for President Joe Biden in Grand Rapids, Michigan, using the occasion of the 420 cannabis holiday to discuss the economic benefits of cannabis legalization. Pritzker highlighted the positive ...
U.S. and State Legislators Address Diverse Cannabis-Related Issues
LOS ANGELES- Recent legislative developments across the United States reflect a broad spectrum of approaches to cannabis-related issues, from medical use and public safety to regulatory and expungement processes. These actions signify ongoing, nuanced dialogues ...
Kentucky to Initiate Medical Cannabis License Lottery
LOS ANGELES- In a significant step towards the establishment of its medical cannabis program, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced plans for a lottery to allocate the state's initial medical cannabis business licenses. Scheduled for October, ...
New York to Strengthen Enforcement Against Illicit Cannabis Sales
LOS ANGELES- Governor Kathy Hochul, alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other state officials, announced a comprehensive five-point plan to address the unlicensed cannabis market in New York. This announcement, made on Friday, ...
Uncertainty Looms Over Florida’s Cannabis Legalization Vote
LOS ANGELES- Florida is approaching a pivotal moment as it prepares to vote on the legalization of recreational cannabis in November. Current polling data suggests a tight race towards achieving the required 60% supermajority needed ...
Expansion of Cannabis Licensing Continues in New York
LOS ANGELES- New York State is progressing in its efforts to expand the cannabis industry, with the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) approving an additional 101 adult-use cannabis licenses, bringing the total for 2024 to 403. ...
