Legal Affairs
SAM in Action: How Dark Money Fuels Prohibitionists Attacks
LOS ANGELES – A noticeable uptick in anti-Cannabis content has appeared on social platforms lately, flooding threads with posts on scromiting, schizophrenia, psychosis risks, outdated research, recycled study headlines, and new ballot proposals surfacing in ...
CMS Finalizes Rule for Medicare CBD Coverage Pilot
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized regulations enabling a pilot program for federal health insurance coverage of hemp-derived CBD products, according to a recent statement from an executive at ...
Missouri Cannabis Sales Hit Record $1.5B in 2025
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri's regulated Cannabis market posted its strongest year yet in 2025, with retailers recording approximately $1.5 billion in total sales, according to figures from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. ...
Canopy Growth Acquires MTL Cannabis in Bid to Ramp Up Medical Sales
SMITHS FALLS – Canopy Growth Corp., a major player in the Canadian Cannabis sector, has signed a definitive agreement to purchase MTL Cannabis Corp. in a cash-and-stock transaction worth about $125 million on a fully ...
Trump Sets Plans for Cannabis Reclassification Executive Order
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is set to direct federal agencies to reclassify Cannabis from its current Schedule I status to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, a step that would align federal oversight ...
Mid-Cap Cannabis Operators Face Liquidity Pressures Despite Solid Leverage, Viridian Report Finds
LOS ANGELES – Public Cannabis companies with $25-100 million market values are navigating a patchwork of financial strengths and vulnerabilities, according to the latest Weekly Credit Report from Viridian Capital Advisors. It tracks eight U.S.-based ...
Ascend Wellness Partners with Cannabis Advocate for New Dispensary in New Jersey
NEW YORK – Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. disclosed a partnership with Mister Jones LLC and industry advocate Lerone Jones to launch a retail dispensary in Little Falls, NJ. The arrangement, one of the initial deals ...
SAM in Action: How Dark Money Fuels Prohibitionists Attacks
LOS ANGELES – A noticeable uptick in anti-Cannabis content has appeared on social platforms lately, flooding threads with posts on scromiting, schizophrenia, psychosis risks, outdated research, recycled study headlines, and new ballot proposals surfacing in ...
CMS Finalizes Rule for Medicare CBD Coverage Pilot
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized regulations enabling a pilot program for federal health insurance coverage of hemp-derived CBD products, according to a recent statement from an executive at ...
Missouri Cannabis Sales Hit Record $1.5B in 2025
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri's regulated Cannabis market posted its strongest year yet in 2025, with retailers recording approximately $1.5 billion in total sales, according to figures from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. ...
Michigan Civil Service Commission Votes to Lift Cannabis Drug Test Ban for Most State Employees
LOS ANGELES-- In a unanimous decision, the Michigan Civil Service Commission has voted to eliminate the prohibition on hiring most state employees who fail pre-employment drug tests for cannabis, as reported by MLive. This move ...
TerrAscend Secures $25 Million Commercial Loan to Reduce Debt and Lower Interest Expenses
LOS ANGELES-- TerrAscend Corp., a cannabis operator in North America, has successfully closed a commercial loan of $25 million with Stearns Bank. The loan proceeds will primarily be used to pay down existing debt with ...
Ukraine Parliament Gives Initial Approval to Medical Cannabis Legalization Proposal
KYIV-- The Ukraine Parliament has taken a significant step towards the legalization of medical cannabis by granting initial approval to a proposed legislation. The bill, which still requires potential amendments and a second reading, must ...
Record-Breaking Cannabis Sales in Massachusetts Reach $151.8 Million in June
BOSTON-- Massachusetts witnessed an extraordinary surge in cannabis sales during the month of June, with total transactions reaching a remarkable $151.8 million, as reported by state figures. This impressive figure consists of $132.8 million in ...
States Collaborate with Federal Regulators in Sharing Cannabis Data for Rescheduling Review
LOS ANGELES-- In a significant development, several states with medical cannabis programs have collaborated with U.S. health regulators to provide crucial data regarding cannabis use and its impact on patients. This information, including details about ...
Virginia’s Cannabis and Hemp Markets Face Regulatory Uncertainty
LOS ANGELES-- The cannabis and hemp markets in Virginia are facing significant turmoil due to regulatory uncertainty perpetuated by the state's Republican leadership. The previously anticipated launch of recreational cannabis sales in January 2024 is ...
Illinois Social Equity License Winners Face Challenges in Opening Cannabis Shops
ILLINOIS-- The 55 winners of the upcoming Illinois social equity license lottery, set to be announced on Thursday, may encounter difficulties in successfully launching their cannabis businesses. Historical data indicates that only a fraction of ...
Maryland’s First Week of Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Tops $20 Million
LOS ANGELES-- Maryland's cannabis retailers reported a remarkable achievement, with nearly $21 million in combined sales of medical and recreational cannabis products during the state's inaugural week of adult-use sales. Andrew Garrison, Chief of Policy ...
FDA and FTC Warn Companies Selling Delta-8 THC Foods for Safety Violations
LOS ANGELES-- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have jointly taken action against six companies for illegally selling food products containing delta-8 THC, a hemp-derived compound. Warning letters ...
Pennsylvania Senate Committee Advances Proposal for Expanded Medical Cannabis Access
HARRISBURG-- The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee has taken a significant step forward by approving a proposal that would grant physicians the authority to certify patients for the state's medical cannabis program based on ...
Wholesale Cannabis Prices in Michigan Show Signs of Stability
MICHIGAN - Wholesale prices for cannabis flower in Michigan have recently shown signs of leveling off and even a slight uptick, providing a glimmer of hope for producers who have endured a significant decline in ...
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office Delays Plans for Cannabis Farmers Markets
NEW YORK - Plans for cannabis farmers markets in New York State have hit an impasse as Gov. Kathy Hochul's office puts the idea on hold indefinitely. The proposal, initially introduced by state regulators in ...
Massachusetts Strip Club Ditches Controversial “Topless Cannabis” Plans
WHATELY, Mass. — In a surprising turn of events, the owners of Club Castaway in Whately have announced their plans to reopen the strip club next month. The establishment, Franklin County's sole strip club, ...
Germany’s Supreme Court Says ”No” To Canabis Legalization Plans
Berlin--In a federal legal setback for the pending decriminalization of cannabis, the Karlsruhe-based Supreme Court has upheld its case law from the 1990s, disregarding several appeals. The ruling, issued by the Third Chamber of the ...
The Complexities of Research and Development Taxation in California’s Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- In recent years, the U.S. cannabis industry has experienced unprecedented growth, with a majority of states embracing its medical applications and an increasing number legalizing adult use. This surge in acceptance has been ...
The Tax Challenges Plaguing the Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- The year 2022 brought forth a significant shift in the financial landscape for the cannabis industry, as businesses grappled with a pressing tax conundrum. With the looming income tax filing season, cannabis taxpayers ...
The Advantages of Being a “Qualified Manufacturer” in the Cannabis Industry
NEW YORK -- In the ever-expanding landscape of New York's cannabis industry, entrepreneurs face a multitude of challenges on their path to success. From navigating the complexities of licensing to competing against illicit market players, ...
Complexities of Cannabis Outsourcing in a Murky Legal Landscape
LOS ANGELES-- The rapid evolution of the cannabis industry, as it transitions from the shadows of illicit trade to the forefront of mainstream commerce, has brought about a host of challenges for businesses. In response, ...
The Dawn of Social Equity and the Booming Adult-Use Cannabis Industry in New York
NEW YORK-- New York State is embarking on a groundbreaking social experiment as it grants adult-use cannabis licenses, aiming to rectify the injustices inflicted by the long-standing war on cannabis. The detrimental effects of this ...
Transfer Pricing Challenges in the Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- As the cannabis industry continues to grapple with a complex web of regulations and tax rules, entrepreneurs like Abraham Finberg, Rachel Wright, and Simon Menkes of 420CPA display adept skills in maneuvering through ...
Navigating California’s Cannabis Debt Crisis
LOS ANGELES-- As California's cannabis market grapples with a mounting debt crisis, the fate of the industry hangs in the balance, centering around a controversial piece of legislation known as Assembly Bill 766, also referred ...
Paving the Way for Interstate Cannabis Commerce, California’s Ambitious Plan
LOS ANGELES-- Amidst the picturesque landscapes of California's cannabis fields, a new wave of excitement is brewing in the Golden State. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has unveiled a bold initiative that could potentially ...
A Calculated Approach: Navigating Federal Cannabis Legalization
LOS ANGELES-- The landscape of federal cannabis reform is undergoing a notable transformation, propelled by the growing number of states embracing adult-use cannabis. As this trend gains momentum, policymakers are increasingly compelled to consider significant ...
Skittles Triumphs in Lawsuit Against Cannabis Knockoff Zkittlez
NEW YORK-Mars Wrigley, the maker of multi-colored fruit-flavored Skittles candies, has reached a settlement in a trademark infringement lawsuit against Terphogz LLC, a seller of cannabis-related merchandise. The lawsuit centered around Terphogz's marketing of products ...
Barely Capitalized: Pioneering Support for Women and Minority Startups in the Booming Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-In a bold move to address the long-standing funding disparity faced by women and minority entrepreneurs in the cannabis sector, Highly Capitalized, a leading financial news service, is set to launch an innovative initiative ...
