Legal Affairs
West Virginia and Mississippi Advance Ibogaine Research Bills
CHARLESTON–JACKSON – Lawmakers in West Virginia and Mississippi have advanced legislation to support research into ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the iboga plant, with the goal of pursuing FDA approval for its use in ...
UCLA Partners with Terpene Belt Farms to Research Cannabis Flavors
LOS ANGELES – Terpene Belt Farms, a subsidiary of Nexus Agriscience, has been selected as the industry partner in a University of California-led research funded by a $1.23 million grant from the California Department of ...
Virgin Islands Sets Fall 2026 Target for Legal Cannabis Retail Launch
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation has accelerated its timeline for the start of licensed Cannabis sales, with executive director Joanne Moorhead stating that regulated retail operations are now expected ...
New York Updates Cannabis Packaging, Labeling, and Advertising Regulations
NEW YORK – The New York State Cannabis Control Board finalized amendments to its packaging, labeling, marketing, and advertising regulations, marking a significant step in refining the state's adult-use Cannabis market. The changes aim to ...
Planet 13 Reports Q3 2025 Financial Results
LAS VEGAS – Planet 13 Holdings Inc., a multistate Cannabis operator with flagship operations in Nevada and Florida, disclosed a $44 million net loss for the third quarter, reflecting the toll of compressed prices, softening ...
Glass House Brands Reports Q3 2025 Financial Results
LONG BEACH – Glass House Brands Inc. disclosed third-quarter 2025 earnings that showed a marked slowdown in sales and profitability, chalked up to deliberate shifts in its labor strategy. The company posted revenue of $38.4 ...
ANTG Inks Deal with Curaleaf to Supply Medical Cannabis for UK Patients
LONDON – Australian Natural Therapeutics Group, a leading cultivator of pharmaceutical-grade Cannabis, has reached an agreement with Curaleaf Laboratories to bring its products to British patients, marking a cross-continental push into Europe's second-largest medical Cannabis ...
West Virginia and Mississippi Advance Ibogaine Research Bills
CHARLESTON–JACKSON – Lawmakers in West Virginia and Mississippi have advanced legislation to support research into ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the iboga plant, with the goal of pursuing FDA approval for its use in ...
UCLA Partners with Terpene Belt Farms to Research Cannabis Flavors
LOS ANGELES – Terpene Belt Farms, a subsidiary of Nexus Agriscience, has been selected as the industry partner in a University of California-led research funded by a $1.23 million grant from the California Department of ...
Virgin Islands Sets Fall 2026 Target for Legal Cannabis Retail Launch
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation has accelerated its timeline for the start of licensed Cannabis sales, with executive director Joanne Moorhead stating that regulated retail operations are now expected ...
Mississippi’s Medical Cannabis Industry Sees New Bill
MISSISSIPI-- Mississippi’s medical cannabis industry is set to see some changes, following the final approval of a new bill that aims to make life easier for the state’s medical cannabis operators. House Bill 1158, passed ...
California Cannabis Brand, Rose, Teams Up with Kiva Sales and Service to Expand Product Line
LOS ANGELES-- Rose, California's cannabis brand, announced today an exclusive partnership with Kiva Sales and Service (KSS), a top sales and distribution platform that offers dispensaries a curated selection of the best brands in the ...
Australian Nurses Call for Medicinal Cannabis Education in Undergraduate Degrees
The group wants education about the endocannabinoid system included in undergraduate nursing degrees. Seven years ago, the Federal Parliament passed legislation to legalise medicinal cannabis in Australia. Since then, most cannabis medications have been classified ...
Psychedelic Firm Reunion Neuroscience Sues Mindset Pharma for Patent Infringement and Breach of Contract
LOS ANGELES-- Clinical research firm Reunion Neuroscience Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Mindset Pharma Inc. in federal court, alleging that the latter copied its psychedelic formula and presented it as its own invention while ...
Ascend Wellness Holdings Expands But Still Struggles To Turn a Profit
NEW YORK-- Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc., a New York-based cannabis company, expanded its footprint significantly in 2022 by opening four new stores in three states, transitioning three shops in New Jersey to recreational sales, expanding ...
California’s Cannabis Industry Faces Challenges Amid Difficult Market Conditions and Regulatory Changes
LOS ANGELES-- During a recent earnings call, Kyle Kazan, CEO of Glass House Brands, revealed that challenging market conditions in California are forcing cannabis operators to leave, leaving many vendors unpaid. Kazan stated that "many ...
Experts Warn of Ripple Effects for Cannabis Industry Following Silicon Valley Bank’s Failure
LOS ANGELES- Silicon Valley Bank’s unexpected collapse last Friday is sending ripples of concern through the cannabis finance industry, as experts warn that even if the cannabis sector itself remains untouched, there will still be ...
Politicians Discuss Narrow Window for Federal Cannabis Legalization at SXSW Conference
AUSTISN-- The SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, known for its focus on cutting-edge tech, music, and film, also hosted a cannabis track of sessions this year, along with a psychedelics track for the first time. ...
Michigan Cannabis Firm Skymint Placed Into Receivership By Court Order
MICHIGAN-- Skymint, the brand name for Green Peak Innovations Inc., has been placed into receivership by a Michigan judge after the company failed to pay back loans provided by SunStream’s affiliate Tropics LP since March ...
LIFE IN A DAY: Jeff Raymond: From Aerospace to Agritech, The Remarkable Journey of Jeff Raymond
In a quaint town during his earlier years, Jeff Raymond found a commitment larger than life itself. His early days as a volunteer firefighter and first-responder instilled a profound sense of duty and service. A ...
A LIFE IN A DAY: Omar Bitar: Co-Founder & President: Grupo Flor
Here, in A LIFE IN A DAY, a person shares with Highly Capitalized, what life’s like for them outside their busy working week. This week’s Life In A Day features Omar Bitar. Omar Bitar is ...
A LIFE IN A DAY: Wendy Campbell: VP Sales: MJ Unpacked
Here, in A LIFE IN A DAY, a person shares with Highly Capitalized, what life’s like for them outside their busy working week. This week's Life In A Day features Wendy Campbell. Wendy is the ...
A LIFE IN A DAY: Wendy Campbell: VP Sales: Jage Media + MJUnpacked
Here, in A LIFE IN A DAY, a person shares with Highly Capitalized, what life’s like for them outside their busy working week. This week's Life In A Day features Wendy Campbell. Wendy is the ...
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Consider State-Run Liquor Stores as Potential Cannabis Retailers
PENNSYLVANIA-- As Pennsylvania's governor introduces a budget with details for taxing adult-use cannabis, lawmakers are exploring different options for how a recreational market could be structured. Among those options is allowing state-run liquor stores to ...
Disproportionate Cannabis Drug Testing Among Black and Hispanic Mothers During Labor and Delivery
LOS ANGELES-- A recent study published in the journal Hospital Pediatrics has revealed that a disproportionate number of Hispanic or African American patients are subjected to Cannabis-specific drug screening during the labor and delivery process. ...
Three States Progress Towards Legalizing Cannabis for Adults
LOS ANGELES-- Three US states are making progress in legalizing cannabis possession for people aged 21 and above, as the debate on cannabis legalization continues across the country. In Hawaii, lawmakers have passed Senate Bill ...
Justice Department Appeals Ruling Overturning Federal Ban on Firearms for Cannabis Users
WASHINGTON, DC--The Justice Department is fighting back against a recent ruling that overturned a longstanding federal law banning cannabis users from possessing firearms. In early February, a federal judge in Oklahoma deemed the 1968 law ...
Observational Study Finds Medical Cannabis Products Improve Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Illnesses
LOS ANGELES-- A new study has found that medical cannabis products are generally well-tolerated and can lead to significant improvements in the health-related quality of life of patients. The research, published in the journal Expert ...
Missouri’s Adult-Use Cannabis Program Impacts Illinois’ Out-of-State Sales
ILLINOIS-- Missouri’s new adult-use cannabis program may be impacting the sales of legal retailers in neighboring Illinois. According to a monthly report from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, total recreational cannabis sales ...
Psychedelic Startups Turn to Stock Payments to Address Financial Struggles
LOS ANGELES-- Psychedelic medicine companies are facing financial challenges due to the long runway to commercialization. Unlike cannabis, which saw rapid changes in laws, quick establishment of programs, and the issuance of thousands of licenses, ...
Skymint, One of Michigan’s Largest Cannabis Companies, Under Control of Receiver Amid Industry Pressures
MICHIGAN-- Skymint, one of Michigan's largest cannabis cultivators and retailers, is now under the control of a receiver as the industry faces an increasingly difficult market in the state. The Ingham County Circuit Court in ...
Oklahoma Rejects Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization, Industry to Remain Medical-Only
OKLAHOMA--Oklahoma voters have rejected a ballot initiative that would have legalized adult-use cannabis in the state. State Question 820, which would have allowed adults aged 21 and over to possess, cultivate, and purchase cannabis for ...
Female-Owned Cannabis Startups Struggle to Secure Funding
LOS ANGELES-- Women-owned and operated cannabis companies have been facing difficulty in securing funding equal to their male counterparts. In 2022, only 1.9% of funding went to women-led or owned startups, highlighting a major funding ...
New York Doubles Number of “Justice-Involved” Cannabis Retail Permits in Effort to Expand Market and Increase Social Equity
NEW YORK-- New York’s state Cannabis Control Board has announced it will double the number of “justice-involved” retail permits from 150 to 300, in an effort to expand the market and support social equity retailers. ...
Adastra Holdings receives permission to sell cocaine and psilocybin for medical purposes only
LOS ANGELES-- Adastra Holdings, based in British Columbia, has announced that it has been granted permission by the Canadian federal government to sell both cocaine and psilocybin. However, Health Canada, the federal agency governing the ...
