Legal Affairs
Kool Cigarettes Sues Bloom Cannabis For Logo Infringement
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Tobacco producer ITG has sued a California ...
Rastafarians Lead Caribbean Cannabis Boom
LOS ANGELES- In recent years, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has witnessed a transformative shift in its cannabis industry, particularly benefiting Rastafarian farmers who have long regarded the plant as sacred. Historically, these cultivators ...
Florida’s Cannabis Market Sees Shift as Smaller Operators Capture Market Share
LOS ANGELES- In Florida's evolving medical cannabis landscape, smaller operators are making significant inroads, challenging the dominance of established multi-state operators (MSOs). Despite the state's stringent vertical integration requirements—which mandate that Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers ...
Hawaii Lawmakers Renew Push to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis with Constitutional Amendment Proposal
LOS ANGELES- Hawaii lawmakers introduced House Bill 519, proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and over. The bill seeks to amend Article IX of the Hawaii State Constitution, allowing ...
Florida’s Cannabis Market Sees Shift as Smaller Operators Capture Market Share
LOS ANGELES- In Florida's evolving medical cannabis landscape, smaller operators are making significant inroads, challenging the dominance of established multi-state operators (MSOs). Despite the state's stringent vertical integration requirements—which mandate that Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers ...
Hawaii Lawmakers Renew Push to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis with Constitutional Amendment Proposal
LOS ANGELES- Hawaii lawmakers introduced House Bill 519, proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and over. The bill seeks to amend Article IX of the Hawaii State Constitution, allowing ...
Tacoma City Council Decriminalizes Natural Psychedelics
LOS ANGELES- the Tacoma City Council in Washington State unanimously approved a resolution to decriminalize natural psychedelics, including substances containing tryptamines, phenethylamines, and indolamines. This legislative action designates the enforcement of laws against these entheogenic ...
Rhode Island Proposes Psilocybin Legalization and State-Regulated Therapy Program Pending Federal Rescheduling
LOS ANGELES- In January 2025, Rhode Island lawmakers introduced House Bill 5186, aiming to legalize psilocybin possession and cultivation for personal use. The bill proposes that individuals be allowed to cultivate psilocybin within their residences ...
Rastafarians Lead Caribbean Cannabis Boom
LOS ANGELES- In recent years, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has witnessed a transformative shift in its cannabis industry, particularly benefiting Rastafarian farmers who have long regarded the plant as sacred. Historically, these cultivators ...
Florida’s Cannabis Market Sees Shift as Smaller Operators Capture Market Share
LOS ANGELES- In Florida's evolving medical cannabis landscape, smaller operators are making significant inroads, challenging the dominance of established multi-state operators (MSOs). Despite the state's stringent vertical integration requirements—which mandate that Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers ...
Hawaii Lawmakers Renew Push to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis with Constitutional Amendment Proposal
LOS ANGELES- Hawaii lawmakers introduced House Bill 519, proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and over. The bill seeks to amend Article IX of the Hawaii State Constitution, allowing ...
The Important Tax Deadlines to Remember in Cannabis
LOS ANGELES—As we enter 2025, it's crucial for individuals and businesses to keep track of key tax deadlines. Missing these dates can lead to penalties, interest charges, and wasted opportunities for tax savings. At Growise ...
Senator Warren Seeks Clarification from RFK Jr. on Cannabis Legalization and Rescheduling
LOS ANGELES- Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has formally requested that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), clarify his stance on cannabis legalization and rescheduling. In a comprehensive ...
Virginia Officials Advocate for Automatic Sealing of Cannabis Possession Records
LOS ANGELES- Virginia state officials are advocating for legislative measures to automatically seal all criminal records related to simple cannabis possession without the necessity of court orders. The Virginia State Crime Commission (VSCC) has endorsed ...
Analysis: Pennsylvania’s Cannabis Industry: Current Growth and Future Projections
NEW YORK- The cannabis industry in Pennsylvania continues to evolve, with medical cannabis already generating over $1.5 billion in annual sales. Discussions about recreational legalization are intensifying, particularly as the state's budget deficit grows and ...
Arkansas Governor Proposes Funding Free School Meals with Medical Cannabis Tax Revenue
LOS ANGELES- Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced plans to allocate tax revenue from medical cannabis sales to fund free school meals across the state. In her State of the State address, Governor Sanders ...
Vireo Growth Completes $81 Million Equity Offering
LOS ANGELES- Vireo Growth Inc., a Minneapolis-based cannabis multistate operator, has successfully concluded an oversubscribed private placement, raising approximately $81 million. Initially targeting $75 million, the company issued 129,536,874 subordinate voting shares at $0.625 per ...
Biden Commutes Sentences of Nearly 2,500 Nonviolent Drug Offenders
LOS ANGELES- President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of approximately 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, marking a significant use of executive clemency. This action aims to address past disparities in drug-related sentencing, ...
New York Supreme Court Halts Warrantless Raids on Licensed Hemp Retailers
LOS ANGELES- In a recent decision, New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle issued an injunction against the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB), the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), and the New ...
Indiana Legislators Introduce Cannabis Legalization and Psilocybin Research Bills
LOS ANGELES- Indiana lawmakers have initiated efforts to reform the state's drug policies in the 2025 legislative session, introducing several bills aimed at legalizing cannabis and funding psilocybin research. Cannabis Legalization Proposals Senate Bill 113, ...
Colorado Considers Psilocybin Prescription Legislation
LOS ANGELES- Colorado lawmakers have introduced House Bill 25-1063, a bipartisan proposal that would permit the prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin—a synthetic form of the psychedelic compound—contingent upon approval by the U.S. Food and Drug ...
Chairman of High Times Parent Company to Plead Guilty in Fraud Scheme
LOS ANGELES-Adam Levin, chairman of Hightimes Holding Corp., has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges involving a scheme to pay an investment analyst to promote the company’s stock without disclosing the compensation. According to ...
High Tide Acquires Majority Stake in German Cannabis Firm
LOS ANGELES- High Tide Inc., a Canadian cannabis enterprise, has acquired a 51% stake in Frankfurt-based pharmaceutical company Purecan for approximately €4.8 million. This strategic move marks High Tide's entry into Germany's medical cannabis market. ...
DEA Judge Cancels Cannabis Rescheduling Hearings
LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has canceled its upcoming hearings on the proposed rescheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney issued the cancellation following legal challenges ...
Hemp vs Cannabis Beverages: What’s the Difference, and Why Does It Matter?
LOS ANGELES- Cannabis and hemp beverages markets see rapid growth, but their distinctions remain unclear to many. While both originate from one species, they cater to vastly different audiences, serve distinct purposes, and adhere to ...
The Rise of a New Era of Consumption: Cannabis-Infused Drinks
LOS ANGELES--Cannabis-infused beverages have rapidly gained traction in recent years as a popular alternative to traditional consumption methods such as smoking and vaping. With the increasing legalization of cannabis in the United States and other ...
What You Need to Know Inventory Management and Cost Accounting
LOS ANGELES—Every entrepreneur, CEO and CFO needs to know that effective inventory management and accurate cost accounting are critical to success in the cannabis and psychedelic industries. As businesses navigate a landscape marked by strict ...
Worried About IRS Audits? What You Need to Know
LOS ANGELES– The cannabis and psychedelics industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, and as we one step into 2025, the outlook is brighter than ever. With increasing legalization, growing consumer acceptance, and a burgeoning market ...
Psilocybin Therapy Shows Promise for Pandemic-Induced Depression in Healthcare Workers
LOS ANGELES- Recent studies indicate that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy may alleviate depression among healthcare professionals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A randomized clinical trial conducted by the University of Washington involved 30 frontline clinicians experiencing moderate to ...
Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Treating PTSD Remains Uncertain
LOS ANGELES- The use of medical cannabis as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has garnered significant attention. However, current research provides limited and inconclusive evidence regarding its effectiveness. A 2021 systematic review found ...
Compass Pathways Advances Psilocybin Research in the UK
LOS ANGELES- Compass Pathways, a biotechnology company specializing in mental health innovations, has commenced the UK segment of its global Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This initiative follows ...
Hemp-Derived CBD Market Set to Expand Significantly by 2034
LOS ANGELES- The global hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) market is forecasted to grow from $8.28 billion in 2023 to $46.25 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.93%, according to Research and ...
DEA Faces Allegations of Bias in Cannabis Rescheduling Process
LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is under scrutiny following allegations of bias in its handling of the cannabis rescheduling process. Pro-cannabis advocates assert that the agency has demonstrated an "unalterably closed mind" toward ...
Ohio’s Cannabis Market Expansion in 2024
LOS ANGELES- In 2024, Ohio's legal cannabis market achieved sales exceeding $675 million, marking a 40% increase from the previous year's $484 million. This growth is attributed to the commencement of adult-use cannabis sales in ...
Agrify Divests Cultivation Business to Focus on THC Beverages
LOS ANGELES- Agrify Corporation, a provider of solutions for the cannabis and hemp industries, has sold its cultivation business to CP Acquisitions, LLC, an entity affiliated with former CEO Raymond Chang. The transaction, completed on ...
Wildfires Disrupt California’s Cannabis Industry: A Growing Challenge for Businesses and Employees
LOS ANGELES–The raging wildfires in Los Angeles County, notably the Pacific Palisades fire, have become the most destructive in the city's history, severely impacting local cannabis businesses. As of January 8, 2025, multiple fires—including the ...
