Legal Affairs
Chicago City Council Sets Intoxicating Hemp Products Off Limits, Beverages Still in The Game
CHICAGO – The City Council voted 32-16 to restrict sales of most intoxicating hemp-derived products across the city, carving out an allowance for THC-infused beverages while imposing immediate curbs on purchases by minors. The measure, ...
Florida Cannabis Initiative Nears Signature Goal
TALLAHASSEE – Organizers of a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational Cannabis in Florida reported a sharp increase in verified voter signatures, bringing their total to 760,002 and narrowing the gap to the threshold needed ...
The Bipartisan HEMP Act Targets Federal Rules for Hemp-Derived CBD
WASHINGTON – Representatives Morgan Griffith, a Republican from Virginia, and Marc Veasey, a Democrat from Texas, introduced a bill on Friday to set the first national standards for hemp-derived CBD products, placing oversight with the ...
MindMed Rebrands as Definium Therapeutics, Targets 2026 Trials for LSD-Based Treatments
NEW YORK – Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc., a developer of treatments derived from psychedelics for mental health conditions, has changed its name to Definium Therapeutics Inc., a move that underscores its push into late-stage testing ...
Sunderstorm Welcomes Lime to Its Family of Brands
LOS ANGELES – Sunderstorm, the California-based Cannabis company behind the popular Kanha edibles line, revealed its purchase of Lime, an expert in pre-rolled joints that has carved out a steady presence in the state's retail ...
Curaleaf Observes Delaware Base to Tighten U.S. Footprint
DOVER – Curaleaf Holdings Inc. has filed for shareholder approval to relocate its corporate domicile from British Columbia, Canada, to Delaware, a change designed to match its heavy concentration of business in the American market. ...
Tilray Brands Reports Q2 Fiscal 2026 Financial Results
NEW YORK – Tilray Brands Inc. posted net revenue of $217.5 million for its fiscal second quarter ended November 30, 2025, marking the company's highest quarterly figure to date and edging up 3% from $211 ...
Chicago City Council Sets Intoxicating Hemp Products Off Limits, Beverages Still in The Game
CHICAGO – The City Council voted 32-16 to restrict sales of most intoxicating hemp-derived products across the city, carving out an allowance for THC-infused beverages while imposing immediate curbs on purchases by minors. The measure, ...
Florida Cannabis Initiative Nears Signature Goal
TALLAHASSEE – Organizers of a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational Cannabis in Florida reported a sharp increase in verified voter signatures, bringing their total to 760,002 and narrowing the gap to the threshold needed ...
The Bipartisan HEMP Act Targets Federal Rules for Hemp-Derived CBD
WASHINGTON – Representatives Morgan Griffith, a Republican from Virginia, and Marc Veasey, a Democrat from Texas, introduced a bill on Friday to set the first national standards for hemp-derived CBD products, placing oversight with the ...
German Court Rules Prison Cells Qualify for Cannabis Possession Rules
LOS ANGELES- A Berlin appellate court (Kammergericht) has ruled that prisoners are legally permitted to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis in their cells for personal use, classifying prison quarters as the inmates’ “habitual residence.” ...
Hawaii Governor Vetoes Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Over Privacy Concerns
LOS ANGELES– Hawaii Governor Josh Green has vetoed House Bill 302 (HB 302), a measure aimed at expanding the state’s medical cannabis program, due to concerns over patient privacy provisions, his office confirmed on June 9, ...
New Zealand Delegation Led by Zoë Reece Targets Multibillion‑Dollar European Medicinal Cannabis Market
LOS ANGELES- New Zealand trade delegation, including key export company Ora Pharm, is advancing into Europe’s growing medicinal cannabis market. CEO Zoë Reece is spearheading the mission, aiming to build clinical and commercial partnerships for cannabinoid-derived therapies ...
North Carolina Governor Proposes Cannabis Legalization to Curb Unregulated Hemp Market
LOS ANGELES- North Carolina Governor Josh Stein (D) has urged legalization and regulation of adult-use cannabis to address growing public health concerns surrounding the state’s unregulated hemp-derived THC market. In a video posted on X, ...
Michigan Dispensary Agrees to $205K Settlement Over Withheld Tip Dispute
LOS ANGELES- A Michigan-based cannabis dispensary chain, Timber Cannabis, has agreed to pay $205,000 to resolve a lawsuit filed by employees claiming management withheld customer tips. While the company did not admit to any wrongdoing, ...
GOP Panel Requests Review of Cannabis Rescheduling by Biden Administration
LOS ANGELES- A Republican-led congressional subcommittee is urging a formal investigation into the Biden administration’s handling of the federal cannabis rescheduling process. The request, made in a report accompanying the fiscal year 2026 funding bill ...
U.S. Whiskey Consumption Slows as Cannabis and Wellness Trends Gain Traction
LOS ANGELES- Brown‑Forman Corp., producer of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, cites three primary factors contributing to reduced whiskey consumption in the U.S.: increasing cannabis use, the popularity of GLP‑1 weight‑loss medications, and softer demand among ...
Trump Administration Supports Psychedelic Research in Mental‑Health Efforts
LOS ANGELES- The Trump administration is showing growing support for research into psychedelics such as MDMA, psilocybin, and ibogaine as potential treatments for mental health conditions. Led by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert ...
ProStar SEO Identifies Key Google Ranking Factors for Cannabis Businesses
LOS ANGELES- ProStar SEO, a Canadian firm specializing in search engine optimization, has released new insights identifying the most influential Google ranking factors specific to cannabis industry websites. The report, based on a large-scale analysis ...
Michigan Cannabis Retailer to Pay $205K in Settlement Over Workers’ Lost Tips
LOS ANGELES— Federal Judge Matthew Leitman has approved a $205,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by employees of Timber Cannabis, a seven-location cannabis dispensary chain in Michigan. The lawsuit alleged that management appropriated tips left ...
Malaysia Weighs Cannabis Vaporizer Manufacturing for Export
LOS ANGELES— Malaysia’s Cabinet is set to decide whether to permit the manufacturing of cannabis vaporizer hardware for export, as Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed following a multi-agency review. The proposal centers ...
North Carolina Governor Establishes Cannabis Advisory Council Amid Unregulated THC Market
LOS ANGELES- North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has issued an executive order forming a 24–30 member North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis to develop policy recommendations aimed at regulating cannabis products and formalizing legalization strategies, ...
Cannabis Stocks Decline as Federal Reform Stalls in U.S
LOS ANGELES- U.S. cannabis stocks have declined sharply as investor enthusiasm dampens amid continued delays in federal reform. The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF dropped around 48% in 2024, with company shares like Curaleaf, Verano, ...
AYR Wellness Secures Temporary Waiver in Financing Deal
LOS ANGELES- AYR Wellness Inc. a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator, has entered into a Limited Waiver Agreement with holders of a majority of its senior secured notes . Under this agreement, noteholders temporarily agree ...
Minnesota Awards 249 Cannabis Business Licenses in State’s First Lottery
LOS ANGELES- Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) held its inaugural lottery on June 5, 2025, awarding 249 provisional licenses for social equity and general applicants across four categories: cultivator, manufacturer, mezzobusiness, and retailer. The ...
Ukraine Advances Medical Cannabis Access with Support from Soros-Affiliated NGOs
LOS ANGELES- Ukraine’s State Service for Medicines and Drug Control issued its first license for importing medical cannabis on June 2, 2025, following the enactment of a law in August 2024 that authorized the use ...
Trump Administration Proposes Elimination of Federal Protections for State Medical Cannabis Programs
LOS ANGELES- The Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal includes the removal of a longstanding provision that prohibits the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using federal funds to interfere with state-legal medical cannabis programs. ...
Psychedelic Drugs Market Projects Significant Growth Through 2029
LOS ANGELES- The global psychedelic drugs market is projected to experience substantial growth, with estimates indicating an increase from $6.39 billion in 2025 to $11.93 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) ...
Village Farms Completes Divestiture of Fresh Produce Business to Focus on Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- Village Farms International Inc. has finalized the transaction to privatize its fresh produce operations, marking a strategic shift to concentrate on its cannabis ventures. The deal, completed on May 30, 2025, involves the ...
Massachusetts House Approves Cannabis Oversight Reform Bill
LOS ANGELES- The Massachusetts House of Representatives has unanimously passed legislation aimed at restructuring the state's cannabis regulatory framework. The bill, designated as H 4187, seeks to address administrative challenges and enhance oversight within the ...
Italy Enacts Security Decree Targeting Protests, Squatting, and Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES— Italy's Senate has passed a comprehensive security decree introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition, intensifying penalties for public demonstrations, unauthorized property occupations, and the commercial sale of certain cannabis products. The ...
Czech Republic Advances Cannabis Decriminalization
LOS ANGELES— The Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies has approved a significant amendment to the nation's criminal code, decriminalizing the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use. The measure permits adults to grow up ...
Ascend Wellness Secures $50 Million Through Private Placement of Senior Secured Notes
LOS ANGELES- Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. a multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator, has completed a $50 million private placement of its 12.75% senior secured notes due 2029. The notes, issued at 97.5% of face value, ...
Alphabet Soup: Common Acronyms in Cannabis and Why You Need to Know Them
LOS ANGELES- Running a cannabis business means speaking more than the language of cultivation and branding — it means speaking compliance, with all its acronyms. You’ve likely seen a wall of them — ADA, OSHA, ...
Financial and Regulatory Hurdles Challenge New Cannabis Enterprises
LOS ANGELES- Emerging cannabis businesses in the United States are encountering significant barriers to entry, primarily due to financial constraints, complex regulatory environments, and competition from established entities. Access to capital remains a primary obstacle ...
