Legal Affairs
Cannabis Rescheduling Omitted from Cole’s Priorities, Raising Questions About Trump’s Stance
LOS ANGELES – In a surprising turn, newly appointed DEA administrator Terrance Cole has sidelined Cannabis rescheduling, despite pledging it as a top priority during his April 2025 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. According to a ...
New York’s Licensing Blunder
NEW YORK – NY’s adult-use cannabis market, now boasting 436 licensed dispensaries [a 93-store increase since late 2024] has hit a snag. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) recently acknowledged a critical error in its ...
Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Backs Psilocybin Decriminalization in Historic Move
BOSTON – In a groundbreaking development for psychedelic policy reform, the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society (MPS) has publicly endorsed legislation to decriminalize psilocybin, marking the first time a branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has ...
DaySavers Introduces ‘Higher Potential’ Scholarship with Over $25,000 in Cannabis Education Awards
LOS ANGELES- DaySavers, the pre‑roll accessories brand under Custom Cones USA, has launched its inaugural Higher Potential Cannabis Education Scholarship—a collective effort backed by industry partners, offering more than $25,000 in financial support for current ...
California Farmworker Dies Following Greenhouse Fall During Chaotic ICE Raid
LOS ANGELES- A 57‑year‑old farmworker, identified as Jaime Alanis Garcia, has died from injuries sustained after falling approximately 30 feet from a greenhouse roof during a July 10 ICE-led raid at a Glass House Farms ...
Verano Elevates James Leventis to Chief Strategy & Compliance Officer
LOS ANGELES- Verano Holdings Corp. Announced the promotion of James Leventis to Chief Strategy and Compliance Officer. Leventis, a licensed attorney with nearly 15 years of experience across the healthcare, pharmaceutical, consulting, and cannabis sectors, has ...
Red Light Holland Taps Scott Melker to Lead Bitcoin Strategy Following Banking Setback
LOS ANGELES- Red Light Holland Corp. an Ontario-based psychedelics company known for its psilocybin truffles, announced a strategic pivot on July 14, 2025: appointing crypto influencer Scott Melker—known as “The Wolf of All Streets”—as Senior Advisor and ...
Cannabis Rescheduling Omitted from Cole’s Priorities, Raising Questions About Trump’s Stance
LOS ANGELES – In a surprising turn, newly appointed DEA administrator Terrance Cole has sidelined Cannabis rescheduling, despite pledging it as a top priority during his April 2025 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. According to a ...
New York’s Licensing Blunder
NEW YORK – NY’s adult-use cannabis market, now boasting 436 licensed dispensaries [a 93-store increase since late 2024] has hit a snag. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) recently acknowledged a critical error in its ...
Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Backs Psilocybin Decriminalization in Historic Move
BOSTON – In a groundbreaking development for psychedelic policy reform, the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society (MPS) has publicly endorsed legislation to decriminalize psilocybin, marking the first time a branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has ...
Week In Review: Federal Cannabis Trafficking Cases Reach Record Low; Blueberries Medical Corp. Secures C$1.05 Million in Private Placement; Virginia Governor Vetoes Cannabis Retail Market and Assault-Style Weapons Ban
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Maryland Generates $72 Million in 2024 Recreational Cannabis Tax Revenue; Netherlands Initiates Regulated Cannabis Sales Trial; Israel Faces Mental Health Crisis Post-October 7 Attacks: Evaluating Medical Cannabis for PTSD Treatment
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Cannabis and Psychedelic Mushroom Kiosk at Brookfield Square Mall Draws Mixed Reactions; Cresco Labs Reports: Financial Results for Q4 and Full Year ending December 31, 2024; South Africa’s Department of Health Enacts Ban on Cannabis and Hemp Food Products
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: States Propose Cannabis Tax Hikes Amid Industry Pushback; British American Tobacco Invests $86.8 Million in Organigram; Canopy Growth’s Stock Declines Amid Share Sale Plans
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Minnesota Considers Allowing Liquor Wholesalers to Distribute Low-Potency Hemp Edibles; Cronos Group Reports $8.7 Million in Operating Expense Savings for FY2024; Compass Pathways Projects FY2025 Net Cash Use of $120M-$145M
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Washington State Senate Committee Advances Cannabis Direct Sales Bill; New Hampshire House Approves Limited Cannabis Legalization Bill; Jushi Holdings Secures $9.7 Million Through ERC Refund and Debt Financing
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: TILT Holdings Divests Massachusetts Dispensaries for $2 Million; California Cannabis Industry Faces Potential Crisis Amid Proposed Tax Increase; New Mexico House Bill 331 Proposes Mandatory Labor Peace Agreements for Cannabis Businesses
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: New York’s Cannabis Regulatory Body Introduces Banking Directory; Arkansas Senate Advances Bill to Fund Free School Breakfasts Using Medical Cannabis Revenue; Tennessee Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Legalize Recreational and Medical Cannabis
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Hawaii Lawmakers Renew Push to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis with Constitutional Amendment Proposal; PharmaCann Defaults on Innovative Industrial Properties Leases; Florida’s Cannabis Market Sees Shift as Smaller Operators Capture Market Share
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Ascend Wellness Secures $15 Million in Private Placement to Bolster Growth Initiatives; Virginia Senate Committee Advances Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis Sales; Leafly Holdings Delisted from Nasdaq Amid Financial Challenges
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Arkansas Governor Proposes Funding Free School Meals with Medical Cannabis Tax Revenue; Biden Commutes Sentences of Nearly 2,500 Nonviolent Drug Offenders; Hemp-Derived CBD Market Set to Expand Significantly by 2034
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Vireo Growth Inc. Secures $75 Million Financing and Acquires Four Cannabis Operators; Minnesota Approves Hemp Seed Meal for Laying Hens Agrify Divests Cultivation Business to Focus on THC Beverages; Aurora Cannabis Expands Distribution in Australia
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Cansortium Completes Merger with RIV Capital; Cannabis Industry Forecast for 2025: A Year of Transformation; MariMed Launches Wholesale Cannabis Operations in Missouri; Aurora Cannabis Expands Distribution in Australia
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Week In Review: Bipartisan Legislation for Expungement of Pardoned Federal Offenses; Trump’s Appointments & Future of Federal Cannabis Policy; Federal Restrictions on Cannabis Sales in Washington
LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New ...
Portugal Eyes Leadership Role in Global Medical Cannabis Market
LOS ANGELES- Portugal is positioning itself as a significant player in the medical cannabis industry, leveraging its favorable climate and regulatory framework to boost production and exports. In 2023, the country exported nearly 12,000 kilograms ...
Hemp Industry Anticipates Expansion
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a leading advocacy organization for the hemp sector, has strengthened its leadership by appointing two prominent figures from the hemp beverage industry. In September 2024, Art Massolo, Vice President ...
Federal Restrictions on Cannabis Sales in Washington
LOS ANGELES- A coalition of Republican lawmakers and Washington, D.C. officials is advocating for the removal of federal restrictions that prevent the District from regulating and taxing cannabis sales. During a recent House Appropriations subcommittee ...
Illinois Cannabis Market Leads in Diversity with 100th Social Equity Dispensary
LOS ANGELES- In July 2024, Illinois marked a significant milestone by opening its 100th social equity-owned cannabis dispensary, underscoring the state's commitment to fostering diversity within the industry. A comprehensive study by the Cannabis Regulation ...
Massachusetts Cannabis Market Sees Surge in Strain Diversity
LOS ANGELES- As of December 2024, Massachusetts' legal cannabis market boasts 740 active strains, marking a 29% increase from the 572 strains available in December 2023 and an 84% rise from 401 strains in December ...
Arizona Cannabis Sales and Tax Revenue: Recent Trends and Milestones
LOS ANGELES- In October 2024, Arizona's cannabis industry experienced a modest rebound, with recreational marijuana sales reaching $75.3 million, up from $67.3 million in September. Despite this month-over-month increase, sales remained below the previous year's ...
Trump’s Appointments and the Future of Federal Cannabis Policy
LOS ANGELES- The Trump administration’s recent appointments have raised questions about the trajectory of federal cannabis policy. With nominees holding diverse views on legalization and regulation, the decisions made in the coming months will play ...
Oh Cannabis, An Industry Is Yet To Land…
TORONTO—It didn’t have to be this way. I mean, in spite of what so many whinge and whine about, Canada had a lot to leverage. Canada is pretty big, with a population of about 40 ...
Dennis Peron: The Gay Revolutionary Who Pioneered Medical Cannabis in America
SAN FRANCISCO-Dennis Peron, the "Father of Medical Marijuana," is a towering figure in the history of cannabis advocacy. His relentless dedication to compassion and justice not only changed the lives of countless patients but also ...
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Facilitate Expungement of Pardoned Federal Offenses
LOS ANGELES- On November 22, 2024, Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) introduced H.R. 10248, known as the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungements Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which has been referred to ...
Global Developments in Cannabis Legalization in 2023
LOS ANGELES- In 2023, several countries made significant strides in cannabis legalization, reflecting a global shift in drug policy. Germany's Legislative Progress Germany advanced toward legalizing cannabis for adult use, aiming to become the European ...