Legal Affairs
AbbVie Reveals $900M Upfront Payment in Psychedelic Deal, Signaling Strong Bet on Bretisilocin
CHICAGO – AbbVie Inc. disclosed in a recent securities filing that it handed over $900 million in cash at the outset of its acquisition of bretisilocin, the experimental psychedelic compound acquired from Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals aimed ...
Rubicon Organics Secures $4M Financing for Facility Upgrades
VANCOUVER, BC – Rubicon Organics Inc. closed a $4 million credit package with Community Savings Credit Union to finance upgrades at its production sites. The deal breaks down into a $3 million term loan carrying ...
The Intoxicating Hemp Ban Is About to Become Law — and It’s a Pyrrhic Victory for Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- The federal government just erased a $20-billion industry under the guise of “closing a loophole.” But rather than protecting consumers, Washington has dealt a crippling blow to both hemp and legal Cannabis — ...
Whiskey Maker Trims Footprint as Buyers Turn to Cannabis
SEATTLE – Heritage Distilling Company, a craft spirits producer based in the Pacific Northwest, disclosed plans this week to streamline its operations, pointing to changing buyer habits that favor Cannabis products over traditional liquor. The ...
Circle K Eyes National Expansion for Hemp THC Drinks in 2026
LOS ANGELES – Circle K, the convenience store chain with nearly 7,000 locations across the United States, disclosed plans this week to distribute hemp-derived THC beverages in up to 3,000 stores starting next year. The ...
Manitoba Cannabis Sales Accelerate, Leaving Liquor in the Rearview
WINNIPEG – Cannabis revenues in Manitoba posted double-digit gains, handily surpassing liquor sales and underscoring the steady climb of the province's legal Cannabis trade. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, the corporation charged with distributing both products, ...
FLUENT Consolidates NY Retail Presence
NEW YORK – FLUENT Corp., a Cannabis operator with roots in Florida and Pennsylvania, has completed the rebranding of two key dispensaries in New York, bringing its retail operations in the state under a single ...
AbbVie Reveals $900M Upfront Payment in Psychedelic Deal, Signaling Strong Bet on Bretisilocin
CHICAGO – AbbVie Inc. disclosed in a recent securities filing that it handed over $900 million in cash at the outset of its acquisition of bretisilocin, the experimental psychedelic compound acquired from Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals aimed ...
Rubicon Organics Secures $4M Financing for Facility Upgrades
VANCOUVER, BC – Rubicon Organics Inc. closed a $4 million credit package with Community Savings Credit Union to finance upgrades at its production sites. The deal breaks down into a $3 million term loan carrying ...
The Intoxicating Hemp Ban Is About to Become Law — and It’s a Pyrrhic Victory for Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- The federal government just erased a $20-billion industry under the guise of “closing a loophole.” But rather than protecting consumers, Washington has dealt a crippling blow to both hemp and legal Cannabis — ...
Kaya Holdings Unveils Psilocybin Therapy Series at Sacred Mushroom Center
LOS ANGELES- Kaya Holdings, Inc. a in wellness and mental health solutions, has announced an inaugural open house event for its psilocybin treatment center, The Sacred Mushroom™. The event will take place on Friday, December ...
Psyence Biomedical Regains Nasdaq Compliance
LOS ANGELES- Psyence Biomedical Ltd. (Nasdaq: PBM) has regained compliance with all Nasdaq continued listing requirements, as confirmed by the Nasdaq Hearings Panel. The company had previously requested a transfer from The Nasdaq Global Market ...
MariMed Launches Wholesale Cannabis Operations in Missouri
LOS ANGELES- MariMed Inc, a multi-state cannabis operator, has initiated wholesale operations in Missouri, marking its expansion into a sixth revenue-generating state. The company's premium product lines—including Betty’s Eddies™ fruit chews, Bubby’s Baked™ confections, Vibations™ ...
LEEF Brands Closes CAD $500K Financing Round
LOS ANGELES- LEEF Brands Inc. , a California-based cannabis extraction and manufacturing company, has successfully closed the second tranche of its private placement financing, securing an additional CAD $500,000. This follows the first tranche, which ...
FDA Restricts Psychoactive Mushroom in Edibles
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding the use of Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) mushrooms and their psychoactive compounds—muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine—in food products. The FDA has ...
How to Read an Income Statement Like A Boss: Lessons from P&G
LOS ANGELES--At Procter & Gamble (P&G), we were taught to analyze financial statements with precision, breaking them down into actionable insights that link business performance to strategy. Cannabis companies can apply these same principles to ...
Aurora Cannabis Expands Distribution in Australia
LOS ANGELES- Aurora Cannabis Inc. has announced a distribution partnership between its wholly owned subsidiary, MedReleaf Australia, and The Entourage Effect, a company that provides distribution and support services to pharmacies in Australia. Under this ...
Weedmaps Founders Propose to Take Company Private
LOS ANGELES- Co-founders Doug Francis and Justin Hartfield of WM Technology, Inc., the parent company of Weedmaps, have proposed to take the company private. They offered $1.70 per share in cash for the approximately 68% ...
The Benefits of Using Hydroponics for Cannabis Cultivation
LOS ANGELES--Hydroponics, the practice of growing plants in a water-based, nutrient-rich solution rather than soil, has become increasingly popular among cannabis cultivators. This method offers several advantages, particularly when it comes to optimizing growth, enhancing ...
The Global Growth of Hydroponics in Cannabis Cultivation
LOS ANGELES--The hydroponics industry is experiencing unprecedented growth worldwide, driven largely by its increasing adoption in the cannabis sector. As cannabis legalization expands across continents, cultivators are turning to hydroponic systems to meet the demand ...
Vireo Goes on Shopping Spree Becoming a New Cannabis MSO
NEW YORK--Cannabis multistate operator (MSO) Vireo Growth has taken a significant leap forward by securing $75 million in equity financing and acquiring four companies, including three single-state operators and a delivery and analytics platform. This ...
Federally Funded Survey: Cannabis Use By Teens Hits Historic Low
WASHINGTON, D.C- (NORML) Federally funded survey data provided by the University of Michigan reports that teen marijuana use has declined significantly over the past decade and is now at historic lows. Consistent with data previously reported by the Centers ...
Organigram Expands Market Presence with Strategic Investments and Acquisitions
LOS ANGELES- Organigram Holdings Inc., a Canadian cannabis producer, is actively broadening its market reach through strategic investments and acquisitions, supported by British American Tobacco (BAT). In November 2023, Organigram secured a follow-on strategic equity ...
Tennessee Judge to Rule on Hemp Product Regulations by December 24
LOS ANGELES- A Davidson County Chancery Court judge is expected to decide by December 24, 2024, on a request to block new state regulations affecting hemp-derived products in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) ...
What You Need to Know When Planning Cannabis Tax Strategies for 2025
NEW YORK--Every CFO needs to know that Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) presents a significant challenge for cannabis businesses operating in the United States. This provision, enacted in 1982, was originally designed ...
How Cannabis Companies Can Raise Capital in a Challenging Environment
NEW YORK-The cannabis industry has seen impressive growth over the last decade, but the landscape has become more challenging as businesses face regulatory hurdles, tax burdens, and market saturation. Despite these obstacles, cannabis companies can ...
Canopy Growth Finalizes Acquisition of Acreage Holdings
LOS ANGELES- Canopy Growth Corporation, a Canadian cannabis company, has completed its acquisition of Acreage Holdings through its U.S. subsidiary, Canopy USA, LLC. This transaction grants Canopy USA full ownership of Acreage Holdings, a multi-state ...
Virginia Democrats Plan to Reintroduce Cannabis Sales Legislation Amid Governor’s Opposition
LOS ANGELES- In Virginia, Democratic legislators are preparing to reintroduce a bill to establish a regulated market for adult-use cannabis sales. This initiative follows Governor Glenn Youngkin's veto of similar legislation in March 2024, citing ...
Exploiting the 2018 Farm Bill Loophole: The Rise of Legal Hemp in the Non-Legal Cannabis Market
LOS ANGELES--The regulatory landscape for cannabis in the United States has changed significantly since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the cultivation of hemp and its derivatives. This legislation inadvertently created a ...
Section 280E Tax Law Challenges Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES- Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code presents significant financial challenges for cannabis businesses by prohibiting the deduction of ordinary business expenses associated with the trafficking of Schedule I or II controlled substances, ...
Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Proposes Medical Cannabis Legalization for 2025
LOS ANGELES- Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) has announced plans to introduce legislation to legalize medical cannabis in Wisconsin during the 2025 legislative session. This initiative builds upon previous efforts that have encountered resistance ...
Cannabis Business: A Month-by-Month Year in Review for 2024
LOS ANGELES- Wow...2024 flew by but left a lot of casualties as the emerging market of cannabis, continues its emergence in 2024. Here's what went down in case you were away from your desk: January ...
Brownie Mary: The Unlikely Heroine of Cannabis Advocacy
SAN FRANCISCO–In the quiet streets of San Francisco during the 1970s, an unassuming elderly woman with frizzy hair and a grandmotherly smile quietly built a legacy that would forever change the trajectory of cannabis legalization ...
Japan Enacts Stricter Cannabis Laws with Severe Penalties
LOS ANGELES- Japan has recently implemented stringent measures against cannabis use, introducing penalties of up to seven years in prison for consumption. Previously, while possession and cultivation were illegal, personal use was not explicitly prohibited. ...
Psychedelics Show Promise in Alleviating End-of-Life Psychological Distress
LOS ANGELES- Recent studies indicate that psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, may help reduce depression, anxiety, and existential distress in patients with terminal illnesses. A systematic review published in Psychopharmacology analyzed data from various studies and found ...
