Legal Affairs
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – Federal rescheduling under President Trump’s Executive Order sparked widespread state reactions and investor outlooks into early 2026, blending consolidations and expansions with regulatory friction, outright manipulation, and overtures to public opinion. Psychedelics ...
NY Cannabis Retailers Double in Number, Push Total Sales Past $2.5B Mark
NEW YORK – New York state's licensed Cannabis dispensaries grew to 556 outlets by the end of 2025, more than twice the 261 operating a year earlier, as adult-use sales crossed the $2.5 billion threshold ...
Czech Republic Rolls Out Limited Cannabis Reforms, Allowing Home Growing and Possession Caps
PRAGUE – The Czech Republic ushered in the new year with measured changes to its Cannabis policies, legalizing personal cultivation and setting clear possession thresholds for adults. Under the reforms signed into law by President ...
Trulieve Clears $368M Debt with Full Redemption of Senior Notes
TALLAHASSEE – Trulieve Cannabis Corp. wrapped up the buyback of its entire $368 million stack of 8% senior secured notes set to mature in 2026, handing over about $373 million in cash to cover the ...
OPINION: MJBizCon25 Review: The Race To Be Second
LAS VEGAS- Gosh… the MJBizCon I attended was awesome — genuinely one of the best and most productive ones I’ve ever been to — which is why I was so surprised to see how much ...
CRS Reveals Hemp Ban Enforcement Hurdles
WASHINGTON – The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has highlighted gaps in the federal government's plans to enforce the upcoming ban on intoxicating hemp products, raising questions about the practical reach of the law amid the ...
Federal Hemp Overhaul Threatens Cannabis Seed Trade, Sparking Breeder Backlash
LOS ANGELES – A tucked-away clause in last month's federal spending package has upended the rules for Cannabis seeds, thrusting the U.S. genetics sector into uncertainty and prompting warnings from cultivators that prized strains could ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – Federal rescheduling under President Trump’s Executive Order sparked widespread state reactions and investor outlooks into early 2026, blending consolidations and expansions with regulatory friction, outright manipulation, and overtures to public opinion. Psychedelics ...
NY Cannabis Retailers Double in Number, Push Total Sales Past $2.5B Mark
NEW YORK – New York state's licensed Cannabis dispensaries grew to 556 outlets by the end of 2025, more than twice the 261 operating a year earlier, as adult-use sales crossed the $2.5 billion threshold ...
Czech Republic Rolls Out Limited Cannabis Reforms, Allowing Home Growing and Possession Caps
PRAGUE – The Czech Republic ushered in the new year with measured changes to its Cannabis policies, legalizing personal cultivation and setting clear possession thresholds for adults. Under the reforms signed into law by President ...
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 ...
Kentucky Implements Medical Cannabis Program
LOS ANGELES- As of January 1, 2025, Kentucky has officially implemented its medical cannabis program, allowing residents with qualifying medical conditions to access cannabis for therapeutic purposes. This development follows the enactment of Senate Bill ...
Hawaii Governor Signs Executive Order to Protect Medical Cannabis Caregivers
LOS ANGELES- Governor Josh Green of Hawaii has signed Executive Order No. 24-06 to protect caregivers who provide medical cannabis to qualified patients from undue enforcement. This action addresses legal changes that were set to ...
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 ...
What You Need to Know Banking and Financing Challenges
LOS ANGELES- Every entrepreneur CEO or CFO needs to know that navigating the banking and financing landscape in the cannabis industry presents unique challenges. Despite the rapid growth of the cannabis market in the United States, ...
What Entrepreneurs Need to Know Regulatory Compliance Costs
LOS ANGELES- Every entrepreneur, CFO and CEO needs to know that navigating regulatory compliance in the cannabis industry is not just a legal obligation, but also a significant financial undertaking. As the cannabis market continues ...
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Advocates for Hemp Restrictions and Medical Cannabis Expansion
LOS ANGELES- Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has expressed support for restricting the sale of unregulated hemp-derived THC products while advocating for the expansion of the state's medical cannabis program. In a recent opinion piece, ...
Minnesota Approves Hemp Seed Meal for Laying Hens
LOS ANGELES- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has authorized the use of hemp seed meal in feed for laying hens, positioning Minnesota among the first states to permit this ingredient in poultry diets. Hemp ...
Vireo Growth Inc. Secures $75 Million Financing and Acquires Four Cannabis Operators
LOS ANGELES- Vireo Growth Inc. has announced a $75 million equity financing at $0.625 per share, alongside agreements to acquire four single-state cannabis operators for approximately $397 million in all-stock transactions. The acquisitions include Proper ...
