Legal Affairs
PharmaCann Defaults on Innovative Industrial Properties Leases
LOS ANGELES- On December 19, 2024, PharmaCann Inc., a privately held and vertically integrated cannabis company, defaulted on its December rent obligations for six of the eleven properties leased from Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIP). ...
Awakn Life Sciences Secures $535,000 Credit Facility to Advance Addiction Treatment Programs
LOS ANGELES - Awakn Life Sciences Corp. a clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on treatments for substance use and mental health disorders, has secured an unsecured credit facility of up to US$535,000 from an arm's length ...
Massachusetts Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Reach Record $1.64 Billion in 2024
LOS ANGELES- In 2024, Massachusetts' adult-use cannabis industry achieved a record $1.64 billion in gross sales, marking a significant milestone since the state's first recreational dispensaries opened in November 2018. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission ...
Nebraska Medical Cannabis Bills Propose Vertical Integration with License Caps
LOS ANGELES- Nebraska lawmakers have introduced legislative proposals to implement the state's recently approved medical cannabis laws. The proposed regulations include provisions for vertical integration and impose caps on the number of licenses issued. Under ...
European Citizens Launch Initiative to Promote Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
LOS ANGELES- A coalition of healthcare professionals, academics, and advocates has initiated the PsychedeliCare European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), aiming to enhance access to psychedelic-assisted therapies across the European Union. The campaign seeks to collect one ...
New York’s Cannabis Tax Revenue Surges Amid Market Expansion
LOS ANGELES- New York State is experiencing a significant increase in tax revenue from legal cannabis sales. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, the state anticipates collecting $161.8 million, a fourfold increase from ...
Regulatory Challenges for Hemp Beverages in the USA
LOS ANGELES - The hemp beverage industry in the United States is growing rapidly, driven by consumer demand for wellness-focused and sustainable alternatives to traditional drinks. According to Fortune Business Insights, the U.S. cannabis beverage ...
PharmaCann Defaults on Innovative Industrial Properties Leases
LOS ANGELES- On December 19, 2024, PharmaCann Inc., a privately held and vertically integrated cannabis company, defaulted on its December rent obligations for six of the eleven properties leased from Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIP). ...
Awakn Life Sciences Secures $535,000 Credit Facility to Advance Addiction Treatment Programs
LOS ANGELES - Awakn Life Sciences Corp. a clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on treatments for substance use and mental health disorders, has secured an unsecured credit facility of up to US$535,000 from an arm's length ...
Massachusetts Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Reach Record $1.64 Billion in 2024
LOS ANGELES- In 2024, Massachusetts' adult-use cannabis industry achieved a record $1.64 billion in gross sales, marking a significant milestone since the state's first recreational dispensaries opened in November 2018. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission ...
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 ...
Medical Cannabis Set to Launch in Ukraine in Early 2025
KYIV- After Ukraine legalized cannabis for medical use earlier this year, a key lawmaker announced that the first cannabis-based medicines could be available as early as next month. Olga Stefanishyna, a member of Ukraine’s parliament ...
NEW: Comprehensive List of Cannabis Events in 2025
LOS ANGELES - The cannabis industry is alive with opportunity and collaboration in 2025. These events serve as critical platforms for education, networking, and driving business success. Whether you're a veteran in the industry or ...
DEA Judge Sets Schedule for Cannabis Rescheduling Testimony
WASHINGTON, D.C.–The debate over cannabis' federal classification is set to intensify as the DEA prepares for pivotal hearings on its status under the Controlled Substances Act. DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney has announced that ...
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 ...
