Legal Affairs
Grenada Decriminalizes Cannabis
ST. GEORGE'S – Grenada's Parliament approved amendments to the nation's drug laws, decriminalizing personal possession of Cannabis for adults while imposing strict limits on use and distribution. The move, part of a broader effort to ...
Curaleaf Debuts in Maine’s Recreational Market
BANGOR – Curaleaf Holdings Inc. launched its recreational customer sales at a newly opened dispensary, marking the company's first step into Maine's adult-use sector after years of serving only medical patients. The store sits next ...
Americans Are Open to Learn More About Psychedelics, Ipsos Poll Finds
WASHINGTON – A fresh survey reveals that a majority of Americans express interest in gaining more knowledge about psychedelics as potential tools for mental healthcare, even as public familiarity remains spotty and opinions split along ...
Banks Still Hesitant on Expanding Services for Cannabis Businesses Post-Trump Rescheduling Order
LOS ANGELES – President Donald Trump's Executive Order fast-tracked the move to reschedule Cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, aiming to ease research barriers and tax deductions for state-legal operators. Yet even as this policy ...
Atai Gains Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Spot
NEW YORK – AtaiBeckley N.V., the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm born from the November merger of atai Life Sciences and Beckley Psytech, has secured a place in the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (NBI), a move that underscores ...
Vireo Growth Acquires Eaze, Expands into California and Florida
MINNEAPOLIS – Vireo Growth Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Eaze Inc. in a stock-based transaction valued at $47 million upfront, marking the company's first push into the competitive California and Florida markets. The ...
Massachusetts Cannabis Rollback Gains Legislative Traction
BOSTON – State election officials have validated more than 78,000 signatures for a measure that would dismantle the commercial side of Massachusetts' recreational Cannabis industry, thrusting the issue back into legislative hands just as the ...
Grenada Decriminalizes Cannabis
ST. GEORGE'S – Grenada's Parliament approved amendments to the nation's drug laws, decriminalizing personal possession of Cannabis for adults while imposing strict limits on use and distribution. The move, part of a broader effort to ...
Curaleaf Debuts in Maine’s Recreational Market
BANGOR – Curaleaf Holdings Inc. launched its recreational customer sales at a newly opened dispensary, marking the company's first step into Maine's adult-use sector after years of serving only medical patients. The store sits next ...
Americans Are Open to Learn More About Psychedelics, Ipsos Poll Finds
WASHINGTON – A fresh survey reveals that a majority of Americans express interest in gaining more knowledge about psychedelics as potential tools for mental healthcare, even as public familiarity remains spotty and opinions split along ...
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 ...
RIV Capital’s Revenue Doubles Amid New York Cannabis Market Expansion
LOS ANGELES- RIV Capital Inc. reported a significant increase in net revenue for the third quarter ending September 30, 2024, achieving $4.9 million—a 28% rise from the previous quarter and a 186% surge compared to ...
Cannabis Industry Faces Rising Threat of Ransomware Attacks
LOS ANGELES- The cannabis industry is increasingly becoming a target for ransomware attacks, with the Everest Ransomware group recently focusing on this sector. In November 2024, two cannabis operators were listed as victims on Everest's ...
Michigan Transfers Hemp Regulation to USDA
LOS ANGELES- Michigan has concluded its state-managed industrial hemp program, transitioning regulatory oversight to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) effective January 1, 2025. This shift, prompted by the enactment of House Bill 5977, dissolves ...
Psychedelic Drugs Market Poised for Growth: From $0.7B in 2022 to $2.6B by 2032
The global psychedelic drugs market is projected to expand from $0.7 billion in 2022 to $2.6 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%.According to Allied Market Research This growth is ...
Oklahoma to Launch State-Run Cannabis Testing Lab for Industry Oversight by February 2025
LOS ANGELES- Oklahoma is preparing to launch a state-operated cannabis testing laboratory in February 2025, aiming to enhance the accuracy and reliability of product assessments within the state's medical cannabis industry. This initiative addresses longstanding ...
Climate First Bank Introduces Cannabis-Focused Financial Services in Florida
LOS ANGELES- Climate First Bank, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, has introduced specialized banking services tailored for the cannabis industry. This initiative aims to address the financial challenges faced by cannabis businesses, particularly in accessing traditional ...
Florida’s Cannabis Legalization Measure Fails Despite Majority Support
LOS ANGELES- In the recent election, Florida's Amendment 3, which proposed the legalization of recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and over, received 56% voter support. However, it fell short of the 60% supermajority required ...
DEA Postpones Cannabis Rescheduling Hearings to 2025
LOS ANGELES-The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has postponed its hearings on the proposed rescheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to early 2025. The delay follows a preliminary order from Chief Administrative ...
The Vegas Classic: A Premier B2B Networking Event in Partnership with MJBiz
LAS VEGAS- As the cannabis industry continues to evolve and expand, networking, collaboration, and innovative partnerships are more critical than ever. That’s why we’re incredibly excited to introduce The Vegas Classic, an exclusive B2B networking ...
Ohio Legislature Considers Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products
LOS ANGELES- Ohio lawmakers are evaluating Senate Bill 326, introduced by State Senator Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), which aims to prohibit the sale of intoxicating hemp products. The proposed legislation defines such products as those ...
Breadstack: Is This The Winning Formula for Cannabis eCommerce?
LOS ANGELES—As a founding member of the Cannabis Open Standards Technology Alliance (COSTA), Breadstack has firmly established itself as a trailblazer in cannabis e-commerce. Based in Canada, the company has risen to meet the unique ...
HYTN Innovations Secures UK Import Permits and Initial Order from 4C Labs
LOS ANGELES- HYTN Innovations Inc., a pharmaceutical company specializing in psychoactive and psychotropic compounds, including cannabis and psilocybin, has received initial orders and import permits from the United Kingdom's 4C Labs. This development enables HYTN ...
A LIFE IN A DAY: Riel Roussopoulos: Head of Marketing: Breadstack
Riel Roussopoulos is a Canadian marketer and technologist with extensive experience driving growth in a variety of industries, including e-commerce, entertainment, real estate, fitness, and cannabis. He leverages his expertise in SEO, video production, copywriting, ...
Federal Policy Uncertainty Continues to Challenge U.S. Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. cannabis industry remains in a state of flux due to ongoing federal policy uncertainties, impacting market dynamics, investment strategies, and regulatory compliance. In August 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ...
New York’s Legal Cannabis Sales Approach $1 Billion Milestone
LOS ANGELES- New York State's legal cannabis market is on track to surpass $1 billion in sales by the end of December 2024, marking a significant achievement since the market's inception two years ago. As ...
Green Thumb Industries Secures $150 Million Credit Facility to Retire Existing Debt
LOS ANGELES- Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTI), a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of RISE Dispensaries, has closed a $150 million five-year syndicated credit facility led by Valley National Bank. The company ...
LeafLink Acquires Leaf Trade to Enhance Cannabis Wholesale Platform
LOS ANGELES- LeafLink, a cannabis wholesale platform, has acquired Leaf Trade, a wholesale marketplace serving multi-state operators (MSOs) and enterprise cannabis companies. This strategic move aims to streamline operations for cannabis businesses of varying scales. ...
Canopy Growth Appoints New CEO Amid Financial Challenges
LOS ANGELES- Canopy Growth Corp., a cannabis industry, has announced the appointment of Luc Mongeau as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 6. Mongeau succeeds David Klein in this leadership role. With over 25 ...
Nebraska Judge Upholds Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Initiatives
LOS ANGELES- A Nebraska district court has affirmed the validity of two voter-approved measures concerning medical cannabis, dismissing allegations of fraudulent signature collection. The legal challenge aimed to invalidate Measures 437 and 438, which were ...
Germany’s Cannabis Legislation Faces Criticism
LOS ANGELES- Germany's recent legalization of cannabis has encountered significant criticism from various stakeholders, highlighting challenges in its implementation and effectiveness. Criticism from Berlin's Justice Senator Felor Badenberg, Berlin's Justice Senator, has expressed concerns that ...
Cannara Biotech Reports Record Growth in Fiscal 2024
LOS ANGELES- Montreal-based Cannara Biotech Inc a vertically integrated cannabis producer, announced record-breaking financial results for its fiscal year ended August 31, 2024. The company reported total annual revenues of $82.2 million, a 43% increase ...
Texas Attorney General Challenges Dallas Cannabis Decriminalization Measure
LOS ANGELES- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal action against the City of Dallas following the adoption of Proposition R, a voter-approved measure aimed at decriminalizing the possession of up to four ounces ...
Tennessee Lawmakers Implement Hemp Product Ban
LOS ANGELES- In November 2024, numerous licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Los Angeles area received notices from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) indicating a shift in their tax payment schedules from ...
