Legal Affairs
Cannabis Tax Deduction Ban Bill Gains 15th Sponsor in Congress
WASHINGTON – A federal proposal to preserve strict tax restrictions on Cannabis businesses has picked up additional support in Congress. The bill that would block state-legal Cannabis businesses from claiming standard federal tax deductions, regardless ...
Lüt Partners with Frankenmuth Credit Union to Process Cannabis Payments in Michigan
FRANKENMUTH – Lüt, a fintech company focused on closed-loop digital payments in Cannabis, has entered a partnership with Frankenmuth Credit Union to broaden access to compliant, cashless transaction options for licensed Cannabis operators in Michigan. ...
PGP Farmer Secures €3M for EU-GMP Medical Cannabis Hub in France
PARIS – French biotech company PGP Farmer announced the completion of a €3 million funding round from private investors. The capital obtained will help advance the company's plans to establish a large-scale, EU-GMP compliant production ...
Aurora Cannabis Secures EU-Wide Rights for Two Proprietary Strains
EDMONTON – Aurora Cannabis Inc. has won rights from the European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) for two homegrown strains, Farm Gas and Sourdough. The decision hands the company sole authority to produce and distribute ...
New Jersey Clears Path for $6M Psilocybin Pilot
TRENTON – The New Jersey Legislature gave final approval last week to a measure that sets up a state-backed pilot program for psilocybin therapy, allocating $6 million to explore the compound's role in treating mental ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – Operators entered 2026 riding a wave of solid year-end performance and calculated moves to shore up operations. December sales figures underscored consumer demand that shows no signs of fading, while MSOs refined ...
Cannabis-Infused Drinks Show Promise in Curbing Alcohol Use, New Research Finds
LOS ANGELES – A fresh analysis from researchers at the University at Buffalo suggests that adults turning to Cannabis-infused beverages often scale back their alcohol habits, including sharp drops in binge drinking. The findings, drawn ...
Cannabis Tax Deduction Ban Bill Gains 15th Sponsor in Congress
WASHINGTON – A federal proposal to preserve strict tax restrictions on Cannabis businesses has picked up additional support in Congress. The bill that would block state-legal Cannabis businesses from claiming standard federal tax deductions, regardless ...
Lüt Partners with Frankenmuth Credit Union to Process Cannabis Payments in Michigan
FRANKENMUTH – Lüt, a fintech company focused on closed-loop digital payments in Cannabis, has entered a partnership with Frankenmuth Credit Union to broaden access to compliant, cashless transaction options for licensed Cannabis operators in Michigan. ...
PGP Farmer Secures €3M for EU-GMP Medical Cannabis Hub in France
PARIS – French biotech company PGP Farmer announced the completion of a €3 million funding round from private investors. The capital obtained will help advance the company's plans to establish a large-scale, EU-GMP compliant production ...
The Normalization of Cannabis: Insights from California’s Consumption Lounges
LOS ANGELES — Cannabis has come a long way from its stigmatized past, with consumption lounges playing a pivotal role in normalizing its use. In California, legalization of these lounges is reshaping how consumers interact ...
Cannabis Industry Poised for $112 Billion Impact in 2024
LOS ANGELES- The cannabis financial market has been showing signs of both growth and challenges in 2024. The U.S. cannabis industry is projected to contribute $112.4 billion to the economy by the end of the ...
Florida Chamber of Commerce Launches Campaign Against Cannabis Legalization Amendment
LOS ANGELES- The Florida Chamber of Commerce has launched an online campaign opposing Amendment 3, a ballot initiative that could legalize adult-use cannabis in the state. Through its website, flbizagainsta3.com, the Chamber aims to educate ...
New York Opens Applications for $5 Million Cannabis-Funded Community Grants Program
NEW YORK- New York State has opened applications for a $5 million Community Reinvestment Grants program, funded by cannabis tax revenue. This initiative is designed to support areas that have been disproportionately impacted by past ...
Multiple States to Vote on Key Marijuana Legalization Measures in November 2024
LOS ANGELES- The November 5, 2024 election is set to be a critical moment for cannabis law reform, with several states considering ballot initiatives that could reshape marijuana policies across the U.S. Key states include ...
California Judge Upholds Emergency Regulations Banning THC in Hemp Products
LOS ANGELES- A California judge has recently upheld emergency regulations that restrict the sale of hemp products containing any detectable levels of THC. The decision came after hemp companies challenged the state's new rules, arguing ...
Kamala Harris Pledges to Federally Legalize Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- Vice President Kamala Harris has announced a commitment to federally legalize cannabis if elected in the 2024 presidential race. Her campaign emphasizes that legalizing recreational cannabis will address systemic inequalities, particularly those affecting ...
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case Involving Trucker Fired Over CBD-Related THC Test
LOS ANGELES-The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a case involving Douglas Horn, a trucker who claims he was wrongfully fired after testing positive for THC, which he attributes to using a ...
New Hampshire Senate Blocks Cannabis Greenhouse Bill Despite Overwhelming House Support
LOS ANGELES- New Hampshire lawmakers have failed to override Governor Chris Sununu’s veto of a bill that would have allowed medical cannabis producers to cultivate cannabis in greenhouses. The House of Representatives had voted overwhelmingly, ...
Czech Senate Approves Regulation of Kratom and HHC Sales
LOS ANGELES- The Czech Senate has approved new legislation regulating the sale of kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a move aimed at safeguarding public health, especially for minors. These changes follow a high-profile incident in January ...
Nebraska Officials Scrutinize Medical Cannabis Petition Signatures
LOS ANGELES- Nebraska state officials are questioning the validity of signatures supporting two medical cannabis ballot initiatives, sparking a legal battle over whether the measures should remain on the upcoming November ballot. Secretary of State ...
Tilray Reports 13% Decline in Cannabis Revenue for Q1 FY25
LOS ANGELES- Tilray Brands, a lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company, announced a 13% decline in its cannabis revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, ending August 31, 2024. Despite overall growth in ...
Arkansas Supreme Court Cannabis Ballot Case Advances as Two Justices Recuse Themselves
LOS ANGELES- Two Arkansas Supreme Court justices have recused themselves from a key case involving a cannabis ballot measure, without providing any explanation for their decisions. Chief Justice John Kemp and Associate Justice Courtney Hudson ...
Delaware Receives Over 1,200 Cannabis Business License Applications Ahead of Market Launch
LOS ANGELES- Delaware officials have received 1,269 applications for cannabis business licenses, significantly surpassing expectations, as the state prepares to launch its adult-use cannabis market. The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) opened the application ...
Missouri Health Department Requests $877K to Enforce Hemp Product Ban
LOS ANGELES- The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has requested $877,000 to fund the enforcement of Gov. Mike Parson’s ban on intoxicating hemp products. The request is part of a preliminary budget ...
Opinion: The Spectacular Fall From Grace of California Cannabis
LOS ANGELES-California cannabis’ fall from grace has been nothing short of spectacular. High taxes and fees, local bans, contaminated products making it to market, and misdemeanor penalties for commercial-scale unlicensed grows have hurt the regulated ...
New Jersey Senate Committee Advances Therapeutic Psilocybin Bill
LOS ANGELES- The New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has approved Senate Bill 2283, advancing legislation to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin for medical purposes. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari ...
Trulieve Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Florida GOP Over Cannabis Legalization Ads
LOS ANGELES- Trulieve, Florida's largest medical cannabis operator, filed a defamation lawsuit against the Republican Party of Florida on Wednesday, accusing the party of spreading misleading advertisements about Amendment 3. The amendment, which will appear ...
StateHouse Goes Into Receivership With $100 mm In Debt
LOS ANGELES- Pelorus Fund REIT has filed a request with a California court to place StateHouse Holdings, a vertically integrated cannabis operator, into receivership following the company’s default on four loans. Pelorus, a private mortgage ...
Arkansas Supreme Court Orders Continuation of Signature Count for Cannabis Expansion Ballot Initiative
LOS ANGELES- The Arkansas Supreme Court has ordered Secretary of State John Thurston to continue counting approximately 18,000 signatures for a proposed medical cannabis expansion initiative, despite his earlier decision to invalidate them due to ...
MAPS Wins FDA Approval for Clinical Trials of Medical Cannabis
SAN JOSE-- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Division of Psychiatry Products has cleared the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)’ Phase 2 study of smoked cannabis in Veterans for the treatment of PTSD ...
How Advanced Nutrients is Unlocking Profit Potential for Cultivators
LOS ANGELES — In the competitive world of cannabis cultivation, plant health has become synonymous with profitability. As the industry matures and consumer expectations rise, the pressure on cultivators to consistently produce high-quality cannabis has ...
Arizona Court Rules THC Metabolites Alone Cannot Justify License Suspension
LOS ANGELES- The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that the presence of THC metabolites in a driver’s bloodstream is not sufficient grounds for suspending their driver’s license unless the driver is shown to be ...
TerrAscend Secures Additional $26 Million in Loan Draw to Pay Down High-Interest Debt
LOS ANGELES- TerrAscend Corp. a North American cannabis company, has completed a second draw of $26 million as part of its senior secured term loan, bringing the total gross proceeds to $140 million. The loan, ...
Georgia’s Hemp Industry Faces New Regulations
LOS ANGELES- The Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which introduces new age restrictions and regulations for hemp products, took effect on October 1. The law prohibits the sale, purchase, and possession of consumable hemp products for ...
