Legal Affairs
Global Cannabis Market Tightens Amid Surging Demand and Supply Snags
LOS ANGELES – Germany's medical Cannabis imports jumped more than 400% in H1 2025, pushing the European market into a period of rapid expansion and testing the limits of international supply chains. That surge has ...
Ex-Prosecutor Calls for Psilocybin Therapy Legalization in NY
NEW YORK – A former narcotics prosecutor who once enforced drug laws now argues that New York must open the door to psilocybin-assisted therapy, framing it as a necessary step toward treating chronic pain and ...
Supply Bottlenecks Stall Minnesota’s Adult-Use Cannabis Launch
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota's adult-use Cannabis sector kicked off with fanfare, but operators on the ground report bare shelves and mounting bills as wholesale supplies fail to keep pace with licensed retail outlets. The Office of ...
Alcohol Trade Group Welcomes Hemp-Derived THC Beverage Maker as First in Category
WASHINGTON – The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), a key advocacy organization for the beverage alcohol distribution sector, has accepted CannaBuzz, a Kentucky-based producer of hemp-derived THC drinks, as its inaugural associate member ...
Verano Secures $75M Credit Agreement
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. has finalized a $75 million revolving credit facility, drawing $50 million immediately to pay down higher-cost debt and leaving $25 million on tap for future needs. The deal, arranged by ...
EU Releases Cannapol Toolkit to Aid Member States in Crafting Adult-Use Cannabis Rules
BRUSSELS – The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) unveiled the Cannapol toolkit, a set of resources intended to help national governments build regulated markets for recreational Cannabis. Developed over months of consultation with experts and ...
Trump’s CBD Endorsement for Medicare Sparks Rally in Cannabis Equities
LOS ANGELES – Shares in Cannabis companies climbed more than 20% on Monday, propelled by President Donald Trump's weekend social media post backing the inclusion of cannabidiol in Medicare coverage for older Americans. The AdvisorShares ...
Global Cannabis Market Tightens Amid Surging Demand and Supply Snags
LOS ANGELES – Germany's medical Cannabis imports jumped more than 400% in H1 2025, pushing the European market into a period of rapid expansion and testing the limits of international supply chains. That surge has ...
Ex-Prosecutor Calls for Psilocybin Therapy Legalization in NY
NEW YORK – A former narcotics prosecutor who once enforced drug laws now argues that New York must open the door to psilocybin-assisted therapy, framing it as a necessary step toward treating chronic pain and ...
Supply Bottlenecks Stall Minnesota’s Adult-Use Cannabis Launch
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota's adult-use Cannabis sector kicked off with fanfare, but operators on the ground report bare shelves and mounting bills as wholesale supplies fail to keep pace with licensed retail outlets. The Office of ...
Florida Poll Shows Strong Support for Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization
LOS ANGELES- A new poll indicates that Florida’s constitutional amendment for the legalization of adult-use cannabis has garnered support from 64% of voters, surpassing the 60% threshold required for passage, as reported by Florida Politics. ...
Silo Pharma Secures Exclusive License for PTSD Treatment Development
LOS ANGELES- Silo Pharma, Inc. a developmental stage biopharmaceutical company, has announced an exclusive global license agreement with Columbia University to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its lead drug candidate, SPC-15. This intranasal treatment targets stress-induced ...
Minnesota Brewery Offers Hemp-Infused THC Drinks on Tap
LOS ANGELES- Minneapolis-based Headflyer Brewing has begun offering hemp-derived, THC-infused beverages on tap under a new state regulation that took effect July 1. Hemp-Infused THC Drinks Now Available On Tap Headflyer Brewing in northeast Minneapolis ...
Announcing: NEW Show on Highly Capitalized: ‘Inside Retail with Marty Higgins’: Insightful Conversations Exploring Cannabis Retail
LOS ANGELES — Introducing 'Inside Retail with Marty Higgins', a groundbreaking new show premiering exclusively on HighlyCapitalized.com. Set to air fortnightly, this panel series dives deep into the dynamic world of cannabis retail, featuring insights ...
Thai Cannabis Advocates Protest Potential Ban
BANGKOK — Nearly a hundred cannabis advocates marched to the Thai prime minister's office on Monday to protest a potential ban on general cannabis use, two years after its decriminalization. The protest followed a decision ...
Florida Voters to Decide on Amendment 3 for Recreational Cannabis Legalization
LOS ANGELES- Voters in Florida are approaching a pivotal decision on Amendment 3, which proposes to legalize recreational cannabis. Multiple polls indicate strong support for the amendment, suggesting it is likely to pass. Amendment 3 ...
Arkansas Groups Submit Signatures for Cannabis and Casino Proposals
LOS ANGELES- Supporters of proposals to expand Arkansas' medical cannabis program and repeal a casino license have submitted thousands of signatures to get their measures on the November ballot. Initiative organizers, including efforts to modify ...
Delaware Governor to Decide on Pathway for Medical Cannabis Companies to Enter Adult-Use Market
LOS ANGELES- Delaware Governor John Carney, who previously opposed adult-use cannabis legalization, now faces the decision of whether to allow the state’s medical cannabis companies to transition into the forthcoming adult-use market. The General Assembly ...
Minnesota’s Hemp-Derived THC Market Generates Over $10 Million in Taxes
NEW YORK- The Minnesota Department of Revenue reports that the state has generated $10,022,635 in taxes from hemp-derived THC products since the market launched nearly a year ago. This follows the state's legalization of adult-use ...
Clearmind Medicine Inc. Secures Patent Approval in Hong Kong for Binge Behavior Regulator
LOS ANGELES- Clearmind Medicine Inc., a clinical biotech company specializing in psychedelic-derived therapeutics, has announced a significant advancement in its MEAI-based binge behavior regulator program. The company received patent approval from the Hong Kong Patent ...
Maryland Cannabis Market Surpasses $1.1 Billion in First Year of Legalization
LOS ANGELES- Governor Wes Moore announced that Maryland's cannabis market achieved a significant milestone in its first year of legalization, with total medical and adult-use retail sales exceeding $1.1 billion. This reflects the state's commitment ...
Groundbreaking Belgian Study Explores Magic Mushrooms in Alcoholism Treatment
BRUSSELS- A pioneering clinical study at Brugmann Hospital in Brussels is exploring the use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, to treat alcohol addiction. Over the next two years, 62 participants will receive ...
Steps to Become a Medical Cannabis Patient in Minnesota
LOS ANGELES- Since 2015, Minnesota's Medical Cannabis Program has provided treatment options for individuals with debilitating medical conditions, aiming to improve their quality of life. The following information outlines the steps to become a patient ...
Kentucky Opens Applications for Medical Cannabis Business Licenses
LOS ANGELES- Kentuckians can now apply for cannabis business licenses, and medical providers can seek permission to prescribe cannabis through Kentucky’s Board of Medical Licensure and Board of Nursing. This follows the enactment of bipartisan ...
Global Medical Cannabis Market Projected to Reach $77.13 Billion by 2032
LOS ANGELES- The global medical cannabis market is expected to grow significantly, reaching a valuation of $77.13 billion by 2032 from $17.08 billion in 2023, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.24%, ...
Delaware Lawmakers Pass Bill to Enable Financial Services for Cannabis Businesses
LOS ANGELES- Delaware lawmakers recently passed legislation establishing protections for banks and other financial institutions to work with state-legal cannabis companies as the state prepares to launch its adult-use market. Protections for Financial Institutions The ...
Germany’s Cannabis Law: Maximizing Yield with the Three-Plant Limit
BERLIN — Germany’s new cannabis law, effective April 1, 2024, permits adults to grow up to three plants and possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use. This regulation requires home cultivators to ...
California Pulls Cannabis Products from Shelves Due to Pesticide Concerns
LOS ANGELES- California this week ordered product recalls for five licensed cannabis products, including four vape pens and a vape cartridge, due to contamination with chlorfenapyr, a banned pesticide. These products, sold by West Coast ...
Evolving Hemp Regulations and Market Dynamics in Louisiana
LOS ANGELES- The hemp market is undergoing significant changes as new regulations affect how products are manufactured, sold, and consumed. The legal landscape shapes the future of hemp-derived products, necessitating staying updated on industry trends ...
Pesticide Scandal & Product Recalls Rocks California’s Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES--California's cannabis industry is reeling from a recent pesticide scandal that has undermined consumer confidence and highlighted regulatory shortcomings. An investigation by the Los Angeles Times, in collaboration with WeedWeek, revealed alarming levels of ...
The Demise of Chevron Deference: A New Era for Government Regulation and Its Impact on the Cannabis Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has overturned a 40-year-old precedent known as "Chevron deference," which mandated that courts defer to the interpretations of federal agencies when a law is ambiguous, ...
Majority of North Dakota Voters Oppose Recreational Cannabis Legalization
LOS ANGELES- A recent poll commissioned by the Brighter Future Alliance and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies revealed that 57% of likely North Dakota voters are against the legalization of recreational cannabis for adults over ...
IRS Reaffirms Cannabis as Schedule I Substance; Section 280E Still Applies
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a reminder that cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and is subject to the limitations of Internal Revenue Code Section 280E until any ...
Growing Interest in Microdosing Among Americans
LOS ANGELES- Americans are increasingly curious about microdosing, a practice involving minimal consumption of psychedelics or cannabis over extended periods, according to a study by the University of California San Diego published in JAMA Health ...
IRS Reaffirms Enforcement of Section 280E Amid Cannabis Industry Pushback
MIAMI, Florida--In a recent announcement, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) underscored the ongoing enforcement of Internal Revenue Code Section 280E, a tax code provision that has long been a contentious issue for cannabis businesses. The ...
