Legal Affairs
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 ...
Cultural Fluency Is Cannabis’ New Growth Lever—How Brands Like Spiritual Plants Speak the Language
The Rise of the Meaning-Led Buyer Consumers aren’t just choosing what works. They’re choosing what aligns. Across categories—from food to fitness to finance—people are opting for brands that reflect their identity, not just their needs. ...
Enter the Garden: Inside Spiritual Plants’ Routine-Friendly Path to Plant Medicine
Cannabis marketing has settled into two scripts: clinical wellness copy that flirts with medical territory, and recreational branding that leads with strength and speed. Neither speaks well to consumers who want something quieter—products they can ...
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 ...
Verano Raises Credit Limit to $100M, Extending Repayment Deadline to 2029
CHICAGO – Verano Holdings Corp. disclosed an update to its revolving credit facility that lifts the available funds to $100 million and stretches the repayment deadline. The change adds $25 million to the prior $75 ...
Circle K Tests Hemp THC Waters in Texas
DALLAS – Circle K has begun stocking shelves with hemp-derived THC beverages at select Texas stores, marking the c-store chain's first foray into the state's market for intoxicating hemp products. The rollout, in partnership with ...
Is the Movement to Repeal Adult-Use Cannabis in Three States a Real Threat to Their Budgets?
NEW YORK – In a development that has raised eyebrows among industry watchers, advocacy groups in Massachusetts, Maine, and Arizona are pushing ballot measures to dismantle key elements of adult-use Cannabis programs, even as these ...
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 ...
Cultural Fluency Is Cannabis’ New Growth Lever—How Brands Like Spiritual Plants Speak the Language
The Rise of the Meaning-Led Buyer Consumers aren’t just choosing what works. They’re choosing what aligns. Across categories—from food to fitness to finance—people are opting for brands that reflect their identity, not just their needs. ...
Enter the Garden: Inside Spiritual Plants’ Routine-Friendly Path to Plant Medicine
Cannabis marketing has settled into two scripts: clinical wellness copy that flirts with medical territory, and recreational branding that leads with strength and speed. Neither speaks well to consumers who want something quieter—products they can ...
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 ...
California Legalizes Cannabis Cafes
LOS ANGELES- California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill legalizing cannabis cafes, where consumers can enjoy cannabis alongside food, drinks, and live performances. This move, which aligns California with cannabis cafe models seen in ...
Ohio Recreational Cannabis Sales Exceed $76.2 Million in Under Two Months
LOS ANGELES- Recreational cannabis sales in Ohio have surpassed $76.2 million since launching in early August, according to data from the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC). As of September 21, sales ...
Vermont Halts New Cannabis Retail Licenses
LOS ANGELES- Vermont's Cannabis Control Board has temporarily stopped accepting new retail cannabis license applications, citing concerns about market saturation in certain regions. The pause, which takes effect on October 25, comes after issuing just ...
California Legalizes Cannabis Lounges: A Win for the Cannabis Industry and Leaders like Urbana
LOS ANGELES — In a landmark decision for California’s cannabis industry, Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed AB 1775 into law, allowing the creation of cannabis consumption lounges throughout the state. This move is set ...
FBI Data: Over 200,000 Arrests for Cannabis Possession in 2023
LOS ANGELES- Despite growing momentum for cannabis legalization in the U.S., over 200,000 people were arrested for cannabis possession in 2023, according to new data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting system. The report, which ...
Harris’s Comments Over Cannabis Reform in the 2024 Presidential Race
LOS ANGELES- Harris's comments come amid a broader debate over cannabis reform in the 2024 presidential race. While Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz has suggested that cannabis legalization should be handled by individual states, Harris's ...
Los Angeles County Targets Unlicensed Cannabis Dispensaries with “Deplatforming” Motion
LOS ANGELES- Los Angeles County has approved a new initiative aimed at reducing the visibility of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries on major online platforms such as Google and Yelp. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath ...
California Bans Hemp-Derived THC Products Amid Regulatory Concerns
LOS ANGELES- California has implemented a ban on hemp-derived THC products following the approval of emergency regulations proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Effective September 23, 2024, the new rules prohibit any hemp-based products containing detectable ...
New Bill Seeks to Regulate Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Market
LOS ANGELES- Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has introduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act, a bill aimed at establishing a federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoids. The proposed legislation would empower the Food and Drug ...
Psyence Biomed to Acquire Stake in PsyLabs for $1.1 Million
LOS ANGELES- Psyence Biomedical Ltd. announced its agreement to acquire an 11.13% stake in PsyLabs, a company specializing in psychedelic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and extracts, in exchange for $1.1 million worth of common stock. ...
Weedmaps’ WM Technology Faces SEC Scrutiny Over Misleading Investor Reports
NEW YORK–WM Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAPS), best known for its cannabis-focused platform, Weedmaps, has found itself at the center of an SEC investigation over misleading user metrics. The California-based company recently agreed to pay a ...
Colorado’s Cannabis Market Faces Decline Amid National Expansion
LOS ANGELES- Colorado, once a leader in the legal cannabis market, is now grappling with declining sales and tax revenues. A report from the state's Legislative Council Staff attributes this downturn to market saturation, oversupply, ...
California’s New Hemp Regulations Raise Concerns for Industry and Consumers
LOS ANGELES- Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted emergency regulations in California, significantly impacting the hemp industry by banning hemp-derived THC products. This move, approved by the Office of Administrative Law and effective as of September ...
Allegations of Predatory Contracts Surface in Missouri’s Social Equity Cannabis Program
LOS ANGELES- Missouri’s social equity cannabis licensing program faces scrutiny amid allegations of predatory investor contracts. Designed to benefit disadvantaged individuals, the program has seen reports of investors using deceptive agreements to gain control of ...
Florida’s Amendment 3 Sets Record for Cannabis Legislation Funding
LOS ANGELES- Amendment 3, a measure to legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over, is on Florida's ballot this November. The campaign, led by Smart & Safe Florida, has become the most expensive cannabis ...
Ontario Leads Canadian Cannabis Sales
LOS ANGELES- Canada's legal cannabis market continues to show strong performance, with sales exceeding $2.4 billion in the first half of 2024, according to data from Statistics Canada. The provinces driving these numbers were Ontario, ...
Georgia Pharmacy Defies Federal Ban, Sells Low-THC Cannabis Products
LOS ANGELES- A licensed pharmacy in Augusta, Georgia, has begun selling low-THC cannabis products, directly challenging federal regulations enforced by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Living Well Pharmacy, owned by Vic Johnson, is one ...
Critical Factors for Optimizing the Employee Lifecycle in Cannabis Businesses
LOS ANGELES — The cannabis industry is rapidly growing, fueled by increasing legalization and broader societal acceptance. With this growth comes a unique set of challenges, especially in the realm of human resources. For cannabis ...
Illinois Supreme Court: Cannabis Odor Alone Not Enough for Vehicle Search
LOS ANGELES- In a significant ruling, the Illinois Supreme Court declared on Thursday that the smell of burnt cannabis alone does not justify a warrantless vehicle search. The unanimous decision stems from a 2020 case ...
South Carolina AG Confirms Legality of Hemp-Derived THC Beverages
LOS ANGELES- South Carolina Solicitor General Robert D. Cook issued a legal opinion on Sept. 16, affirming that nonalcoholic beverages containing hemp-derived delta-9 THC are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, provided they contain no ...
The High Stakes of Cutting Corners in Regulatory Employee Compliance
LOS ANGELES — In the cannabis industry, regulatory compliance is not a mere formality, but it’s a vital safeguard against financial losses, legal challenges, and operational disruptions. An often overlooked yet incredibly high-stakes area of ...
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- A bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a bill last week to legalize recreational cannabis for adults. The legislation, known as House Bill 2500, was sponsored by Republican Rep. Aaron Kaufer and Democratic ...
Psyence Biomed Advances Clinical Trials in Psilocybin for Mental Health Treatments
LOS ANGELES- Psyence Biomedical Ltd. a life science biotechnology company focused on natural psychedelics for mental health, has issued updates on its progress in clinical research and corporate development. The company is leading efforts to ...
COMPASS Pathways Receives Analyst Ratings
LOS ANGELES- COMPASS Pathways, a company specializing in mental health treatments, has garnered significant attention in recent market reports due to favorable analyst ratings and its stock performance. Several brokerages have maintained a consensus "Buy" ...
