Legal Affairs
Florida Takes Action to Advance Adult-Use Cannabis Ballot Measure, Lawsuit Ends Delay
TALLAHASSEE – Florida election officials cleared a procedural roadblock for a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational Cannabis, submitting the measure to the state attorney general's office just weeks after advocates sued over perceived delays ...
Viridian Capital Advisors Reports Valuation Metrics for U.S. MSOs with Market Caps >$100M
LOS ANGELES – Multi-state cannabis operators in the United States are carrying valuation multiples that signal caution among investors, even as growth prospects brighten for the coming year. According to a fresh Weekly Valuation Report ...
OPINION: Industrial hemp just got ‘future proofed.’
NEW YORK- Industrial hemp just received the clearest signal yet that it's not a fad, not a loophole, and not going away. It was effectively declared “future proof.” When Congress passed the funding bill to ...
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 ...
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry Champions Ibogaine Research at Dallas Documentary Films Event
DALLAS – Former Texas Governor Rick Perry called for broader access to ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the African iboga shrub, during a panel discussion following a screening of documentary clips on Thursday night. ...
Florida Takes Action to Advance Adult-Use Cannabis Ballot Measure, Lawsuit Ends Delay
TALLAHASSEE – Florida election officials cleared a procedural roadblock for a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational Cannabis, submitting the measure to the state attorney general's office just weeks after advocates sued over perceived delays ...
Viridian Capital Advisors Reports Valuation Metrics for U.S. MSOs with Market Caps >$100M
LOS ANGELES – Multi-state cannabis operators in the United States are carrying valuation multiples that signal caution among investors, even as growth prospects brighten for the coming year. According to a fresh Weekly Valuation Report ...
OPINION: Industrial hemp just got ‘future proofed.’
NEW YORK- Industrial hemp just received the clearest signal yet that it's not a fad, not a loophole, and not going away. It was effectively declared “future proof.” When Congress passed the funding bill to ...
California Assembly Passes Bill to Allow Food, Drinks, and Events at Cannabis Cafes
LOS ANGELES- The California State Assembly has approved legislation permitting licensed cannabis cafes to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages and host live events, such as music and other performances. The bill now advances to the ...
Glass House Withdraws Defamation Lawsuit Against Catalyst Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- Glass House Brands Inc. has retracted its defamation lawsuit against Catalyst Cannabis Co., citing concerns over Catalyst's financial viability and the potential harassment of its customers. This withdrawal marks a significant turn in ...
New Hampshire Senate Approves Cannabis Legalization Bill with State-Run Dispensaries
LOS ANGELES- The New Hampshire Senate has passed an adult-use cannabis legalization bill that includes a state-run dispensary system. The bill, favored by Republican Governor Chris Sununu, marks the first time the chamber has approved ...
Victoria to Launch World’s First Medical Cannabis Driving Trial
WORLD- Victoria, the first Australian state to legalize medical cannabis in 2016, is set to initiate a groundbreaking medical cannabis driving trial. As part of the Victorian Budget 2024/25, the Labor Government has allocated $4.9 ...
Delaware Bill Proposes Temporary Conversion Licenses for Medical Cannabis Retailers
NEW YORK- Sponsored by State Representative Ed Osienski and Senator Trey Paradee, House Bill 408 aims to create a pathway for medical cannabis retailers in Delaware to obtain temporary conversion licenses, enabling them to legally ...
Ayr Wellness Inc. Reports Q1 2024 Financial Performance
LOS ANGELES- Ayr Wellness Inc., a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator, has reported significant financial advancements in the first quarter of 2024, underscoring its commitment to sustainable and profitable growth. The company aims to ...
California’s Proposal to Legalize Psychedelic Treatment Centers Fails for the Year
LOS ANGELES- The proposal to legalize psychedelic treatment centers in California has been shelved for the year. The initiative was developed in response to concerns raised by Governor Gavin Newsom (D) after he vetoed a ...
Iowa Imposes Stricter Limits on Hemp-Derived THC Products
LOS ANGELES- Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed multiple bills into law on Friday, including House File 2605, which aims to close loopholes in state and federal hemp laws. This bill imposes new restrictions on hemp-derived ...
Cannabis Stocks Surge Following Biden’s Reclassification Announcement
NEW YORK- At 1 p.m. on May 16, Biden shared a video on X, declaring the U.S. Department of Justice's decision to reclassify cannabis. This announcement led to a swift increase in cannabis-related stocks, reflecting ...
Cresco Labs Reports First Quarter Financial Performance
LOS ANGELES- Cresco Labs reported first-quarter revenues of $184 million, reflecting the company’s growth trajectory in the competitive cannabis market. This increase in revenue is attributed to market expansion and enhanced product offerings under its ...
DEA Report Highlights Shifts in U.S. Drug Trafficking Trends
LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released its 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) on May 9, providing an in-depth analysis of illegal drug and trafficking trends in the United States. DEA Administrator Anne ...
Canopy Growth Raises $50 Million Through Exchange and Subscription Agreement
LOS ANGELES- Canopy Growth, a cannabis producer based in Smiths Falls, Ontario, has raised approximately $50 million (68 million Canadian dollars) in gross proceeds through an exchange and subscription agreement with an institutional investor. The ...
DEA Report Highlights Growing Threat from Synthetic Drugs and Illegal Cannabis Operations
LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released its 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) on May 9, detailing illegal drug and trafficking trends in the United States. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram emphasized the shift ...
47 Ohio Municipalities Ban Adult-Use Cannabis Businesses Ahead of Program Launch
LOS ANGELES- As Ohio prepares for the launch of its adult-use cannabis program, several dozen municipalities have implemented temporary bans on adult-use cannabis businesses. Research from Ohio State University, summarized by Cleveland.com, indicates that as ...
Analysis: Adult-Use Cannabis Markets Generate Over $20 Billion in State Tax Revenue
Washington, DC (NORML): Taxes derived from the licensed sale of state-regulated cannabis products totaled more than $4 billion in 2023, according to an analysis provided by the Marijuana Policy Project. MPP’s estimates do not include revenues derived from ...
Biden Administration Begins Formal Rulemaking Process Downgrading Cannabis to Less Dangerous Drug
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Joe Biden is officially advancing plans to ease federal cannabis restrictions. Today, Biden announced his administration's intention to reclassify cannabis from the most restrictive category on the federal list of illegal ...
Ohio Committee Approves Plan for Adult-Use Cannabis Sales
LOS ANGELES- The Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) has approved new regulations to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to sell adult-use products starting June 7, 2024. This development follows the voter approval of ...
Texas Senate to Hold Public Hearing on Delta-8, Delta-9 THC Products
LOS ANGELES- The Texas Senate will hold a public hearing on May 29 to discuss a potential ban on delta-8 and delta-9 THC products. These products have been widely available in Texas since 2019, following ...
Study Finds Psilocybin Use Does Not Significantly Alter Religious Beliefs
LOS ANGELES- A new study from Johns Hopkins University, published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, indicates that a single psilocybin experience is unlikely to change an atheist's belief in God or alter a person's ...
Federal Judge Orders Cannabis Dispensary Operator to Bargain with Union
LOS ANGELES- In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun has mandated that the cannabis dispensary operator I.N.S.A. must negotiate with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, despite its employees voting against ...
Enveric Biosciences Eyes Major Licensing Deals for Its Drug Pipeline
NEW YORK- Enveric Biosciences is actively pursuing licensing agreements that could potentially net the company up to $410 million in milestone payments. This initiative follows a newly announced partnership with MindBio and comes amidst the ...
New York Cannabis Regulatory Chief to Resign Amid Program Overhaul
LOS ANGELES- Chris Alexander, the Executive Director of New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), is set to resign at the end of his three-year term in September, as announced by Governor Kathy Hochul. The ...
Minnesota Residents Sue for Right to Sell Home-Grown Cannabis
LOS ANGELES- In Minnesota, a legal battle is unfolding as four individuals who legally cultivate cannabis have initiated a lawsuit against state cannabis regulators. The plaintiffs argue that the Minnesota Constitution permits them to sell ...
Idaho Medical Cannabis Initiative Gains Momentum Amid New Signature Drive
LOS ANGELES- In Idaho, one of the few states without any legal cannabis framework, the advocacy group Kind Idaho is making strides to place a medical cannabis initiative on the 2024 ballot. The organization faces ...
Product Recall in Arizona Due to Contamination Concerns
LOS ANGELES- The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued a recall for a product known as Onion Bhaji after laboratory tests detected possible contamination with Aspergillus, a fungus known to cause allergic reactions or ...
