Legal Affairs
West Virginia and Mississippi Advance Ibogaine Research Bills
CHARLESTON–JACKSON – Lawmakers in West Virginia and Mississippi have advanced legislation to support research into ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the iboga plant, with the goal of pursuing FDA approval for its use in ...
UCLA Partners with Terpene Belt Farms to Research Cannabis Flavors
LOS ANGELES – Terpene Belt Farms, a subsidiary of Nexus Agriscience, has been selected as the industry partner in a University of California-led research funded by a $1.23 million grant from the California Department of ...
Virgin Islands Sets Fall 2026 Target for Legal Cannabis Retail Launch
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation has accelerated its timeline for the start of licensed Cannabis sales, with executive director Joanne Moorhead stating that regulated retail operations are now expected ...
Bipartisan Poll Signals Growing Momentum for Federal Legalization
LOS ANGELES – A fresh survey of registered voters reveals that a slim majority of Americans now favor legalizing Cannabis at the federal level, with notable crossover appeal among Republicans following President Donald Trump's recent ...
California Allocates $30M in Cannabis Research Grants
SACRAMENTO – California's Department of Cannabis Control has disbursed nearly $30 million to support 22 academic projects examining Cannabis's influence on public health, environmental practices, and the regulated market. The funding, drawn from taxes on ...
Cannabis Market’s Hidden Scale: New Estimates Point to $90B U.S. Potential
LOS ANGELES – Viridian Capital Advisors' latest Chart of the Week dives into recreational Cannabis sales across nine mature markets (Michigan, Montana, Alaska, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada) to gauge true consumer ...
Republican State AGs Challenge Trump’s Cannabis Rescheduling Directive
LOS ANGELES – A coalition of Republican attorneys general from eight states has publicly rejected President Donald Trump's recent Executive Order to reschedule Cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, citing persistent risks to public safety ...
West Virginia and Mississippi Advance Ibogaine Research Bills
CHARLESTON–JACKSON – Lawmakers in West Virginia and Mississippi have advanced legislation to support research into ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the iboga plant, with the goal of pursuing FDA approval for its use in ...
UCLA Partners with Terpene Belt Farms to Research Cannabis Flavors
LOS ANGELES – Terpene Belt Farms, a subsidiary of Nexus Agriscience, has been selected as the industry partner in a University of California-led research funded by a $1.23 million grant from the California Department of ...
Virgin Islands Sets Fall 2026 Target for Legal Cannabis Retail Launch
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation has accelerated its timeline for the start of licensed Cannabis sales, with executive director Joanne Moorhead stating that regulated retail operations are now expected ...
Brazil’s Supreme Court Decriminalizes Cannabis Possession for Personal Use
LOS ANGELES- Brazil's Supreme Court has voted to decriminalize the possession of cannabis for personal use, marking a significant change in the country's drug policy. This decision, reached after deliberations that began in 2015, reflects ...
Organigram Invests €14 Million in German Cannabis Firm Sanity Group
LOS ANGELES- Organigram Holdings Inc. has invested €14 million (~C$21 million) in Sanity Group, a German cannabis company. The investment comprises an €11.5 million unsecured convertible note and a €2.5 million equity stake, positioning Organigram ...
Ohio Approves First Provisional Dual Licenses, Paving the Way for Dispensary Rollout
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Ohio inches closer to opening its doors to recreational cannabis sales, the state has taken a significant step forward by issuing the first provisional dual licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries. This ...
U.S. Cannabis Reforms Lead to 2.5 Million Pardons or Expungements
LOS ANGELES- Recent cannabis policy reforms in the United States have resulted in approximately 2.5 million pardons or expungements for cannabis-related convictions, according to a tally by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana ...
Arizona Governor Signs Bill Allowing MDMA Therapy for First Responders with PTSD
LOS ANGELES- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed a bill into law that enables firefighters and peace officers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to receive workers' compensation coverage for MDMA therapy, contingent upon federal legalization. ...
Dutch Government Extends Cannabis Regulation Trial to Eight Additional Cities
LOS ANGELES- The Dutch government's ongoing trial to regulate the adult-use cannabis industry has been expanded to include eight more cities, bringing the total number involved to ten. Initially launched in Breda and Tilburg in ...
The True Cost of Cheap Nutrients: Why Premium Products Matter in Cannabis Cultivation
LOS ANGELES — In the competitive world of cannabis cultivation, maximizing yield per plant is paramount. However, the choice of nutrients remains a divisive issue, with many growers opting for cheaper options, mistakenly believing they ...
Ohio Approves Initial Dispensary Applications for Recreational Cannabis Market
LOS ANGELES- The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) has approved applications for 20 dispensaries, marking the initial step toward commencing recreational cannabis sales in the state. The DCC has received a total of 235 ...
Brazilian Supreme Court Votes to Decriminalize Cannabis Possession
SAO PAOLO- In a landmark decision, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) has voted to decriminalize the possession of cannabis for personal use, marking a significant departure in the country's approach to drug policy. The ruling, ...
North Carolina Senate Advances Medical Cannabis Legislation
LOS ANGELES- For the second consecutive year, the North Carolina Senate has approved language to legalize medical cannabis, the Associated Press reports. Despite the Senate's approval, the bill's future in the House remains uncertain, as ...
MindBio Therapeutics Releases Positive Results from Phase 2A LSD Microdose Trial
LOS ANGELES- Canadian psychedelics firm MindBio Therapeutics Corp. on Friday released durability results from its Phase 2A trial for its patented take-home microdose version of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), designed to treat depression with "sub-hallucinogenic" ...
Verano Holdings Corp. Announces $50 Million Share Repurchase Program
LOS ANGELES- Verano Holdings Corp., a player in the U.S. cannabis industry, has announced its first-ever share repurchase program, committing up to $50 million to buy back its publicly traded Class A subordinate voting shares. ...
Advanced Nutrients Propels Flower of Life Michigan to Market Leadership
LOS ANGELES – In a market hit hard by falling cannabis prices, Flower of Life Michigan faced a potential business collapse. Brothers Devin and Donovan Murphy, the driving forces behind the company, turned a crisis ...
Announcing: NEW Show on Highly Capitalized: “Inside Cannabis with Daniela Williams”
LOS ANGELES — Highly Capitalized Network is excited to announce the launch of a new online news show, “Inside Cannabis with Daniela Williams,” set to air fortnightly on Highly Capitalized Network. This show will delve ...
Aurora Cannabis Reports Q4 2024 Financial Results
LOS ANGELES- Aurora Cannabis Inc. a Canada-based medical-focused cannabis company, has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. The company reported revenue of $55.9 million, marking a 5% increase from $53.2 ...
Arizona Governor Vetoes Psilocybin Treatment Centers Bill
LOS ANGELES- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill on June 18 that would have permitted the use of psilocybin in designated treatment centers. The vetoed House Bill 1570 proposed $5 million in annual funding ...
Cannabis Legalization Yields Over $20 Billion in Tax Revenue
LOS ANGELES- The wave of cannabis legalization across the United States is creating a significant economic impact, with legalized states collectively generating over $20 billion in tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales. This milestone not ...
Colorado Survey Shows Significant Drop in Teen Cannabis Use
LOS ANGELES- The latest Healthy Kids Colorado Survey reveals a notable decline in cannabis use among high school students, with a 37% decrease in reported use over the past month from 2013 to 2023. Additionally, ...
Inspector General Calls for Receiver for Dysfunctional Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission
LOS ANGELES- The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) is in such disarray that lawmakers need to appoint a receiver to manage the regulatory agency, according to a recent letter from the state's inspector general. Inspector ...
Dutch State Committee Report on MDMA Highlights Public Health and Therapeutic Uses
LOS ANGELES- On June 6, 2024, the Dutch State Committee MDMA presented its report titled "MDMA: Beyond Ecstasy" to the Dutch Minister of Medical Care. The six-member committee, chaired by Brigit Toebes and co-chaired by ...
New York Task Force Shuts Down Over 100 Illegal Cannabis Dispensaries in Three Weeks
LOS ANGELES- Since its inception three weeks ago, New York’s task force dedicated to shutting down illegal cannabis dispensaries has closed 114 storefronts. The enforcement actions, which have led to the seizure of more than ...
California State Fair Introduces Cannabis Sales and Consumption Area
LOS ANGELES- This year’s California State Fair, beginning July 12 in Sacramento, will feature cannabis sales and a designated consumption area, signaling the growing acceptance of cannabis in mainstream America. This marks the first time ...
Highly Capitalized: ‘Inside Cultivation with Advanced Nutrients’
LOS ANGELES — Highly Capitalized Network is thrilled to introduce “Inside Cultivation with Advanced Nutrients,” a new online news show that will air fortnightly on HighlyCapitalized.com. This program aims to provide deep insights into cannabis ...
Psilocybin Study Highlights Potential for Psychiatric Treatment
LOS ANGELES- A recent study available through the National Library of Medicine provides new insights into the use of psilocybin for treating psychiatric disorders and its potential in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. This study is the first to ...
High Tide Inc. Secures $15 Million Financing to Support Canadian Expansion
LOS ANGELES- High Tide Inc., known for its innovative approach to cannabis retailing, has announced a significant financial maneuver to facilitate its growth plans across Canada. Under the leadership of CEO Raj Grover, the company ...
