Legal Affairs
FDA Signals Shift to Single Phase 3 Trials for Drug Approvals, Opening Door for Faster Psychedelic Therapies
LOS ANGELES – The Food and Drug Administration is preparing to overhaul its evidence requirements for new drug approvals, making a single well-designed Phase 3 trial the standard rather than the exception. This adjustment, outlined ...
Trulieve Clears $368M Debt with Full Redemption of Senior Notes
TALLAHASSEE – Trulieve Cannabis Corp. wrapped up the buyback of its entire $368 million stack of 8% senior secured notes set to mature in 2026, handing over about $373 million in cash to cover the ...
OPINION: MJBizCon25 Review: The Race To Be Second
LAS VEGAS- Gosh… the MJBizCon I attended was awesome — genuinely one of the best and most productive ones I’ve ever been to — which is why I was so surprised to see how much ...
Missouri Trade Group Report Finds 96% of Tested Hemp Products Exceed THC Thresholds
KANSAS CITY – A new investigation by the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade) has concluded that nearly all hemp-derived products sold at unregulated retailers in the state contain illegal levels of THC, raising questions about ...
New Mexico Cannabis Market Edges Toward $2B in Total Sales
ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico's Cannabis industry has recorded $1.9 billion in combined medical and adult-use sales since recreational legalization took effect in April 2022, according to the latest figures from the state’s Regulation and Licensing ...
Fairfax Bank Retreats from Servicing Cannabis Businesses
FAIRFAX – MainStreet Bancshares Inc., a community lender with $2.2 billion in assets, has shelved its Cannabis banking program just eight months after unveiling it as a growth driver. The decision, disclosed by CEO Jeff ...
Stiiizy Halts Sales at Catalyst Outlets as Leadership Clash Deepens
LOS ANGELES – Stiiizy, California's dominant Cannabis brand with a footprint in Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, has stopped supplying its products to Catalyst Cannabis Co. stores, marking a sharp break in what was once a ...
FDA Signals Shift to Single Phase 3 Trials for Drug Approvals, Opening Door for Faster Psychedelic Therapies
LOS ANGELES – The Food and Drug Administration is preparing to overhaul its evidence requirements for new drug approvals, making a single well-designed Phase 3 trial the standard rather than the exception. This adjustment, outlined ...
Trulieve Clears $368M Debt with Full Redemption of Senior Notes
TALLAHASSEE – Trulieve Cannabis Corp. wrapped up the buyback of its entire $368 million stack of 8% senior secured notes set to mature in 2026, handing over about $373 million in cash to cover the ...
OPINION: MJBizCon25 Review: The Race To Be Second
LAS VEGAS- Gosh… the MJBizCon I attended was awesome — genuinely one of the best and most productive ones I’ve ever been to — which is why I was so surprised to see how much ...
Virginia Governor’s Veto Stalls Cannabis Legalization Progress
LOS ANGELES- In a recent development in Virginia's cannabis legalization movement, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation that would have established a legal marketplace for adult-use cannabis. This move has been seen as a setback for ...
Federal Seizures of Regulated Cannabis Products Impact New Mexico Businesses
NEW YORK- In recent weeks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have reportedly seized regulated cannabis products at least a dozen times at border checkpoints in New Mexico, impacting state-licensed cannabis businesses. This marks ...
Filament Health Reports Revenue Gains and Progress in Psychedelic Drug Development
LOS ANGELES- Filament Health Corp., a psychedelic drug developer, has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year ending December 31, 2023. The company showed notable revenue gains and a significant ...
California Proposes Supervised Psychedelic Therapy Bill
LOS ANGELES- In an innovative legislative move, California lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that aims to permit individuals over the age of 21 to consume psychedelic mushrooms under professional supervision. This proposal seeks to ...
Health Canada Reclassifies Organigram’s Cannabis Lozenges as Edibles
NEW YORK- In a recent development that has stirred the Canadian cannabis industry, Health Canada has announced a pivotal decision affecting Organigram Holdings. The federal agency has reclassified the company's Edison Jolts lozenge products from ...
Chicago Atlantic Invests $20 Million in Nova Farms Expansion
LOS ANGELES- Chicago Atlantic, a significant player in financial investment, has finalized a $20 million senior secured financing deal with Nova Farms, an established cannabis operator. This strategic investment is aimed at bolstering Nova Farms' ...
Ohio Moves Forward with Adult-Use Cannabis Marketplace Regulations
LOS ANGELES- Ohio is on the verge of activating its adult-use cannabis marketplace following the state regulators' recent publication of the latest draft rules for the industry. This comprehensive framework, announced last week, introduces detailed ...
California Enhances Cannabis Equity with $12 Million Grant
NEW YORK- In a landmark move, California has allocated $12 million in grants to ten cities and counties, including Oakland and San Jose, as part of its commitment to fostering equity in the cannabis industry. ...
New Jersey Navigates Legal Waters on Off-Duty Cannabis Use by Police
LOS ANGELES- In a groundbreaking legal case in New Jersey, the debate over off-duty cannabis use by law enforcement officers brings to light the complex interplay between state legalization and federal restrictions. Jersey City has ...
New York Supreme Court Overturns Cannabis Marketing Restrictions
LOS ANGELES- In a significant legal development for New York's cannabis industry, the Supreme Court in Albany County invalidated several marketing restrictions on Monday, marking a pivotal moment for licensed cannabis businesses in the state. ...
New Mexico Sets Record in Cannabis Sales for March
LOS ANGELES- In a significant development within the cannabis industry, New Mexico reported a record-breaking total of over $52 million in combined recreational and medical cannabis sales for March. This figure surpasses previous records, marking ...
Petalfast Acquires Flow Distribution to Enhance National Cannabis Sales and Distribution Network
LOS ANGELES- Petalfast, a national sales and distribution platform in the cannabis industry, has finalized the acquisition of Flow Distribution's sales and distribution subsidiary, marking a significant expansion of its operations and brand portfolio in ...
ANALYSIS: Ukraine’s Medical Cannabis Legalization: A Journey of Hope and Resilience
KYIV--In the heart of Ukraine, amidst the bustling streets of its vibrant cities and the tranquil beauty of its countryside, a new era is dawning—one marked by the legalization of medical cannabis. Having immersed myself ...
Hawaii’s Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Stalls
LOS ANGELES- In a recent development within Hawaii's legislative process, a pivotal House committee announced it will not advance a bill proposing the legalization and regulation of recreational cannabis, effectively halting the legislation for 2024. ...
Washington D.C. Enhances Medical Cannabis Regulations and Extends Tax Holiday
LOS ANGELES- In a significant legislative move, the Council of the District of Columbia has unanimously passed the "Medical Cannabis Patient Card Extension 4/20 Medical Cannabis Sales Tax Holiday Week Emergency Amendment Act of 2024." ...
DEA to Conduct Hearing on Psychedelic Substances Proposal
LOS ANGELES- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced plans to hold a hearing regarding the proposed classification of two psychedelic substances, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC), as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances ...
Canadian Cannabis Sales Experience a Dip in January
NEW YORK- In January 2024, Canada witnessed a notable 11.5% drop in retail sales of legal adult-use cannabis compared to December 2023, as reported by Statistics Canada. Despite a revision that increased the total recreational ...
Alabama Seeks to Expand Medical Cannabis Licensing
LOS ANGELES- In an effort to resolve ongoing legal disputes surrounding its medical cannabis licensing process, Alabama has introduced a bill proposing an increase in the number of available licenses. Filed on Tuesday, the legislation ...
Oregon Reinstates Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession
LOS ANGELES- In a landmark reversal, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has endorsed House Bill 4002, reintroducing criminal penalties for possession of controlled substances such as fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. This action marks a departure from ...
Alberta Leads in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Coverage
NEW YORK- Alberta Blue Cross's recent endorsement of insurance coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy signifies a pioneering move in Canadian healthcare, positioning Alberta as the first province to officially support and regulate such treatments. This development ...
Georgia Implements New Age Restrictions and Regulations on Hemp-Derived Products
NEW YORK- In a recent legislative development, Georgia is poised to enforce a new law restricting the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including CBD and intoxicating substances like delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC, to individuals ...
Awakn Life Sciences Expands into U.S. with Oklahoma Licensing Agreement
LOS ANGELES- Awakn Life Sciences Corp., a biotechnology company specializing in the development of medication-assisted treatments for addiction, particularly focusing on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), announced a significant expansion of its operations into the United ...
Ontario Anticipates Record Cannabis Revenue
LOS ANGELES- In a landmark financial forecast, Ontario expects to garner over CA$379 million from its share of the federal cannabis duty for the fiscal year April 2024 to March 2025, marking a significant 22.2% ...
University of Calgary Studies Psychedelic Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
LOS ANGELES- The University of Calgary, through its Hotchkiss Brain Institute, has embarked on a study to examine the potential of psychedelics, specifically psilocybin, in treating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). With plans to recruit 128 ...
Delaware Expands Medical Cannabis Program Access
NEW YORK- Delaware lawmakers have passed a significant bill aimed at broadening access to the state's medical cannabis program. On Thursday, the Delaware Senate approved a proposal that grants healthcare providers the discretion to certify ...
