Legal Affairs
California’s Cannabis Excise Tax Increase Sparks Industry Concerns
LOS ANGELES- Effective July 1, 2025, California's cannabis excise tax will rise from 15% to 19%, as mandated by Assembly Bill 195 signed in 2022. This adjustment, announced by the California Department of Tax and ...
Calgary Authorizes Cannabis Sales at Adults-Only Events
LOS ANGELES- Calgary City Council has approved amendments to the Business Licence Bylaw, permitting licensed cannabis retailers to operate temporary sales at adults-only events, such as festivals and outdoor shows. This decision aligns the city's ...
Christina Lake Cannabis Closes First Tranche of Non-Brokered Private Placement
LOS ANGELES- Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. has completed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement, issuing 22,778,211 units at a price of CAD $0.05 per unit, totaling approximately CAD $1.14 million. Each unit comprises ...
Gold Flora Corporation Files for Voluntary Receivership
COSTA MESA, Calif. , March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Gold Flora Corporation ("Gold Flora" or the "Company") (Cboe Canada: GRAM) (OTCQB: GRAM), a cannabis company with subsidiaries operating across California, today announced that it filed for a voluntary receivership pursuant under ...
Federal Cannabis Trafficking Cases Reach Record Low
LOS ANGELES- The U.S. Sentencing Commission's 2024 Sourcebook of Federal Sentencing Statistics reveals a continued decline in federal cannabis trafficking cases. In 2024, fewer than 500 individuals were charged, marking a significant decrease from nearly ...
Blueberries Medical Corp. Secures C$1.05 Million in Private Placemen
LOS ANGELES- Blueberries Medical Corp, a Latin American producer of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-derived products, has announced a non-brokered private placement, raising approximately C$1.05 million (US$740,000). The financing involved the sale of 96,064,935 common shares ...
Virginia Governor Vetoes Cannabis Retail Market and Assault-Style Weapons Ban
LOS ANGELES- Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed legislation aimed at establishing a regulated cannabis retail market and implementing a ban on assault-style weapons. These decisions are part of a series of 157 vetoes issued ...
California’s Cannabis Excise Tax Increase Sparks Industry Concerns
LOS ANGELES- Effective July 1, 2025, California's cannabis excise tax will rise from 15% to 19%, as mandated by Assembly Bill 195 signed in 2022. This adjustment, announced by the California Department of Tax and ...
Calgary Authorizes Cannabis Sales at Adults-Only Events
LOS ANGELES- Calgary City Council has approved amendments to the Business Licence Bylaw, permitting licensed cannabis retailers to operate temporary sales at adults-only events, such as festivals and outdoor shows. This decision aligns the city's ...
Christina Lake Cannabis Closes First Tranche of Non-Brokered Private Placement
LOS ANGELES- Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. has completed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement, issuing 22,778,211 units at a price of CAD $0.05 per unit, totaling approximately CAD $1.14 million. Each unit comprises ...
Kansas City Cannabis Workers Vote to Unionize, Joining Teamsters Local 955
LOS ANGELES— Employees at Home State Dispensary in Kansas City have made a landmark decision to unionize, becoming the first group of cannabis workers in the metro area to do so. The budtenders and inventory ...
MindMed Projects Operational Continuity into 2026 Amid Advancements in LSD-Based Anxiety Treatment
NEW YORK — Mind Medicine Inc. (MindMed), a biopharmaceutical company leading the charge in psychedelic drug development, has assured stakeholders of its financial viability well into 2026. This assurance comes even as the company, which currently ...
Optimi Health Secures CAD$1 Million in Non-Dilutive Debt Financing
TORONTO— Optimi Health Corp., a Canadian pioneer in psychedelic substance research and production, has successfully secured a non-dilutive Debt Financing Agreement (DFA) for a sum of CAD$1,000,000. This loan, provided by an arm's length party, ...
Senate Advances Bill Permitting VA Doctors to Recommend Cannabis to Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill that, among other directives, authorizes Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians to recommend cannabis to veterans for medical purposes. This ...
Psyence Group Advances Psilocybin Production with Facility Expansion and Strategic Partnerships
LOS ANGELES- Psyence Group Inc. a trailblazer in the clinical-stage life sciences sector specializing in nature-derived psilocybin for mental health treatments, has announced significant developments in its Psyence Production division. The company takes pride in ...
U.S. Cannabis Operators Challenge Federal Enforcement in Landmark Lawsuit
LOS ANGELES- In a bold move that underscores the growing tension between state legislation and federal restrictions, a coalition of U.S. cannabis operators and investors has filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government's application of ...
Navigating Cannabis Conferences: A Comprehensive Guide for Companies
LOS ANGELES--If your company is gearing up to attend a cannabis conference, it's crucial to approach it with a well-thought-out strategy. The earlier you start your preparations, the better the results you can expect. My ...
Arizona Social Equity Cannabis License Holders Face Deadline Challenges
PHOENIX — As the state-mandated deadline of Sunday, Oct. 8, looms, more than half of Arizona’s social equity cannabis retail licensees risk missing the critical opening date for their businesses. Of the 26 license holders, ...
Economic Report Foresees Financial Upside for Ohio in Legalizing Recreational Cannabis
LOS ANGELES — A recent economic assessment suggests that Ohio could reap significant financial benefits should voters opt to legalize recreational cannabis use. As reported by the Ohio Capital Journal, analysis from the Columbus-based Scioto ...
Kanabo Partners with British Cannabis to Enhance Digital Health Services
LOS ANGELES- In a significant move to provide enhanced digital health services and specialty medicines, including medicinal cannabis, Kanabo (KNB), a patient-centric provider, has announced a collaborative partnership with British Cannabis. This collaboration will facilitate ...
Green Thumb Industries Opens Its 10th RISE Dispensary in Florida
NEW YORK— RISE Dispensaries, a burgeoning cannabis retail chain under Green Thumb Industries Inc., proudly announced the inauguration of RISE Dispensary Sun City Center. Marking their 10th retail footprint in Florida and the 86th on ...
Cybin Inc. Releases Interim Findings for Its Innovative Psilocybin Analog, CYB003
LOS ANGELES- In a major step for mental health treatment innovation, Cybin Inc. today publicized the interim results of its Phase 2 clinical trial for CYB003, its proprietary deuterated psilocybin analog. These findings highlight a ...
Las Vegas to Welcome New Cannabis Consumption Lounges Following CCB Decision
LOS ANGELES-- In a move reflecting the evolving landscape of the cannabis sector, the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) has awarded six conditional consumption lounge licenses, all set to be situated in Las Vegas. The ...
Virginia Judge Upholds State Law on Hemp Products in Notable Ruling
LOS ANGELES- In a notable legal decision, a federal judge in Northern Virginia declined to halt the enforcement of a recently established state law imposing stricter controls on hemp-derived products, as reported by the Virginia ...
Colorado Awards First Loans to Social Equity Cannabis Businesses
DENVER — In a move that underlines the state's commitment to fostering equitable growth in the cannabis industry, Colorado's Cannabis Business Office (CBO) has unveiled the inaugural recipients of the state's Cannabis Business Loan Program. ...
Massachusetts Cannabis Firms Challenge Federal Prohibition in Suit Against U.S. Attorney General
NEW YORK— A consortium of Massachusetts-based cannabis companies have taken the unprecedented step of suing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland over the federal prohibition of cannabis. The plaintiffs argue that these laws not only infringe ...
Canadian Psychedelics Startups Form Strategic Partnership Ahead of Potential MDMA Legalization in 2024
NEW YORK — With the Canadian government anticipated to greenlight MDMA-assisted therapy in 2024, two pioneering Alberta-based companies are proactively paving the way for a broader acceptance of psychedelic therapies. ATMA Journey Centers and Cena ...
Rhode Island Sets New Monthly Record with $7.11M in Adult-Use Cannabis Sales
LOS ANGELES- Rhode Island's adult-use cannabis market continues its upward trajectory, hitting a new monthly sales record of $7.11 million in September. This surge in sales has placed the state back on course to meet ...
Massachusetts Cannabis Companies Challenge Federal Prohibition in Lawsuit Against U.S. Attorney General
LOS ANGELES- A coalition of Massachusetts-based cannabis businesses has initiated legal proceedings against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, presenting a strong case against the current federal cannabis prohibition. The litigants argue that the said prohibition ...
Alberta Psychedelics Startups Collaborate Ahead of Expected MDMA Legalization in Canada
LOS ANGELES- Two emerging Alberta-based psychedelics startups, ATMA Journey Centers and Cena Life, are forging a partnership in anticipation of the potential legalization of MDMA-assisted therapy in Canada come 2024. The strategic alliance aims to ...
Cresco Labs Finalizes Sale of Arizona Cannabis Operation and Secures New York Mortgage
CHICAGO– In a recent move aligning with its strategic vision of optimizing its portfolio, Cresco Labs Inc., a prominent figure in branded cannabis products, has finalized the sale of its singular licensed Arizona operation, "Encanto", ...
Goodblend Pennsylvania LLC Ordered to Pay $15.5 Million and Vacate Pittsburgh Property
NEW YORK - Atlanta-based multistate operator Parallel's subsidiary, Goodblend Pennsylvania LLC, a medical cannabis grower, has been directed by an Allegheny County Court to vacate its Pittsburgh facility and pay $15.5 million. The decision comes ...
Curaleaf Holdings Inc. Aims for Listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange
NEW YORK – Curaleaf Holdings Inc., a dominant player in the global cannabis consumer products arena, has taken a definitive step towards expanding its reach by filing an application to list its subordinate voting shares ...
Idaho Pushes Forward on Medical Cannabis Initiative Amidst Surrounding States’ Relaxed Laws
LOS ANGELES— As the drive for medical cannabis intensifies nationwide, Idaho finds itself as an island of resistance in a sea of relaxed cannabis regulations. Kind Idaho, a determined advocacy group, is fervently seeking to ...
Switzerland Greenlights First Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in a Milestone for European Policy
LOS ANGELES— In a landmark move that signifies a significant departure from traditional European cannabis policies, Switzerland's Federal Office of Public Health has given its nod to the establishment of the continent's first legal adult-use ...
