Legal Affairs

350 Retail Cap and Tier V Cultivation Limits: What Virginia’s Scarcity Model Means for License Strategy

RICHMOND- Virginia’s adult-use design is built on scarcity and structural oversight. The 350 retail cap materially limits market density, shaping site selection and long-term valuation models. Tier V cultivation remains limited to five large operators. ...

Virginia Adult-Use Applications Expected in 2026: Operators Should Begin Structuring Now

NEW YORK- Virginia’s adult-use Cannabis legislation is now in reconciliation after both the House (HB 642) and Senate (SB 542) advanced competing sales frameworks. For operators, the question is no longer whether retail will launch—but ...

SAM in Action: How Dark Money Fuels Prohibitionists Attacks

LOS ANGELES – A noticeable uptick in anti-Cannabis content has appeared on social platforms lately, flooding threads with posts on scromiting, schizophrenia, psychosis risks, outdated research, recycled study headlines, and new ballot proposals surfacing in ...

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Push Back Hemp Ban for Two Years

WASHINGTON – A group of lawmakers from both parties filed legislation seeking to push back a forthcoming federal prohibition on certain hemp-derived products until late 2028, offering the industry a brief reprieve to adjust operations. ...

U.S. Legal Cannabis Sales Hit $2.3B in December, Lifting 2025 Total to $27B

LOS ANGELES – Legal Cannabis sales across the United States reached $2.3 billion in December, pushing the full-year figure for 2025 to $27 billion. The month’s tally edged out November’s $2.2 billion and aligned closely ...

California DCC Grants $1.8M to UC Berkeley and Glass House Brands for Cannabis Yield Study

LONG BEACH – State regulators have awarded $1.8 million to a partnership between the University of California Berkeley and Glass House Brands to study variations in Cannabis crop yields across cultivation methods, a move that ...

MindMed Rebrands as Definium Therapeutics, Targets 2026 Trials for LSD-Based Treatments

NEW YORK – Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc., a developer of treatments derived from psychedelics for mental health conditions, has changed its name to Definium Therapeutics Inc., a move that underscores its push into late-stage testing ...

350 Retail Cap and Tier V Cultivation Limits: What Virginia’s Scarcity Model Means for License Strategy

Virginia Adult-Use Applications Expected in 2026: Operators Should Begin Structuring Now

SAM in Action: How Dark Money Fuels Prohibitionists Attacks

Germany Ushers in a New Era with Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization

BERLIN- As the clock struck midnight in Germany, transitioning from March 31st to April 1st, the nation embraced a historic shift in its drug policy landscape. Germany’s new adult-use cannabis legalization law, known as the ...

Colombia’s Medical Cannabis Exports Surge to $10.8 Million Amid Regulatory Enhancements

BOGOTA- In a notable advancement for Colombia's burgeoning medical cannabis industry, exports have seen a significant rise, reaching $10.8 million in 2023, as reported by ProColombia, a key government agency dedicated to fostering nontraditional Colombian ...

Glass House Brands Report Revenue and Profits

LOS ANGELES- In a notable financial turnaround, Glass House Brands, a California-based cannabis producer and retailer, reported significant growth in its fourth-quarter earnings, leading to a record revenue of $160.8 million for the fiscal year ...

ICER Raises Concerns Over MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD

LOS ANGELES- The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has recently highlighted significant concerns regarding the clinical evidence behind MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a draft evidence report. This ...

Psilera Strengthens Board with Neuroscience

TAMPA –Psilera, a biotechnology company specializing in novel treatments for complex neurological disorders, has announced the addition of Dr. Magali Haas, M.D., Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Haas, with an illustrious career spanning ...

Ayr Wellness Expands Florida Investment with Increased Mortgage on Cultivation Facility

LOS ANGELES- In a strategic move to bolster its presence in the burgeoning Florida cannabis market, Ayr Wellness, a prominent multistate operator, has announced an $8.4 million increase in the mortgage for its Gainesville cultivation ...

Colorado Cannabis Cultivators Granted Expanded Access to New Genetics

NEW YORK- In a significant legislative update, Colorado's cannabis cultivators are set to benefit from an expanded array of genetic resources, thanks to the enactment of Senate Bill 23-271 in January. This move, part of ...

Virginia Governor Vetoes Cannabis Legalization Bill

LOS ANGELES- In a decisive move that prolongs the status quo, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed a bill aimed at legalizing the sale of adult-use cannabis in the state, citing concerns over public health ...

High Tide Acquires Premium Cannabis Brand Queen of Bud

LOS ANGELES- In a strategic move High Tide Inc. has officially completed its acquisition of the esteemed Queen of Bud brand, including its intellectual property, trademarks, and other valuable assets. This acquisition, announced on March ...

Cannabis Legislation at a Crossroads: Florida and Virginia Poised for Policy Shifts

LOS ANGELES- In a significant moment for cannabis policy in the United States, Florida and Virginia stand on the precipice of joining the expanding roster of states with legal cannabis markets. Despite facing distinct legislative ...

Colorado’s Cannabis Cultivation Landscape Evolves with New Genetic Sourcing Laws

LOS ANGELES- In a significant development for Colorado's cannabis industry, Senate Bill 23-271, effective since January, has introduced new regulations allowing cultivators to source genetics from a broader array of entities. This legislative shift aims ...

Optimi Health Corp. Expands Its Global Reach with MDMA Supply Agreement to Israeli Research Institute

LOS ANGELES – In a landmark move for psychedelic medicine, Optimi Health Corp., a preeminent manufacturer of psychedelics licensed by Health Canada, has announced a groundbreaking international supply agreement with The Institute for Psychedelic Research ...

Knowledge is Power: Unlock the Secrets to Success in the Ever-Evolving Cannabis Industry: Introducing CannabizTeam’s Comprehensive Salary Guide!

NEW YORK — CannabizTeam Worldwide, the premier executive search and staffing firm specializing in cannabis & wellness markets, proudly presents the eagerly-awaited 2024 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide. As the sixth installment of our national report, ...

Cannabis Industry Moguls Gather for Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference

More than 100 CEOs and 200 Investors Confirmed for Cannabis Investment & Branding Conference on April 16th at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, FL. Boris Jordan, executive chairman of Curaleaf, to Deliver Keynote Speech. HOLLYWOOD, Fla.,-- The Benzinga Cannabis ...

Mexico’s President Asserts Sovereignty in Drug Cartel Policy

LOS ANGELES- In a firm rebuff to external pressures, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared last week that Mexico will not engage in combative actions against drug cartels at the behest of the United ...

Amazon’s Hemp Product Dilemma: Undeclared CBD, Mislabeling, and Policy Contradictions

LOS ANGELES- A recent study conducted by CBD Oracle has shed light on the problematic state of hemp product listings on Amazon, unveiling a landscape of mislabeled items, undeclared cannabinoids, and outright policy violations. Despite ...

New York Takes Bold Steps to Support Cannabis Cultivators

LOS ANGELES- In a significant move to bolster the burgeoning adult-use cannabis industry, the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has announced a series of initiatives aimed at aiding struggling farmers and expediting the ...

Bulls Take Charge: The Green Rush Revival in the Cannabis Market

NEW YORK- As the cannabis market flourishes, several companies have made significant strides, contributing to the sector's overall bullish sentiment, beyond the widely recognized giants. Focusing on a fresh set of companies, let's explore some ...

U.S. Legal Cannabis Market Forecasted to Surpass $31 Billion in Sales in 2024

LOS ANGELES- In a notable advancement for the cannabis industry, legal sales in the United States are forecasted to exceed $31 billion this year, according to an economic forecast from Whitney Economics, a consultancy specializing ...

PharmAla Biotech and Cortexa Supply GMP Psilocybin for Therapeutic Use in Australia

LOS ANGELES- PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc., in collaboration with Cortexa Pty. Ltd., has achieved supplying Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Psilocybin for therapeutic use to a patient under the Australian authorized prescriber scheme, marking what the ...

Utah to Launch Psilocybin and MDMA Pilot Program for Behavioral Health Treatment

NEW YORK-Utah is set to introduce a pioneering pilot program that will allow select hospitals to administer psilocybin and MDMA to patients for behavioral health treatment starting in May, after Governor Spencer Cox opted to ...

Massachusetts Considers Legalizing Therapeutic Psychedelics

LOS ANGELES- Last week, the Massachusetts legislature's Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions convened a hearing to deliberate on a proposed initiative aiming to legalize the therapeutic use of natural psychedelics. The measure, which seeks ...

Week In Review: First Year of Legal Cannabis Sales Brings $1.1 Billion to Maryland; Nebraska Advocates Submit Over 114,000 Signatures for Medical Cannabis Campaign

LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets with some states doing amazingly well. And some, well...they're not doing so well (hello New York). Let's ...