Legal Affairs
Virginia Moves Toward Adult-Use Cannabis Sales While U.S. Policy Remains Uneven
RICHMOND- Virginia may finally close one of the most unusual gaps in U.S. Cannabis policy. Lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly have approved legislation to establish a regulated adult-use Cannabis retail market and sent the ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – The Cannabis and Psychedelics sectors delivered clear signals of financial stability, policy refinement, consumer-driven changes, and therapeutic expansion. State-level sales held firm in key markets, major MSOs shared Q4 and FY 2025 ...
Starting a Cannabis Business: The Real-World Founder Guide for an Industry That Gives You ZERO Margin for Error
LOS ANGELES - Starting any business is hard. Starting a Cannabis business is harder. A founder in a typical startup may need to deal with branding, hiring, websites, customer acquisition, and cash flow. A founder ...
Missouri Cannabis Sales Hit Record $1.5B in 2025
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri's regulated Cannabis market posted its strongest year yet in 2025, with retailers recording approximately $1.5 billion in total sales, according to figures from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. ...
New Hampshire House Advances Bill to Regulate Medical Psilocybin Use
CONCORD – The New Hampshire House of Representatives has given initial approval to a bipartisan measure that would establish a state program allowing supervised therapeutic access to psilocybin for qualifying medical conditions. House Bill 1809, ...
As November Looms, the Intoxicating Hemp Industry Carries On — Calmly, Confidently, and Perhaps Optimistically
NEW YORK - Across the United States, the intoxicating hemp sector is behaving as though November 2026 is just another month on the calendar — not a potential regulatory cliff. That’s when new federal restrictions, ...
OPINION: The Cannabis Industry That Left Black America Behind
LOS ANGELES- America’s legal Cannabis industry loves to tell a redemption story: a plant once criminalized is now regulated, normalized, and generating billions in tax revenue. But redemption for whom? Black History Month shouldn’t just ...
Virginia Moves Toward Adult-Use Cannabis Sales While U.S. Policy Remains Uneven
RICHMOND- Virginia may finally close one of the most unusual gaps in U.S. Cannabis policy. Lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly have approved legislation to establish a regulated adult-use Cannabis retail market and sent the ...
Week in Review: Cannabis & Psychedelics Industry Highlights
LOS ANGELES – The Cannabis and Psychedelics sectors delivered clear signals of financial stability, policy refinement, consumer-driven changes, and therapeutic expansion. State-level sales held firm in key markets, major MSOs shared Q4 and FY 2025 ...
Starting a Cannabis Business: The Real-World Founder Guide for an Industry That Gives You ZERO Margin for Error
LOS ANGELES - Starting any business is hard. Starting a Cannabis business is harder. A founder in a typical startup may need to deal with branding, hiring, websites, customer acquisition, and cash flow. A founder ...
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 ...
Imperial Brands Acquires Stake in Auxly Cannabis Group
LOS ANGELES- Imperial Brands has effectively become the largest shareholder of Auxly Cannabis Group, acquiring a 19.8% stake after converting over 123.4 million Canadian dollars ($90.6 million) in total debt into shares. This move was ...
North Carolina Senate Approves Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill
LOS ANGELES- The North Carolina Senate gave final approval to a medical cannabis legalization bill this week, sending the proposal to the House for consideration. Notably, the proposal would not legalize adult-use cannabis even under ...
Maryland Awards Social Equity Cannabis Licenses
LOS ANGELES- In a significant move by the Maryland Cannabis Administration, 174 social equity cannabis licenses were awarded through a lottery system, showcasing the state's commitment to diversity and inclusion within the burgeoning cannabis industry. ...
Florida Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Cannabis Legalization
LOS ANGELES- The Florida Supreme Court is set to make a pivotal decision regarding the appearance of an adult-use cannabis legalization amendment on the November ballot, according to ClickOrlando. This determination follows a challenge by ...
Organigram Announces Investment in Open Book Extracts
NEW YORK- Organigram Holdings, a Canadian cannabis company, announced a $2 million investment in North Carolina-based Open Book Extracts. This move signifies Organigram's entry into the U.S. cannabis market, facilitated by an investment from British ...
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Advances Research Program
LOS ANGELES – In a significant move that underscores its commitment to innovative medical research, Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced its decision to prioritize its AP-188 ("N,N-Dimethyltryptamine" or "DMT") stroke research program. This announcement follows the ...
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 ...
