Legal Affairs
New York’s Licensing Blunder
NEW YORK – NY’s adult-use cannabis market, now boasting 436 licensed dispensaries [a 93-store increase since late 2024] has hit a snag. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) recently acknowledged a critical error in its ...
Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Backs Psilocybin Decriminalization in Historic Move
BOSTON – In a groundbreaking development for psychedelic policy reform, the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society (MPS) has publicly endorsed legislation to decriminalize psilocybin, marking the first time a branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has ...
THC Levels Vary Across Plant Layers, Study Reveals
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – A landmark study published in Scientific Reports by researchers from Pure Sunfarms Corporation has provided the first in-depth analysis of total THC variability in greenhouse-cultivated Cannabis. The research tackles a critical ...
New Zealand Approves Psilocybin for Medicinal Use
LOS ANGELES— New Zealand’s government has authorized the prescription of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in so‑called “magic mushrooms,” for patients with treatment‑resistant depression. This marks the first time psilocybin has been approved for medical use ...
Psyence Group Inc. Announces C$600,000 Private Share Offering
LOS ANGELES— Psyence Group Inc. a biotechnology firm focused on nature-derived psilocybin for mental health and palliative care, has announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to C$600,000. The offering, detailed in a news ...
Texas Governor Expands Medical Cannabis Program, Vetoes THC Ban
LOS ANGELES— Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed House Bill 46 into law, significantly expanding the state’s limited medical cannabis program, while vetoing Senate Bill 3, which aimed to ban hemp‑derived THC products—including delta‑8 gummies, ...
Method Man and Zamnesia Partner to Launch Eight TICAL Cannabis Seeds in U.S. and Europe
LOS ANGELES- Zamnesia—a European online retailer specializing in cannabis seeds—has partnered with Method Man’s cannabis brand, TICAL, to launch eight exclusive premium seeds across the U.S. and Europe. The collaboration, announced in early June 2025, ...
New York’s Licensing Blunder
NEW YORK – NY’s adult-use cannabis market, now boasting 436 licensed dispensaries [a 93-store increase since late 2024] has hit a snag. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) recently acknowledged a critical error in its ...
Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Backs Psilocybin Decriminalization in Historic Move
BOSTON – In a groundbreaking development for psychedelic policy reform, the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society (MPS) has publicly endorsed legislation to decriminalize psilocybin, marking the first time a branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has ...
THC Levels Vary Across Plant Layers, Study Reveals
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – A landmark study published in Scientific Reports by researchers from Pure Sunfarms Corporation has provided the first in-depth analysis of total THC variability in greenhouse-cultivated Cannabis. The research tackles a critical ...
Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Revamps Licensing, Leaving Verano Holdings Out
LOS ANGELES-- The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has overhauled its initial round of business licensing, with some of the original winners, including Verano Holdings Inc., ending up on the losing side. The reshuffling has led ...
Mind Medicine Partners with Catalent for Innovative Psychedelic-Based Anxiety Treatment
NEW YORK — Mind Medicine Inc., known as MindMed, has secured a licensing agreement with Catalent to utilize its proprietary Zydis orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) technology for the development of a groundbreaking psychedelic-based anxiety treatment, ...
New Hampshire to Explore State-Run Cannabis Sales Through Newly Signed Bill
LOS ANGELES- Governor Chris Sununu (R) of New Hampshire, a known opponent of adult-use cannabis legalization, signed a bill on Tuesday to create a commission to study the possibility of selling cannabis through state-owned shops. ...
Cronos Group Reports Q2 2023 Financial Results, Announces Strategic Shift Amid Market Challenges
NEW YORK — Cronos Group Inc. released its financial results for the second quarter of 2023, revealing a net revenue of $19.0 million, an 11.9% decrease from the same period in 2022. The decline has ...
Cannabis Tech Platform Weedmaps Posts $2 Million Profit
LOS ANGELES–Amid a challenging period, WM Technology, known as the cannabis advertising powerhouse Weedmaps, has revealed an encouraging financial turnaround through its latest quarterly profit report. For the quarter ending on June 30, WM Technology ...
Cannabis Industry’s Branding Challenge: Beyond Packaging and Social Media
LOS ANGELES–Amid the flourishing cannabis industry, branding efforts often focus on packaging and social media, missing out on essential elements. Experts suggest that cannabis marketing needs to evolve beyond these basics to truly succeed. Cannabis ...
Germany’s Cannabis Legalization: The Debate Over Edibles and Public Health
BERLIN-- Germany is currently embarking on a significant journey toward cannabis legalization, with ministers unveiling a national cannabis reform strategy. The plan involves legalizing personal freedoms like possession and cultivation, as well as noncommercial cannabis ...
Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to Reevaluate Licensing Process Amidst Lawsuits
LOS ANGELES— In a move that could reshape the landscape of Alabama's burgeoning cannabis industry, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) indicated in a Monday court filing its intention to nullify the licenses it awarded ...
U.S. Inflation Rebounds Slightly in July, Easing Rate Hike Concerns
LOS ANGELES-- The annual increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) saw a mild uptick in July 2023, marking the first rebound after 12 consecutive months of declines from over four-decade highs of 9.1% in ...
Support for Cannabis Legalization in Pennsylvania Shows Decline; New Legislation Still on the Table
LOS ANGELES-- In a surprising turn of events, support for cannabis legalization in Pennsylvania has seen a decline for the first time in a decade. The 2023 Pennsylvania Health Survey, conducted by Muhlenberg College Public ...
Montana Cannabis Ownership Law Faces Legal Challenge over Residency Requirements
LOS ANGELES-- A father-and-son investor duo are the latest to challenge state residency requirements for cannabis business ownership, a contentious issue facing multiple states. Two out-of-state investors, Tom and Jerry Reed, have filed lawsuits in ...
American Psychedelic Practitioners Association and BrainFutures Publish First-Ever Guidelines for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
LOS ANGELES-- The American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA) in collaboration with BrainFutures has published reportedly the first set of professional practice guidelines for psychedelic-assisted therapy in the United States. These guidelines come as the FDA's ...
Curaleaf Holdings Inc. Reports 4% Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth in Q2 2023, Continues Strategic Expansion
LOS ANGELES-- Curaleaf Holdings Inc., a cannabis consumer products, reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, reflecting modest growth in revenue but also an increased net loss compared to the ...
Arkansas Hemp-Derived THC Ban Faces Legal Challenges
LOS ANGELES- Several Arkansas businesses have initiated a legal battle against the state's recent ban on hemp-derived THC products, which took effect on August 1. The plaintiffs, including four local companies, assert that the prohibition ...
Trulieve Reports Expanded Q2 Deficit, Cites Unfavorable Weather Impacting Ongoing Quarter Performance
MIAMI—Trulieve Cannabis (TRUL.CD), a significant player in the cannabis industry, recently announced a larger financial loss for the second quarter. This loss has been attributed to a combination of unusual weather patterns and a drop ...
Los Angeles Cannabis Regulatory Agency Faces Leadership Shake-Up Amid Market Challenges
LOS ANGELES-- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is instigating a shake-up in leadership across various city agencies, including a significant management overhaul at the city's Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR). This change comes at a ...
California’s Popular Beard Bros Pharms Brand Expands To East Coast
BLACKSTONE, MA – Beard Bros Pharms, a legacy cannabis brand founded by self-made entrepreneurs Bill and Jeff Levers, has partnered with Ideal Craft Cannabis to bring their full-spectrum Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) to Massachusetts. This is the ...
Tilray Brands Acquires Eight Beverage Brands from Anheuser-Busch in $85 Million Deal
LOS ANGELES-- Canadian cannabis producer Tilray Brands has announced an $85 million all-cash acquisition of eight beverage brands from Anheuser-Busch, including well-known breweries such as Breckenridge and Shock Top. The deal, expected to close by ...
New Study Explores the Role of Cannabis in Exercise Recovery
LOS ANGELES-- A recent survey in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. reveals that a significant number of individuals are using CBD and THC as part of their recuperation routine following aerobic and resistance workouts, though scientific ...
Canadian Cannabis Wholesaler Urges Government to Reconsider THC Limits and Environmental Impact
TORONTO — The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), Canada's largest adult-use wholesaler, has issued a position paper to Health Canada, urging the agency to reconsider the current THC limit governing cannabis edibles and to address the ...
Former Adelanto Mayor Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison Over Bribes from Cannabis Interests
LOS ANGELES-- Adelanto, California's former mayor, Richard Kerr, 66, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison on Friday for accepting over $57,000 in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for approving ordinances and permits for ...
Headspace Secures $105 Million in Funding for Expansion
TORONTO–Digital healthcare company Headspace, known for its innovative mental health solutions, has secured a $105 million senior debt facility from Oxford Finance, a specialty finance firm serving healthcare and life sciences companies. This investment will ...
German Cabinet Expected to Approve Cannabis Legalization Plan Next Week
BERLIN --Germany's federal cabinet is anticipated to approve the first part of the government's cannabis legalization plan next week, according to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. In an interview with Rheinische Post, Lauterbach stressed that the ...
Canada’s Licensed Cannabis Producers Struggle as Unpaid Federal Excise Tax Triples
TORONTO— Canada's licensed cannabis producers are in financial turmoil as unpaid federal excise taxes have more than tripled in the latest fiscal year, according to figures provided by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). At the ...
Illinois Cannabis Sales Hit $140 Million in July, Boosted by Out-of-State Buyers; Governor Pritzker Celebrates Economic Impact
CHICAGO — Cannabis sales in Illinois surged to $140 million in July, marking the highest total for 2023 and the second-largest monthly sum since legalization began in 2020. The figures, released Thursday by the state's ...
