Legal Affairs
Missouri Activists Gird Up for 2026 Ballot Measure to Unify Hemp and Cannabis Regulations
LOS ANGELES – Missouri Cannabis advocates, led by hemp business owners, plan to submit a ballot initiative in the coming days that would combine regulations for hemp and Cannabis products under a single framework for ...
Australian Cannabis Prices Drop to New Lows, Pressuring Domestic Producers
MELBOURNE – Medicinal Cannabis flower prices in Australia have fallen to a minimum of $3.30 per gram at the patient level, a development that has intensified debates over the viability of the country's homegrown industry. ...
Google Launches Limited Test of Cannabis Advertising on Its Search Platform in Canada
TORONTO – Google has started a restricted trial allowing select Canadian Cannabis companies to place ads on its search engine, marking a cautious step toward easing long-standing prohibitions on such promotions. The initiative, which went ...
Kentucky Governor Urges Trump to Honor Campaign Promise on Cannabis Rescheduling
FRANKFORT – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) has stepped into the national spotlight, urging President Donald Trump to oppose congressional efforts that would halt the federal rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III ...
The DEA’s Time‑Warp Appointment: Terrance Cole and the Revival of “Reefer Madness”
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Terrance Cole, the newly confirmed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator, brings a worldview rooted in 1980s-era drug hysteria—one that dismisses decades of research, economic gains from cannabis legalization, and evolving public opinion. ...
Texas Governor Backs Regulation Over Ban in Hemp THC Showdown
DALLAS —Texas Governor Greg Abbott has drawn a firm line in the sand when it comes to the future of the hemp industry in the Lone Star State. In a public statement on July 22, ...
Single Psilocybin Dose Shows Promise in Easing OCD Symptoms, Study Finds
LOS ANGELES – In a pioneering study, researchers from the University of Hertfordshire and Imperial College have uncovered the potential of psilocybin to alleviate symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Published in Comprehensive Psychiatry on July ...
Missouri Activists Gird Up for 2026 Ballot Measure to Unify Hemp and Cannabis Regulations
LOS ANGELES – Missouri Cannabis advocates, led by hemp business owners, plan to submit a ballot initiative in the coming days that would combine regulations for hemp and Cannabis products under a single framework for ...
Australian Cannabis Prices Drop to New Lows, Pressuring Domestic Producers
MELBOURNE – Medicinal Cannabis flower prices in Australia have fallen to a minimum of $3.30 per gram at the patient level, a development that has intensified debates over the viability of the country's homegrown industry. ...
Google Launches Limited Test of Cannabis Advertising on Its Search Platform in Canada
TORONTO – Google has started a restricted trial allowing select Canadian Cannabis companies to place ads on its search engine, marking a cautious step toward easing long-standing prohibitions on such promotions. The initiative, which went ...
Biden Administration Initiates Evidence-Based Review of Cannabis Classification
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre underscored President Joe Biden's longstanding support for the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes, signaling a potentially significant shift in the federal ...
Week In Review: Stocks Soar: Biden Administration Initiates Cannabis Scheduling Review; California Says Yes to Psychedelic Medicines; Green Thumb Initiates Stock Buy-Back Program to Bolster Share Value
LOS ANGELES–Welcome to the far too-exciting world of cannabis and psychedelics, where it’s a tale of two markets: there’s innovation and progress in full swing in some parts of the country, while in other parts, ...
Phoenix-Based Tilt Holdings Divests Stake in Shinnecock Nation Cannabis Partnership
LOS ANGELES-- In a strategic shift indicative of changing market dynamics, Tilt Holdings, a prominent Phoenix-based cannabis operator, has resolved to sever its ties with a cannabis partnership initiated with the Shinnecock Nation. A mere ...
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Set to Acquire Mindset Pharma in C$80 Million Deal
TORONTO — Mindset Pharma Inc. based in Toronto, is set to be acquired by the Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. via its American subsidiary. This all-cash deal, announced Thursday, is valued at about C$80 million ($59.15 ...
Medical Cannabis Offers Significant Relief for Neuropathic Pain, German Study Suggests
LOS ANGELES — Chronic neuropathic pain sufferers might find a beacon of hope in the medicinal properties of cannabis. A recent study out of Hamburg, Germany, indicates that cannabis inhalation can lead to notable improvements ...
Georgia Approves Three More Dispensaries for Medical Cannabis Program
ATLANTA — Georgia's Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) has given the nod to three additional dispensary locations, augmenting the availability of low-THC oil products for patients across the state. During the public meeting on ...
Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Faces Licensing Delays Amid Legal Complications
LOS ANGELES-- The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) hit another roadblock in its licensing process as it announced an administrative stay on Thursday, according to AL.com. This suspension follows two unsuccessful attempts by the AMCC ...
Cannabis Insurance Firm Gains Momentum with $3.1M Seed Funding amid Regulatory Optimism
LOS ANGELES-- Connecticut-based Frontier Risk Group, an insurance firm specializing in the cannabis sector, recently secured a notable $3.1 million in seed funding, drawing significant attention from industry stakeholders. This substantial financial boost, facilitated by ...
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Targets Illicit Cannabis Farms to Protect Legitimate Medical Businesses
LOS ANGELES — Over the past two years, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) has initiated aggressive enforcement actions, resulting in the shutdown of over 800 illegitimate cannabis farms that were operating under the pretense ...
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Shares Views on Cannabis Legalization Amid Presidential Aspirations
LOS ANGELES— Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, perceived by many as a strong GOP contender against Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination, voiced strong concerns about the legalization of cannabis during an Iowa campaign stop ...
UK’s Home Office Delay in CBD Regulatory Framework Draws Criticism from Industry Trade Group
LONDON — The Association of the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI), a key trade group in the United Kingdom, has voiced its concerns over the prolonged delay by the country's Home Office in establishing a clear regulatory ...
Detroit Businessman Pleads Guilty in Cannabis Licensing Bribery Case
DETROIT — John Dawood Dalaly, a prominent businessman from the Detroit area, has pleaded guilty to bribing a leading state cannabis regulator, seeking approval for dispensary licenses. Federal prosecutors have recommended that Dalaly face a ...
New York’s Cannabis Licensing Controversy: A Deeper Look
NEW YORK-- In a surprise turn of events, New York's journey to cannabis legalization faced a significant speed bump. A recent decision by a New York Supreme Court Judge has thrown the state's budding cannabis ...
Major Shift in U.S. Cannabis Policy on the Horizon
LOS ANGELES-- On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Joe Biden administration formally recommended to its counterparts at the Department of Justice that cannabis be moved lower on the list ...
The Bahamas Moves to Establish Medical Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES— In a pivotal stride toward diversifying its economy, The Bahamas has rolled out a comprehensive package of 11 legislative bills, aiming to decriminalize cannabis for medical, research, and religious uses. This move establishes ...
The Promise and Potential of Psilocybin
LOS ANGELES-- The rapid emergence of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, has brought with it new hope for individuals struggling with various mental ...
U.S. Health Department Urges Easing Rules on Cannabis, Citing Health Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. –In a recent development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a relaxation of regulations surrounding cannabis, according to a report from Bloomberg News. The move comes as part ...
Nebraska Governor Rejects Proposed Changes to Law Enforcement’s Cannabis Usage Rules
LOS ANGELES— A proposal aimed at reducing the time frame that law enforcement officer recruits in Nebraska must abstain from cannabis use prior to training has been vetoed by Governor Jim Pillen. The measure sought ...
Cybin Acquires U.K.-Based Small Pharma Amid Emerging Trends in Psychedelics Industry
NEW YORK — In what could be described as the burgeoning movements within the psychedelics sector, Cybin , a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm, has announced its intention to acquire U.K.'s Small Pharma. This move sparks dialogue ...
Irwin Naturals Posts Loss Amid New Ventures in Psychedelics and Cannabis
LOS ANGELES-- Despite its bold moves and positive undertones about future prospects, Irwin Naturals' shift towards psychedelics and its increased commitment to the cannabis sector isn't devoid of challenges. Regulatory uncertainty, intense competition, and a ...
Planet 13’s Strategic Move: Acquires VidaCann to Boost its Footprint in Florida
LAS VEGAS, NV — In a strategic move to bolster its presence in the booming Florida cannabis market, multi-state vertically integrated cannabis company, Planet 13 Holdings Inc., announced a membership interest purchase agreement to take ...
PharmaCielo Ltd. Reports Q2 2023 Financial Results
TORONTO — PharmaCielo Ltd., a figure in the cannabis industry based out of Canada and holding substantial operations in Colombia via PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings S.A.S., revealed its financial results for the quarter concluding on June ...
Canadian Cannabis Companies Rethink U.S. Hemp Market Strategy
NEW YORK-- Canadian cannabis titans have long eyed the American hemp-derived CBD market as a golden opportunity, particularly following the legalization of low-THC hemp in the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. But as enthusiasm for cannabis ...
Cannabis Infused Products Boost Minnesota’s Tax Revenue
LOS ANGELES-- The state of Minnesota has experienced a significant increase in tax revenue following the legalization of cannabis-infused products such as gummies and beverages. A recent report from the state Department of Revenue, as ...
Evolving Cannabis Retail Landscape Sees Shifts in Billion-Dollar State Markets
LOS ANGELES — The U.S. cannabis industry, still in its nascent stages, witnessed notable shifts in 2023 with a projected reduction in states reaching the billion-dollar mark in retail sales, according to a comprehensive report ...
