Legal Affairs
NY Cannabis Board Hits Equity Target With 57% of Licenses to Social Equity Holders
NEW YORK – New York regulators reported that social and economic equity applicants now control 57% of the state's adult-use Cannabis licenses, a figure that clears the program's initial benchmark and signals steady advancement in ...
Australia’s Medicinal Cannabis Imports Hit Record Highs
SYDNEY – Figures released this week by Australia's Office of Drug Control paint a picture of robust expansion in the country's regulated Cannabis sector, with imports leading the charge alongside steady advances in domestic output ...
California Reinstates 15% Cannabis Excise Tax Through 2028
LOS ANGELES – A measure signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last month took effect on Wednesday, dialing back California's Cannabis excise tax to 15% and holding it steady at that level until at least the ...
Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works for Cannabis Leaders
LOS ANGELES -The Cannabis industry is filled with ambitious operators, visionary founders, and well-funded enterprises. Yet despite enormous energy and investment, many companies still struggle to answer the most fundamental question in business: what is ...
MSOs Confront Billions in Uncertain Tax Liabilities
LOS ANGELES – U.S. Cannabis operators continue to navigate the constraints of IRS Section 280E, which bars deductions for standard business expenses and drives up effective tax rates. Major multi-state Cannabis operators (MSOs) have leaned ...
Psilocybin Shows Promise for Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery
LOS ANGELES – A scientific review published in the journal Brain Sciences has outlined how psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, might support recovery for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. The analysis, released in ...
Cannabis Companies Secure Extension in Federal Prohibition Case
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court has extended the deadline for a group of Cannabis businesses to file a petition seeking review of their case against the Justice Department, which aims to strike down the ...
NY Cannabis Board Hits Equity Target With 57% of Licenses to Social Equity Holders
NEW YORK – New York regulators reported that social and economic equity applicants now control 57% of the state's adult-use Cannabis licenses, a figure that clears the program's initial benchmark and signals steady advancement in ...
Australia’s Medicinal Cannabis Imports Hit Record Highs
SYDNEY – Figures released this week by Australia's Office of Drug Control paint a picture of robust expansion in the country's regulated Cannabis sector, with imports leading the charge alongside steady advances in domestic output ...
California Reinstates 15% Cannabis Excise Tax Through 2028
LOS ANGELES – A measure signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last month took effect on Wednesday, dialing back California's Cannabis excise tax to 15% and holding it steady at that level until at least the ...
Week In Review: Cresco Labs Finalizes Sale of Arizona Ops & Mortgages NY Properties; 4Front Ventures Secures $10 Million Credit Facility; Germany Contemplates Cannabis Legalization
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, ...
Week In Review: U.S. Senate Banking Committee Advances SAFER Banking Act; Arizona’s Cannabis Social Equity Licenses; MediPharm Settles $9 Million Dispute with HEXO Following Tilray’s Acquisition:
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, ...
Week In Review: New York Cannabis Licensing Resumes Amid Legal Controversies: Medical Cannabis Push Gains Momentum in Idaho: Cannabis Stocks Show Resurgence Amid Regulatory Optimism:
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, ...
Week In Review: Benzinga was Buzzing; Senate Banking Committee Advances Cannabis Banking; Detroit’s “Psychedelic Church” Raided by Police Amid Legal Controversies; Congress Considers Bill to Limit Federal Overreach in Psilocybin-Permitting States
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, ...
Week In Review: Curaleaf Employees in Phoenix Stage Strike Demanding Fair Contract Negotiations; Columbia Care Advances Financial Strategy with $25 Million Private Placement; California Moves to Broaden Cannabis Consumer Rights with New Bills: Senate Bill 58 Holds the Potential to Usher in a New Era of Psychedelic Medicine and Policy Reform:
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, ...
Week In Review: New York Opens Door for MSOs to Enter Adult-Use Market; Verano Challenges Alabama; Maine’s Recreational Cannabis Sector Flourishes
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, ...
Green Thumb Industries Initiates Stock Buy-Back Program to Bolster Share Value
LOS ANGELES-- In a bid to amplify the value of its shares, Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries Inc. has unveiled a year-long share repurchase initiative which will potentially see a reacquisition of up to 10.4 million ...
Ensuring Safety in the Cannabis Industry: The Alarming Disparity in Pesticide Residues Between Legal and Illicit Products in Canada
LOS ANGELES-- A recent study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research highlighted alarming levels of pesticides in illegal cannabis samples compared to legal ones in Canada. The researchers scrutinized 36 legal cannabis samples from ...
Illinois Sees Slight Dip in August Cannabis Sales but Maintains Yearly Growth
LOS ANGELES-- In the latest data released, the adult-use cannabis sales in Illinois for the month of August have experienced a minor contraction, falling sequentially to $139.2 million. This marks a slight decrease of 0.6% ...
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 ...
