Week In Review: LIMS Market Projected to Hit $5.19 Billion by 2030; Verano Debuts Bodega‑Style Dispensary in Arizona; Aurora Cannabis Refutes AI-Generated Deal Reports on Investing.com

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 get to it! 

Cannabis Industry Highlights

1#)LIMS Market Projected to Hit $5.19 Billion by 2030: The global Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) market is forecast to grow from $2.88 billion in 2025 to $5.19 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%, according to a recent analysis by ResearchAndMarkets. The projected expansion is fueled by rising demand for cloud-based solutions, increasing adoption of automation in laboratories, and growing regulatory and data integrity requirements across various sectors. While life sciences and clinical diagnostics remain primary users, the cannabis testing industry has emerged as a fast-growing segment, significantly contributing to the market’s momentum.

2#)Verano Debuts Bodega‑Style Dispensary in Arizona: Verano Holdings Corp. a multi‑state cannabis operator, has introduced a “bodega‑style” shopping format at its Zen Leaf Cave Creek dispensary in Phoenix. This innovative layout allows adult‑use consumers to browse and select products directly from open shelves—a departure from the traditional model where items remain behind locked counters until purchase. The re‑opening, scheduled for June 27‑28 and coinciding with a Summer Festival featuring DJs, giveaways, food trucks, and local vendors, is designed to enhance customer engagement with choice lounges, kiosks, online preorder options, and curbside pickup.

3#)Aurora Cannabis Refutes AI-Generated Deal Reports on Investing.com: Aurora Cannabis Inc. has officially dismissed two recent articles published on Investing.com that falsely claimed the company entered into a $215 million acquisition of New Zealand’s MedLeaf Therapeutics and a strategic partnership with Germany-based MediPharm GmbH for cannabis distribution in Europe. According to a company-issued press release, both stories were created with “the support of AI” and edited before publication. Aurora states it has had no discussions, made no statements, and filed no documentation related to these alleged transactions.

4#)Court Reverses Health Canada’s Ban on Psilocybin Training for Clinicians: A recent decision by the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that Health Canada’s 2022 refusal to grant exemptions allowing health-care professionals to participate in experiential psilocybin training was unreasonable. The court determined that the agency reversed its stance without offering a valid rationale, ordering the matter to be reconsidered by Minister Marjorie Mitchell. The original exemption request, submitted by 96 practitioners under lead applicant nurse‑practitioner Jeff Toth of Nova Scotia, sought approval to use dried psilocybin mushrooms during training to better prepare for patient administration.

5#)Texas Governor Expands Medical Cannabis Program, Vetoes THC Ban: 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, vapes and edibles.

6#)Thailand Reverses Course on Recreational Cannabis: Thailand’s Public Health Ministry, under Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, has issued a directive banning recreational cannabis sales and reclassifying cannabis buds as a controlled herb in a major policy reversal after three years of decriminalization. Effective upon publication in the Royal Gazette, the directive mandates that all cannabis purchases require a doctor’s prescription, limits dispensary operations to medical-grade producers, and imposes penalties of up to one year in jail or a 20,000‑baht fine for non-compliance. Officials have linked the policy shift to growing concerns over youth misuse, rising addiction rates, and illicit cross-border trafficking—particularly involving tourists.

7#)Psyence Group Inc. Announces C$600,000 Private Share Offering: 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 release dated June 18, 2025, provides for up to 6 million common shares at C$0.10 each, with no finder’s fees or commissions .

8#)Legal Cannabis Shows Economic Gains and Stable Teen Use Trends: A recent analysis from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) indicates that legal adult‑use cannabis sales have generated approximately $24.7 billion in state tax revenue since legalization began in 2014, with $4.4 billion collected in 2024 alone . At the same time, data from multiple sources show that teen cannabis use has declined in most states following legalization.

9#)Minnesota Enacts Law Enhancing Employment Protections for Medical Cannabis Patients: A new Minnesota law, Senate File 2370 (SF 2370), which took effect on May 24, 2025, introduces expanded employment protections for registered medical cannabis patients. Under the law, employers must now provide a 14-day written notice before taking any adverse employment action—such as termination or discipline—against a medical cannabis patient who tests positive for cannabis. This notice must cite the specific federal statute, regulation, or licensing rule the employer believes would be violated by continuing to employ the individual, effectively barring generalized references to federal law as justification.

Psychedelic Sector Update

1#)New Zealand Approves Psilocybin for Medicinal UseNew 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 outside of clinical trials in the country .

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