As the cannabis industry professionalizes, consolidates, and globalizes, a basic question still goes unanswered far too often:Who built this space, and who paid the price before it became profitable? To mark Black History Month and its 10th anniversary, Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) has released its inaugural Power 100, recognizing 100 Black leaders whose work… Keep Reading
On Joe Rogan, a Republican senator described how alcohol interests and segments of the state-legal cannabis industry aligned to push back against hemp-derived THC. For years, the crackdown on hemp-derived THC products has been framed as a matter of consumer safety. Products too strong. Rules too loose. Markets moving faster than regulators. Also read: America… Keep Reading
How a Legal Loophole Rewired America’s Cannabis Industry and Why Its Collapse Will Change Cannabis Forever For six years, the American hemp industry breathed life into people who had spent years waiting for true relief, and it carried a sense of possibility that felt almost impossible, sparking policy debates and cultural clashes along the way.… Keep Reading
For years, getting into the cannabis industry was a high-stakes game reserved for the well-capitalized. Entrepreneurs shelled out millions for real estate, lawyers, and license applications thick enough to stop a door. Some waited months—or years—only to be denied a license altogether. Now, the tables have turned. A new wave of cannabis businesses is hitting… Keep Reading
As cannabis becomes a booming global industry, America is stuck on the sidelines. While countries like Canada, Portugal and Colombia ship products around the world, U.S. federal laws block companies from exporting — and that delay could be costing up to $10 billion a year in lost trade, jobs and influence. When I first asked… Keep Reading
The cannabis industry has spent the past year battling lawmakers, attorneys general and FDA ambiguity over intoxicating hemp beverages. Then something unexpected happened. Not from cannabis. From alcohol. And not in a united front. A split. A civil war. Earlier this month, several of the most powerful alcohol trade lobbies in the country asked Congress… Keep Reading
Across the country, women and non-binary leaders are reshaping the cannabis industry: breaking barriers, challenging conventions, and creating a more inclusive future. Now, their impact is being celebrated. The Grass Ceiling Honors, presented by GreenState in collaboration with Cann Studio, recognize exceptional changemakers redefining what leadership looks like in cannabis. From cultivation and entrepreneurship to… Keep Reading
The cannabis industry has never been an easy place to build a business, but for some operators, the struggle has sharpened their vision and forced them into resilience. I recently sat down with Massachusetts-based founder Jason Reposa, who’s been carving out his lane in the edibles market with his Good Vibes line. What struck me… Keep Reading
In this powerful speech, industry leader Ben Larson critiques California’s restrictive cannabis policies and calls for smarter, more inclusive legalization that protects access to both regulated cannabis and innovative hemp-derived products. Last week, at the newly minted IgniteIt (formerly Benzinga Cannabis) California Market Spotlight, I was invited to read a letter I had written to Gavin… Keep Reading
By Brendan O’Connor The cannabis industry is currently facing a brewing storm of rising tariffs, which are significantly increasing operational costs across the board. Currently, Chinese imports are subjected to a 30% tariff, but this is only locked in for 90 days. And with much of the US cannabis industry relying on imports from China… Keep Reading
