This article is an adapted version of the Cannabis Confidential newsletter. It’s a rare session that I’ll step away from the screens, particularly with so much going on, year-end approaching and the industry on edge. As I pride myself on conducting exhaustive due diligence, I drove across the river this morning to join Ascend CEO… Keep Reading
This article is an adapted version of the Cannabis Confidential newsletter. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. The IgniteIt (né Benzinga) Cannabis Capital & Policy Summit was held in Washington, D.C. on Monday, November 17th, 2025. The timing couldn’t have been better, given the recent intoxicating hemp ban and… Keep Reading
This article is an adapted version of the Cannabis Confidential newsletter originally published here: FUBAR or Not FUBAR? The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. We’re publishing this adapted version this weekend, given the continued confusion around the recent intoxicating hemp ban and the read-through for the industry writ large.… Keep Reading
Something unusual happened this week. Instead of another fight between hemp, licensed cannabis, and the legacy world, a group of long-time organizers stepped forward with a call for unity. They call it the One Plant Alliance. The idea is simple: one plant, one policy, one science-based standard that everyone can live with. The coalition is… Keep Reading
The first “Bug Bounty” in cannabis. Earlier this year, a breach known as The Great Cannabis Hack exposed the personal data of more than 380,000 cannabis consumers across North America. The attack, first reported by Forbes cybersecurity writer Davey Winder, targeted several third-party software vendors that power online ordering and loyalty platforms for dispensaries. According… Keep Reading
If there’s one ancient thing in this world, it’s the fear of death. Hundreds of practices (more or less grounded in reality) have developed throughout all civilizations to delay our final breath, countless myths and legends from around the world describe heroes cheating the Grim Reaper, not to mention the hypotheses about what comes after,… Keep Reading
Editor’s Note: This story contains descriptions of suicide and mental health struggles that may be distressing for some readers. If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support. I came back from Baghdad in 2005 in… Keep Reading
As legalization debates heat up in Washington, a different kind of summit is taking the spotlight this November — one led entirely by Indigenous voices. The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) will host its fourth annual National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit from November 11–13 in Washington, D.C., during Native American Heritage Month. The three-day gathering… Keep Reading
This article originally appeared in High Times Magazine’s 50th Anniversary Print Issue. Order yours here and get it delivered to your door. Political and societal changes rarely occur organically. They only happen when advocates agitate for them. For over five decades, NORML and its grassroots supporters have advocated for ending the criminalization, discrimination, and stigmatization… 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
