Jan 06 2025

Canopy USA Announces Appointment of Brooks Jorgensen as Company’s First-Ever President

Canopy USA, LLC, announced that effective today, January 6, 2025, Mr. M. Brooks Jorgensen has been appointed as the Company’s first-ever President.

With its powerhouse portfolio of brands including Wana, Jetty, and Acreage’s Superflux, as well as The Botanist retail locations, Mr. Jorgensen’s leadership of Canopy USA will help the Company channel its energy and expertise toward realizing the full potential of the U.S. cannabis market, which is projected to reach $50 billion in sales by 2026.

“With the completed integration of the Canopy USA platform, this unique portfolio of brands together with a growing retail presence in key states represents significant upside in the dynamic U.S. cannabis industry,” said Luc Mongeau, member of the Board of managers, Canopy USA, and CEO, Canopy Growth. “Brooks is an accomplished executive in high growth industries and will help further unlock the full potential of Canopy USA, drive the organization to its next phase of growth, and solidify its standing as a leader in the market.”
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Jan 06 2025

Tilray Medical Wins Tender to Supply Luxembourg with Medical Marijuana

Tilray Medical, a division of Tilray Brands, Inc., announced today that its German subsidiary, Tilray Deutschland GmbH, has secured a tender to supply Luxembourg with its cannabis flower.

The granting of this tender by the Ministry of Health and Social Security for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg “highlights the trust placed in Tilray Medical to deliver high-quality medical cannabis on a consistent basis across the global medical cannabis industry”, states a press release sent this morning. Additionally, “it reinforces Tilray’s commitment to deliver on Europe’s growing demand for premium medical cannabis products.”

Denise Faltischek, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of International, said, “We are honored to have been selected again to supply medical cannabis to Luxembourg. This is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our team in providing patients around the world with high-quality medical cannabis products.”
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Jan 06 2025

Arizona Marijuana Sales Top $1.2 Billion in 2024

Arizona’s marijuana market continues to thrive, with total sales in 2024 reaching an impressive $1,212,271,008.

The year concluded with $91 million in sales recorded for December, while March stood out as the top month, bringing in $127 million, according to the research firm Headset. The $1.2 billion in marijuana sales in 2024 resulted in nearly $300 million in tax revenue for the state, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue.

Recreational marijuana sales in Arizona began after voters approved Proposition 207 in November 2020. This measure legalized marijuana for those aged 21 and older, allowing the purchase of up to one ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of concentrates from licensed marijuana retail outlets and dispensaries.
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Jan 06 2025

Marijuana Rescheduling Hearings, Spanning a 6-Week Period, Start in Two Weeks

The long-awaited public hearing on marijuana rescheduling will begin on January 21, according to an order issued last month by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrative law judge.

The hearings will feature arguments from the DEA, proponents of rescheduling, and designated opposition groups, with sessions scheduled to continue into early March, covering a 6-week period. The hearings will be focused on the DEA’s proposal to move marijuana from its current status as a Schedule I drug, making it illegal for all purposes, to the less restrictive Schedule III.

The hearings will follow this schedule:
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Jan 05 2025

Virginia Lawmakers to Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Legalize Licensed Marijuana Sales

Virginia lawmakers are set to reintroduce bipartisan legislation to establish a regulated adult-use marijuana marketplace after Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a similar measure last year.

Led by Democrats Del. Paul Krizek of Fairfax and State Senator Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach, the proposal aims to create a legal framework for marijuana sales and taxation, targeting those 21 and older.

The previous version of the bill garnered bipartisan support but faced opposition from Youngkin, who cited concerns over public safety and enforcement. Despite this, Krizek remains hopeful, noting, “We’re starting with the same bill since it had bipartisan backing. I believe we can gain more support this time, especially in the Senate.”
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Jan 05 2025

Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) Shows Potential in Treating Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Finds

A new study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences investigates the potential of Mitragyna speciosa (commonly known as kratom) in addressing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition with limited treatment options.

The research, conducted by teams from Walailak University in Thailand, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Chittagong in Bangladesh, employed network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro methods to explore the plant’s therapeutic mechanisms.

Mitragyna speciosa has long been used traditionally for pain relief, hypertension, cough suppression, and addiction recovery. In this study, researchers identified 19 compounds from the plant that interact with 60 AD-related targets. A compound-target network revealed significant connections among 60 nodes and 470 edges, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of these interactions. Pathway enrichment analysis identified Alzheimer’s disease (hsa05010) as a key pathway affected by these compounds.
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Jan 05 2025

North Carolina Marijuana Superstore Reaches Four Months Open for Everyone 21+

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina, will celebrate four months of serving customers 21 and older on Tuesday, January 7.

(Photo credit: Angela Wilhelm/Citizen Times).

As the state’s only legal marijuana retailer, the store has drawn tens of thousands of visitors since opening its doors to nontribal members on September 7. Located on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ tribal land, the superstore has become a landmark for marijuana consumers and enthusiasts.

Housed in a renovated bingo hall with a $50 million makeover, it offers a massive selection of products, including flower, prerolls, concentrates, topicals, and a variety of edibles. Customer reviews remain overwhelmingly positive, with their Google ratings standing strong at 4.5 out of 5 out of over 1,000 reviews, and their WeedMap rating standing at 4.7 out of 5.
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Jan 05 2025

Maryland Lawmakers File Legislation to Allow On–Site Marijuana Consumption Establishments and Events

Maryland lawmakers have set the stage for a significant expansion of cannabis-related activities by prefiling Senate Bill 215 and House Bill 132 for the upcoming 2025 legislative session, which begins January 8.

Maryland’s flag.

The bills, introduced by the Senate Finance Committee and the House Economic Matters Committee, propose the establishment of on-site cannabis consumption establishments and regulated cannabis events.

The legislation outlines comprehensive guidelines for on-site consumption establishments, restricting initial license applications to social equity applicants. These establishments would be permitted to distribute, repackage, and process cannabis products, including cannabinoid beverages, for on-site consumption. However, smoking cannabis indoors remains prohibited. Local jurisdictions would retain authority to regulate hours of operation, impose zoning requirements, and even prohibit these establishments entirely.
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Jan 03 2025

Minnesota Task Force Recommends Decriminalizing Psilocybin Mushrooms

A Minnesota task force advising lawmakers on psychedelic medicine policy has recommended decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms and establishing a state-regulated clinical program to treat mental health disorders.

Dried psilocybin mushroom.

The 23-member Psychedelic Medicine Task Force released its 191-page report on New Year’s Day. Composed of legislators, state agency heads, tribal representatives, veterans, and healthcare professionals, the group approved the recommendations with a two-thirds majority. The group also called for funding research into the health benefits of psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD.

The report prioritizes psilocybin decriminalization and clinical use, citing its natural origin compared to synthetic substances like MDMA and LSD.
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Jan 03 2025

Study: Early Psilocybin Intervention May Reduce Stress-Related Behavioral and Cognitive Deficits

Researchers from the University of Alberta and Western Canada High School have conducted a study exploring the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in mitigating behavioral despair and cognitive impairments caused by chronic stress.

Published in the peer reviewed journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, the research focuses on the interaction between the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in stress regulation.

Using a rodent model, the study examined 22 male Wistar rats with chronic stress (caused by predator odor and social instability). The rats were divided into control and stress groups, with the latter receiving either a sham treatment or psilocybin. Researchers assessed behavioral outcomes using various tests, including the Open Field Test, Sucrose Preference Test, Novel Object Recognition, Elevated Plus Maze, and Forced Swimming Test. These evaluations measured locomotion, anhedonia, memory, anxiety, and behavioral despair, respectively.
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