May 14 2025

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Launches Jobs, Networking Platform For Cannabis Industry

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has launched the EquityWorks Career Hub, a comprehensive digital platform for finding jobs, networking opportunities, and job training in the Massachusetts regulated cannabis industry.

EquityWorks will be available free to participants in Commission equity programs, non-equity jobseekers, employers, and verified and pre-verified Social Equity Businesses (SEB). The platform will be available exclusively to equity participants until June 19 and will then be open to the public. Regulated businesses gained access to the platform in the first quarter of 2025.

“The EquityWorks platform is a community for all, allowing a diverse array of individuals inside and outside the industry to build careers and contribute to the $8 billion cannabis economy,” Executive Director Travis Ahern said. “We encourage anyone interested in a cannabis industry career – or career advancement – to take advantage of this resource, a first-of-its-kind tool for the regulated industry in Massachusetts.”
Continue reading

May 14 2025

Trump’s DEA Nominee Responds to Marijuana Rescheduling Questions From Senators

Terrance Cole, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), declined to take a firm stance on marijuana rescheduling in his responses to questions from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but did say he would give the matter “careful consideration”.

When asked directly by Senator Cory Booker whether he would follow the recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, Cole repeatedly deferred. “If confirmed, I will give the matter careful consideration after consulting with appropriate personnel within the Drug Enforcement Administration, familiarizing myself with the current status of the regulatory process, and reviewing all relevant information,” Cole said.

Pressed by Booker on whether the DEA is bound by the Controlled Substances Act’s scheduling process and whether he would follow HHS’s recommendation, Cole again offered only that he would “follow the law” and review the facts of the case. He did not answer questions asking under what circumstances he believed DEA could reject HHS’s scheduling recommendation.
Continue reading

May 14 2025

Connecticut Marijuana Sales Hit $23.8 Million in April, Pushing 2025 Total to Almost $100 Million

Connecticut’s licensed marijuana stores sold a combined $23,798,144 worth of products in April, according to data released today by the Department of Consumer Protection.

The total includes $17,496,048 in adult-use sales and $6,302,096 in medical marijuana purchases. This brings the state’s marijuana sales total for the first four months of 2025 to $95,368,392.

The average price per gram in April dropped to $10.03, continuing a gradual decline from earlier in the year. Specific breakdowns by product type were not included in the April data, but flower and vape products have consistently led sales in past months.
Continue reading

May 14 2025

New Report Details the “Top Five Trends in Cannabis”

A new global report released by Research and Markets outlines the top five trends currently shaping the legal cannabis industry, highlighting both challenges and opportunities as the market continues to evolve.

According to Top Five Trends in Cannabis, the adult-use sector remains the driving force behind global cannabis growth, influencing both consumer behavior and regulatory momentum. Despite ongoing advances across the medical and CBD sectors, adult-use marijuana continues to generate the most revenue and steer broader legislative efforts.

The report warns that cannabis regulatory developments are likely to remain inconsistent and unpredictable through at least 2027, especially given broader geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Governments may deprioritize legalization, making it harder for companies to forecast and plan.
Continue reading

May 14 2025

Maryland Marijuana Sales Pass $97 Million in April, Year-to-Date Total Tops $377 Million

Maryland’s legal marijuana industry generated $97,381,768 in total sales for April 2025, according to new data released by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. That brings the state’s year-to-date total to $377,965,583.

Of the sales in April, approximately $75 million came from adult-use purchases. Flower remained the most popular product category, accounting for $56 million in sales. Concentrates followed with $29 million, while edibles brought in $12 million. The remainder came from other marijuana products such as tinctures and topicals. The average price per gram was $8.50.

Adult-use marijuana sales in Maryland are taxed at 9% by the state, with local jurisdictions able to apply an additional 3% tax. Medical marijuana sales remain tax-exempt. Recreational sales began in July 2023 after voters approved a legalization measure in 2022.
Continue reading

May 13 2025

North Carolina Cannabis Superstore, Nation’s Largest Marijuana Outlet, Celebrates 250 Days Open to Everyone 21+

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina is marking a major milestone this week: 250 days of continuous operation since opening its doors to everyone 21 and older on September 7, 2024.

Operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), the superstore is the only legal marijuana outlet in the state—and it’s not just the only one, it’s the largest in the country. Housed in a former bingo hall that underwent a $50 million renovation, the store spans thousands of square feet and serves tens of thousands of customers each week, with tens of millions of dollars in marijuana sold since its launch.

The success is remarkable not just for its scale, but for taking place in a state where marijuana remains illegal for all uses outside tribal land. Thanks to the EBCI’s sovereign status, the tribe can regulate cannabis on its territory without interference from North Carolina state law. And despite early concerns from critics and law enforcement, there have been zero arrests reported for possession of marijuana legally purchased at the store—underscoring a smooth and controversy-free operation.
Continue reading

May 13 2025

Oregon Legislature Approves Psilocybin Bill Protecting Licensed Health Providers, Sending it to Governor Kotek

The Oregon Senate has voted 24 to 5 in favor of legislation that would allow licensed health care providers to discuss and offer psilocybin services without risking disciplinary action.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms (photo credit: Shutterstock).

House Bill 2387, which cleared the House unanimously in a 55 to 0 vote last month, now heads to Governor Tina Kotek for consideration.

If signed into law, or allowed to become law without a signature, the measure would allow licensed physicians, therapists, and other regulated health professionals to provide psilocybin services as long as they also hold a license as a psilocybin service facilitator. The bill explicitly authorizes them to discuss psilocybin therapy with patients and, under certain circumstances, offer it directly.
Continue reading

May 13 2025

New York Bill Proposes New Standards for Conditional Marijuana Retail Licenses

New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney (D) introduced legislation today that would establish new eligibility requirements for conditional adult-use marijuana retail dispensary licenses.

New York State Capitol Building.

The measure, Senate Bill 7890, has been referred to the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee. Proponents say it’s designed to ensure that licenses are granted to individuals or organizations with strong ties to New York and a record of involvement in communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition.

To qualify, applicants must meet strict residency and organizational criteria, including a requirement that at least 51% ownership belongs to people who have been personally impacted by past marijuana convictions or are part of qualifying nonprofit organizations.
Continue reading

May 13 2025

Former Uruguay President José Mujica, Who Led Nation to Become First-Ever to Legalize Cannabis, Dies at 89

José “Pepe” Mujica, the former president of Uruguay who championed marijuana legalization and led his nation to become the first in the world to officially legalize recreational cannabis, has died at the age of 89.

Mujica served as president from 2010 to 2015, during which time he oversaw a bold and historic shift in drug policy. In 2013, under his leadership, Uruguay passed legislation legalizing the cultivation, distribution, and sale of marijuana. The move made Uruguay the first country to fully legalize recreational cannabis, setting the stage for broader international reform. Canada followed suit five years later, becoming the second nation to legalize in 2018.

The law, which faced both international scrutiny and domestic resistance, was part of Mujica’s broader approach to progressive social policy and criminal justice reform. “We’re not legalizing cannabis because we’re in love with it, but because the prohibition is worse than the drug,” Mujica said at the time, emphasizing a public health-based approach to drug use.
Continue reading

May 13 2025

Delaware Committee Approves Bill to Regulate Hemp-Derived THC-Infused Beverages

The Delaware House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee has approved a bill to create a regulatory framework for the production and sale of hemp-derived THC-infused beverages.

House Bill 98 was filed on May 7 and cleared committee today, just six days later. The proposal would allow licensed marijuana product manufacturers and licensed alcohol manufacturers to obtain an “infused beverage endorsement” authorizing them to produce beverages containing up to 10 milligrams of THC per container. Out-of-state manufacturers would also be allowed to ship products into Delaware, but only through licensed warehouses.

Retail sales would be limited to licensed package stores, which must apply for authorization to sell the products. These retailers would be required to store infused beverages on separate shelves from non-THC items and post clear signage indicating the presence of THC.
Continue reading