Jun 20 2025

Report: New Jersey’s Cannabis Market Leads Nation in Equity Licenses, But Most Businesses Still Not Open

New Jersey’s cannabis market leads the nation in social equity licensing, but the majority of license holders are still waiting to open their doors.

That’s the key takeaway from a new Q1 2025 benchmark report released by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which shows that nearly half of all cannabis licensees in the state are minority-owned.

According to the report, 48% of cannabis licensees identify as minority-owned, while 44% are women or disabled veteran-owned. Both figures far exceed New Jersey’s 15% benchmark for equity participation. Compared to national averages — 19% for minority-owned businesses and 16% for women-owned— New Jersey appears to be outperforming most of the country in ownership diversity.
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Jun 20 2025

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Clears Final Legal Hurdles, Sales Could Begin This Year

After years of delays tied to legal battles and court-ordered pauses, Alabama officials say the state is finally on track to launch its long-awaited medical marijuana program—four years after it was first legalized.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) confirmed this week that investigative hearings for license applicants can now move forward. The hearings are a required step before final licenses can be issued.

“We had a number of restraining orders from the circuit court level,” said AMCC Director John McMillan. “The court of civil appeals vacated those or asked the circuit judge to vacate them, so that freed us up to be able to move forward.”
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Jun 20 2025

Texas Hemp THC Ban and Medical Marijuana Expansion Set to Become Law on Monday

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed more than 300 bills into law Friday but notably did not act on two major cannabis measures—one that would ban most hemp-derived THC products and another that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program.

(Photo credit: Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation).

With the deadline for gubernatorial action falling on Sunday, June 22, both bills are now expected to become law without Abbott’s signature unless he issues a rare weekend veto.

If no veto is delivered by the end of Sunday, the measures will automatically take effect. House Bill 46 would significantly broaden the state’s limited compassionate use program by adding eligibility for patients with chronic pain, terminal illness, and traumatic brain injuries. It would also expand the number of licensed dispensaries from three to fifteen and legalize new product forms, such as patches and inhalers.
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Jun 20 2025

New Jersey Economic Development Authority Launches $5 Million Cannabis Grant Program to Support Small Businesses

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has approved a $5 million initiative aimed at supporting early-stage recreational cannabis businesses across the state.

The Cannabis Business Development (CBD) Grant Program offers relief for small, locally owned cannabis businesses that are navigating the challenges of compliance and daily operations. Eligible businesses can receive a one-time reimbursement of $75,000 to help cover ongoing State and local regulatory costs and operating expenses.

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Jun 20 2025

Canada Sets New Monthly Cannabis Sales Record With CA$466.7 Million in April, Bringing Year-to-Date Total to $1.74 Billion

Canada’s legal marijuana market brought in a record-setting CA$466.7 million in sales in April, according to new data from Statistics Canada, marking the highest monthly total since the launch of regulated sales in 2019.

The April figure easily surpasses March’s CA$428.4 million, February’s CA$404.7 million, and January’s CA$437 million. Combined, legal cannabis sales through the first four months of 2025 now total approximately CA$1.74 billion.

Ontario once again led all provinces, with CA$179 million in sales. Alberta followed with CA$83 million, and British Columbia came in third at CA$67 million. Together, these three provinces accounted for nearly 70 percent of the country’s total cannabis revenue in April.
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Jun 19 2025

DEA Judge Shuts Down Cannabis Manufacturing Case Without Hearing, Company Plans Legal Challenge

A long-delayed effort to grow federally legal cannabis for medical research was abruptly derailed this week when a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge terminated a key hearing without allowing any testimony or cross-examination.

The company behind the application, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, is now preparing to challenge the ruling in federal court and call for the judge’s recusal.

The ruling was issued by DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney II, who dismissed the company’s bid for a marijuana bulk manufacturing license after more than six years of delays. MMJ BioPharma said the decision came without warning and without any opportunity to present evidence or respond to agency claims—calling it a “procedural ambush.”
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Jun 19 2025

New Jersey Bill to Allow Marijuana Dispensaries to Open Satellite Locations Approved by Second Committee, Advances to Full Assembly

A New Jersey bill that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to open satellite locations has advanced to the full Assembly after gaining approval today from the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Assembly Bill 4937, sponsored by Representative Reginald Atkins (D), would remove a restriction in current law that prevents medical marijuana dispensaries from operating additional sites beyond their primary location. The proposal cleared its first committee earlier this month and received another unanimous vote today.

If enacted, the legislation would allow licensed dispensaries to open satellite locations with approval from the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Supporters say the move would expand patient access and eliminate the need for new, full license applications to serve additional areas.
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Jun 19 2025

Aurora Cannabis Denounces AI‑Generated Reports Claiming $215 Million Acquisition and European Deal, Shares Drop 20%

Aurora Cannabis Inc. says a pair of AI‑generated articles that surfaced online this week—one alleging a $215 million takeover of a New Zealand marijuana producer—are entirely false.

The stories appeared Wednesday on financial news site Investing.com but were removed by Thursday afternoon after the Edmonton‑based company flagged the inaccuracies. “Neither of these stories are true in any way. This is entirely false information,” Aurora vice‑president of communications and public relations Michelle Lefler said in an email, noting the company is pursuing the appropriate steps.

The first article claimed Aurora had signed a cash‑and‑stock agreement to acquire MedLeaf Therapeutics and cited supposed filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission while quoting chief executive Miguel Martin. A second piece pointed to a strategic partnership with German distributor MediPharm GmbH to expand Aurora’s medical‑cannabis reach across Europe.
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Jun 19 2025

Maryland Governor Issues 7,000 More Cannabis Pardons and Dedicates $400 Million to Communities Hit Hardest by Inequity

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has issued nearly 7,000 additional pardons for cannabis-related offenses, building on the more than 175,000 pardons he granted in 2024.

The move to pardon 6,938 additional cannabis offenses continues his administration’s efforts to reverse decades of harm caused by the state’s decades-long war on cannabis. The pardons cover those who were left out of last year’s mass pardon of cannabis offenses due to technical issues.

Alongside the new round of pardons, Moore announced that the state will allocate $400 million in cannabis tax revenue to uplift communities disproportionately affected by systemic discrimination and past drug war policies. The money will support local initiatives aimed at improving education, health care access, economic development, and violence prevention in historically underserved areas.
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Jun 19 2025

Most Endometriosis Patients Say Cannabis Is More Effective Than Pharmaceuticals, With 90% Willing to Recommend to Other Patients

A new international study has found that people with endometriosis who use cannabis overwhelmingly view it as more effective and better tolerated than traditional pharmaceuticals, with nearly all participants saying they plan to continue using it to manage their symptoms.

Published in the journal Reproduction & Fertility and conducted by researchers from Griffith University and Western Sydney University, the study surveyed 889 people from over 10 countries who reported using cannabis for endometriosis-related symptoms. Nearly 57% accessed cannabis through illicit channels, and those who did were significantly less likely to disclose their use to a healthcare provider.

The most common reasons cited for turning to cannabis were inadequate pain relief from other treatments (68.6%), negative side effects from medications (56.3%), and concerns about addiction or dependence on pharmaceuticals (43.9%). Cannabis was also favored for its perceived superior effectiveness and fewer side effects.
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