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You’re reading this week’s edition of the New Cannabis Ventures weekly newsletter, which we have been publishing since October 2015. The newsletter includes unique insight to help our readers stay ahead of the curve as well as links to the week’s most important news. We no longer send these by email as we did in [ . . . ]

“Pennsylvanians are buying cannabis, but now what’s happening is they’re paying taxes in other states. We need to change that. We need to be more competitive.” By Ian Karbal, Pennsylvania Capital-Star Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said Tuesday that he recently met with cannabis dispensary owners from Maryland, Ohio, New York and New Jersey. He wanted to ask them how many of their customers at stores near the Pennsylvania border were crossing state lines to buy their products. Their response, he said: over 60 percent. “Pennsylvanians are buying cannabis, but now what’s happening is . . .

Statistics Canada released November retail sales for the country, with cannabis sales increasing from the October levels, up 0.5% to C$452.8 million. This was an increase on a per-day basis as well. October, originally reported at C$456.3 million, was revised lower to C$450.5 million. The sales in November were up 5.6% from a year ago. This was [ . . . ]

As 2025 kicks off and state legislative sessions get rolling, marijuana legalization advocates are eyeing a handful of jurisdictions as key battlegrounds where they see the prospects of enacting reform this year as most likely. Pennsylvania and Hawaii are widely seen by proponents as the most promising states for adult-use cannabis legalization in the year ahead. As for medical marijuana legalization, Kansas and the Carolinas are key states to watch. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is expecting renewed efforts to legalize the substance for both medical and adult-use. “We need to be looking at . . .

The Marijuana Industry Group, one of Colorado’s oldest cannabis business organizations, is winding down its operations. As Marijuana Industry Group closes, Colorado Leads focuses on improving state’s MJ rules is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Several hundred California cannabis retailers, tired of the regulatory status quo and worried about an upcoming tax hike, have banded together to form yet another trade organization to lobby lawmakers in Sacramento, several of the organizers told Green Market Report this week. The new trade organization, dubbed the California Cannabis Operators… Please login to read all 700 words.

A former executive vice president at Chicago-based cannabis company Verano was indicted in federal court for insider trading, the Justice Department announced on Tuesday. Anthony Marsico, 39, is alleged to have used non-public information about Verano’s agreement to purchase a competing cannabis firm to purchase more than 900,000 shares of the rival company’s stock and sharing the information with a friend, who in turn shared the information with two others. Arthur Pizzello, 61, Robert Quattrocchi, 63, and Timothy Carey, 57, are also named in the indictment, which describes the . . .

Class action attorneys are investigating the data breach that affected cannabis brand Stiiizy and impacted customer data from four of the company’s dispensaries. Console Associates, P.C. indicated they are “investigating the data breach that was reported after the company discovered unauthorized access to sensitive consumer information.” “STIIIZY reported a data breach after identifying unauthorized access to consumer data in their systems. While the exact nature of the incident remains under investigation, the breach could have resulted from either a direct compromise . . .

Four Minnesota businesses were fined $10,000 each in civil penalties last year related to illegal cannabis. According to a 2025 state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) report to the state legislature, the agency found more than 199 pounds of illicit cannabis flower at 134 sites from January to October of 2024. Adult-use cannabis is legal in Minnesota but permitted sales have yet to commence. “Additional challenges encountered by the office related to the illicit cannabis market include: the practice of businesses ‘gifting’ cannabis along with other purchases, online cannabis sales . . .

Even as Nevada casinos draw millions of tourists, a fear of federal oversight has created artificial barriers between the state’s gaming and cannabis industries, leading to missed business opportunities and confused operators trying to navigate the divide, according to a new study. The report from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, researchers… Please login to read all 604 words.

The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing on the nuances of the adult-use cannabis market and medical cannabis. NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union) said New Jersey could be a leader on the East Coast as the cannabis industry creates jobs, revenue, and taxes. Also he wanted to decrease the stigma around [ . . . ] Source: NJ Adult-Use Cannabis Market & MMJ Hearing Held by Legislature Copy from Heady NJ

“What’s better than sneaking a smoke? Winning stuff.” That is according to Sneakers, an Arizona-based marijuana supplier that has an exciting new contest for state tokers. The Mazor Collective brand has put a lucky code inside one of its pre-roll five-packs that will enable the lucky buyer to collect a US$10,000-dollar prize. They cost just under US$30. The move is aimed at drawing attention to the brand and generating more business in the long run. Despite Sneakers’ desire to obtain more customers, the label’s pre-rolls are one of Arizona’s top sellers. Public operators . . .

The wrestler Ric Flair debuted a cannabis product line in New Jersey as the Cannabist and the Botanist large Multi-State Operators (MSOs) increased their footprints with new products and locations. Cannabist Expands Ric Flair Cannabis Products to New Jersey The Cannabist announced the expansion of its partnership with the wrestler Ric Flair into the New Jersey cannabis [ . . . ] Source: Ric Flair Cannabis Brand Comes to NJ as Large MSOs Cannabist and Botanist Expand Footprint from Heady NJ

With Zoap, Cadillac Rainbow, and Blueberry Caviar. The post Leafly Buzz: 12 hot strains to smoke in 2025 appeared first on Leafly.

Maryland’s top marijuana regulatory agency is poised to get a new leader, pending confirmation by the state legislature, the state’s governor announced on Wednesday. Tabatha Robinson, executive deputy director of economic development for the New York Office of Cannabis Management, will take over the Maryland Cannabis Administration post effective Feb. 19,… Please login to read all 198 words.

This week, a new acting chief Derek Maltz was named to the Drug Enforcement Administration, and despite previous negative comments from Maltz, the cannabis industry’s response remains cautious. Many in the industry viewed departing Chief Anne Milgram negatively, blaming her for slow walking the rescheduling of cannabis. She didn’t move quickly,… Please login to read all 802 words.

“At a time when most Americans are demanding long overdue changes in federal cannabis policy, Acting DEA Administrator Derek Maltz epitomizes the failed policies and approaches of the past.” The post Career Drug Warrior Named Acting DEA Administrator appeared first on NORML.

Green Thumb Industries is appealing a ruling by a Florida administrative law judge who rejected the multistate operator’s plan to open medical marijuana dispensaries near or adjacent to Circle K gas stations in the state. MSO appeals ruling prohibiting medical marijuana stores at Florida Circle Ks is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Colorado lawmakers have advanced a bill that would allow a form of psilocybin to be prescribed as a medication if the federal government authorizes its use. About a week after the legislation was filed by Reps. Anthony Hartsook (R) and Kyle Brown (D), as well as Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D), the House passed it on a voice vote on second reading on Wednesday. Similar to legislation that Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed into law in 2022 regarding the medical dispensing and use of MDMA, the bipartisan bill that’s advancing would empower doctors to prescribe drugs containing crystalline polymorph . . .

Los Angeles-based Ispire Technology (Nasdaq: ISPR) will repurchase up to $10 million of its issued shares over the next two years. The cannabis vaping hardware manufacturer will execute the buybacks through various means including open market transactions, accelerated share programs and privately negotiated deals, according to the company Wednesday. “This move reflects… Please login to read all 228 words.

Federal prosecutors have indicted a former executive with cannabis multistate operator Verano Holdings Corp. on a charge of insider trading. Former executive with cannabis MSO Verano is charged with insider trading is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

About 16 percent of Americans aged 21 and older say they use cannabis as a sleep aid, according to a new industry-backed survey. That makes marijuana more popular for sleep than prescription sleep aids (12 percent) or alcohol (11 percent), but still not quite as common as using supplements (26 percent) or over-the-counter sleep aids (19 percent). Overall, nearly 8 in 10 U.S. adults (79 percent) said something keeps them up at night, according to the new poll, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of cannabis the company Green Thumb Industries and its “incredibles” line of edibles. . . .

“He said, ‘I am tired of feeling like a criminal,’ and that put everything into perspective [for me] from that moment on.” By Elijah Poe, Indiana Capital Chronicle Statehouse Reps. Sue Errington (D) and Jim Lucas (R) couldn’t be more different. On almost everything. One is progressive. One is conservative. Lucas is a Second Amendment absolutist and Errington believes in reproductive choice. But they agree on legalizing marijuana in the Hoosier state. One study found that Indiana could profit $171 million off of the tax model for marijuana that Colorado has set up, according to . . .

As Pennsylvania lawmakers prepare for another push to legalize adult-use marijuana this session with the governor’s support, the new Republican state attorney general is raising concerns about the “potential harm that could be caused criminally” by enacting the reform. Asked to share his thoughts on the legalization push from certain legislators, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday (R) first said that “99 percent, if not more” of cannabis possession cases in the state are handled by district attorneys rather than his state office. He then pivoted to talk about his concerns with . . .

Vermont cannabis regulators are recommending several new business license categories while opposing additional product restrictions, according to a legislative report released last week. The state’s Cannabis Control Board advised lawmakers to create three new license types: Delivery services Temporary event sales On-site consumption establishments The board also recommended against imposing minimum CBD requirements in cannabis… Please login to read all 372 words.