This week brought 24 cannabis stories worth your time, from New Jersey hiring a data auditor to hunt lab shopping, to California raising the bar on testing and track and trace, to Florida inching back toward a recreational vote. Operators got new rules, new risks, and a few new playbooks. Here is the full rundown.
New Jersey Is Hunting Lab Shopping With Data. Every Operator Should Pay Attention
New Jersey is hiring a data auditor to catch inflated THC numbers with statistics instead of rumors. If your results look too good to be true, the clock is ticking.
Colorado Vape Recall Escalates as Health Reports Roll In
Consumers are now reporting adverse health effects from the recalled Craft vape products, and the contaminant at the center can cause cancer. Recalls stop being paperwork the moment customers get hurt.
Fast Acting Edibles Are Winning on Timing and Taste. Here Is What the Science Says
New Azuca research shows fast acting edibles peak 30 minutes earlier with no stronger high, and 85 percent of consumers would pay more for the faster onset. Onset time is becoming the product.
Oregon Hemp Operators Are Shutting Down as the Federal Ban Closes In
With a federal hemp ban closing in, Oregon operators are shutting down instead of waiting for the hammer to fall. Nobody wants to be the last one holding inventory.
A Minnesota Study Says Medical Cannabis Eased Anxiety and Depression in Autism Patients. Read the Fine Print.
A Minnesota study reports medical cannabis eased anxiety and depression in autism patients, but the fine print matters. Read the study before you quote the headline.
Florida Could Vote on Recreational Cannabis Again. This Time There Are Two New Paths.
Florida is back in the recreational conversation with two new paths toward 2028. The playbook keeps getting rewritten.
RSO Started in a Syringe. Now It Comes in Tablets. That Is Product Innovation Working.
Rick Simpson Oil went from a syringe to tablets on the shelf, and that arc is product innovation doing its job. Meet patients where they are.
At Some Point the High Road Becomes Volunteering for Disrespect
There is a line where the high road stops being leadership and starts looking like weakness. Knowing where that line sits is the whole job.
Congress Wants the VA to Finally Study Medical Marijuana for Veterans With PTSD and Chronic Pain
Congress wants the VA to study medical marijuana for veterans with PTSD and chronic pain. About time the research caught up with what veterans already know.
The Vendor Test Every Cannabis Operator Should Run Before Signing
One simple test before you sign with any vendor can save you months of pain. Operators who skip diligence pay tuition later.
Tennessee Just Dropped a 99 Page Medical Cannabis Proposal. Here Is What Operators Should Know
Tennessee put 99 pages of medical cannabis framework on the table. Read it now or react to it later.
California Finally Closed the Pesticide Testing Loophole Beard Bros Called Out in 2020
Six years after Beard Bros flagged the pesticide testing loophole, California finally closed it. Being early and being right are different skills.
Are Florida Medical Cannabis Operators Looking to Exit the $2 Billion Market?
Some Florida medical operators may be eyeing the exit on a $2 billion market. When the math changes, smart money moves first.
Why (and How) Dispensary Owners Should Join Their Staff on the Floor
The best market research in cannabis happens behind the counter, not in a dashboard. Get on the floor.
How Michigan’s Cannabis Market Ended Up Fining Someone $2M for Mulch
Michigan fined someone $2 million over mulch, which tells you everything about how much compliance details matter. Small inputs, massive consequences.
Making a Great Gummy Is Easy, Making 100,000 Great Gummies Is the Hard Part
Anyone can nail one great gummy. Nailing 100,000 of them is manufacturing, and manufacturing is where brands live or die.
Ohio Hemp Operators Say State Rules Favor Big Marijuana. They Have a Point.
Ohio hemp operators say the state rules are written for big marijuana, and the evidence backs them up. When the little guy notices the tilt, regulators should listen.
A Mayoral Candidate Just Made Los Angeles Cannabis a Campaign Issue
Los Angeles cannabis just became a campaign issue in the mayoral race. Markets this big do not stay out of politics.
Bill Levers Takes the IgniteIt Stage to Follow the Money in California Cannabis
Beard Bros’ own Bill Levers took the IgniteIt stage in Los Angeles to follow the money through California’s supply chain. If you want to understand this market, follow the dollars.
DEA Judge Pauses Cannabis Rescheduling: What the October 13 Deadline Means for Operators
A DEA judge paused cannabis rescheduling, and the October 13 deadline now means something different for operators. Watch the calendar, not just the headlines.
Cannabis Rules May Be Giving Big Operators an Unfair Advantage
The rules may be quietly handing big operators an unfair advantage. Scale should not be a regulatory strategy.
Hoodie Top 20 Cities Ranking Shows Access, Not Opinion, Defines Cannabis Markets
The Hoodie top 20 cities ranking proves access, not opinion, defines cannabis markets. Legal shelves beat loud debates.
California Just Raised the Bar on Cannabis Testing and Track and Trace
California raised the bar on testing and track and trace with new bills signed by Newsom. Compliance just got more expensive and more serious.
California Wants Easier Plant Tagging and Tougher Enforcement to Help Small Growers
California wants simpler plant tagging and tougher enforcement to give small growers a fighting chance. Streamlining the paperwork while tightening the rules is a real balancing act.
See you next Sunday, and stay sharp out there.