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  14. <description>All Things Cannabis and CBD</description>
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  30. <item>
  31. <title>Judge tosses lawsuit against Nebraska&#8217;s medical cannabis program</title>
  32. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/judge-tosses-lawsuit-against-nebraskas-medical-cannabis-program/</link>
  34. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  35. <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:42:36 +0000</pubDate>
  36. <category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
  37. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://moderncannabislifestyle.com/judge-tosses-lawsuit-against-nebraskas-medical-cannabis-program/</guid>
  38.  
  39. <description><![CDATA[A Nebraska judge has dismissed a lawsuit alleging the state’s medical cannabis program is unconstitutional because marijuana remains&#8230;]]></description>
  40. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  41. </p>
  42. <div>
  43. <p>A Nebraska judge has <a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/former-state-senators-lawsuit-against-medical-cannabis-laws-dismissed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismissed a lawsuit</a> alleging the state’s medical cannabis program is unconstitutional because marijuana remains federally illegal.</p>
  44. <p>Lancaster County District Court Judge Susan Strong tossed the case brought by former state Sen. John Kuehn, who argued that as a taxpayer, he has the right to sue the state over its “illegal expenditure of taxpayer money,” according to Nebraska Public Media.</p>
  45. <p>Strong disagreed, saying that minor costs incurred while putting a law into practice aren’t enough to give taxpayers the right to sue under Nebraska law.</p>
  46. <p>It’s the second time Strong has <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/appeal-filed-in-nebraska-medical-cannabis-legalization-court-case/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismissed a medical marijuana lawsuit</a> brought by Kuehn, who last year alleged the people circulating petitions for two MMJ ballot initiatives <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/backers-of-nebraska-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-dispute-fraud-claims/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">committed fraud</a> that should have prevented the measures from being placed on the ballot.</p>
  47. <p>The case was appealed and added to the state Supreme Court’s docket, leading some lawmakers to refuse to take action on medical marijuana during the legislative session, Nebraska Public Media reported.</p>
  48. <p>Meanwhile, at its second meeting, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission approved <a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-medical-cannabis-commission-approves-emergency-regulations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emergency regulations</a> for MMJ dispensaries, cultivators, manufacturers and transporters, according to the news outlet.</p>
  49. <p>The regulations prohibit raw plant material, products that can be smoked or vaped and cannabis-infused foods or drinks.</p>
  50. <p>Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana leader Crista Eggers said the regulations are essentially a ban on marijuana for some patients.</p>
  51. <p>“This will clearly prohibit access to a necessary form of medicine that patients will need,” Eggers told Nebraska Public Media.</p>
  52. <p>“A cancer patient, for instance, who is suffering from wasting syndrome and cannot keep anything down, they need the ability to vaporize or inhale cannabis to relieve their symptoms.”</p>
  53. </div>
  54.  
  55. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/judge-tosses-lawsuit-against-nebraskas-medical-cannabis-program/">Source link </a></p>
  56. ]]></content:encoded>
  60. </item>
  61. <item>
  62. <title>Marijuana banking will follow major budget bill, Congress promises</title>
  63. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/marijuana-banking-will-follow-major-budget-bill-congress-promises/</link>
  65. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  66. <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:33:36 +0000</pubDate>
  67. <category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
  68. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://moderncannabislifestyle.com/marijuana-banking-will-follow-major-budget-bill-congress-promises/</guid>
  69.  
  70. <description><![CDATA[Congress will return to long-awaited, key marijuana industry priorities such as banking protections in the fall, according to&#8230;]]></description>
  71. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  72. </p>
  73. <div>
  74. <p>Congress will return to long-awaited, key marijuana industry priorities such as <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/why-safe-banking-failed-and-what-are-next-steps-for-marijuana-industry/">banking protections</a> in the fall, according to Washington insiders.</p>
  75. <p>“In my mind, we have a really, really good opportunity to get SAFE Banking done during this Congress,” David Culver, the senior vice president of the U.S. Cannabis Roundtable, a major Washington lobby group, told <em>MJBizDaily</em> on Thursday.</p>
  76. <p>“It’s the best opportunity we’ve ever had.”</p>
  77. <p>But SAFER Banking will have to wait until after Congress passes President Donald Trump’s prized <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Big Beautiful Bill Act,</a> lawmakers and lobbyists agree.</p>
  78. <h2 id="marijuana-banking-reform-hopefully-in-the-fall">Marijuana banking reform ‘hopefully in the fall’</h2>
  79. <p>But Congress has more important priorities before it can turn to cannabis, Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno said last week.</p>
  80. <p>The freshman senator, whose state <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/ohio-adult-use-marijuana-sales-launch-gets-off-to-really-special-start/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched adult-use marijuana sales</a> in August 2024, <a href="https://x.com/MangoneDavid/status/1917546663033409857" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is the lead Republican sponsor</a> of the Senate’s version of the marijuana banking protections bill.</p>
  81. <p>He told Marijuana Moment that SAFER Banking will return to active consideration, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-marijuana-banking-bill-sponsor-says-hes-not-thinking-about-prioritizing-it-until-the-fall-amid-competing-priorities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“hopefully in the fall.”</a></p>
  82. <p>Most all other business in Congress is on hold <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/06/26/trump-tax-bill-revolt-house-senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as GOP lawmakers squabble over</a> Trump’s enormous tax and immigration bill.</p>
  83. <p>Senate Republican leaders have pledged to put the Big Beautiful Bill on Trump’s desk by the July 4 holiday.</p>
  84. <p>But that picture became more complicated Thursday, when House Republicans vowed to oppose significant changes made by the Senate.</p>
  85. <p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/06/26/trump-tax-bill-revolt-house-senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Our red line hasn’t changed,”</a> said U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Maryland, who also chairs the far-right House Freedom Caucus, according to the Washington Post.</p>
  86. <p>“It has to conform to the House framework, and it doesn’t.”</p>
  87. <p>If Big Beautiful Bill negotiations drag on longer than planned, other congressional business is likely to be delayed.</p>
  88. <p>Harris is also the author of a spending bill that redefines hemp under federal law in a move to <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/house-republicans-hemp-derived-thc-ban-approved-in-committee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban hemp-derived THC products</a> as well as THCA flower.</p>
  89. <p>The hemp THC ban’s chances are considered slim given likely opposition from Republican lawmakers representing states with sizable hemp industries.</p>
  90. <p><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/texas-delivers-potential-major-milestone-for-hemp-and-medical-marijuana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">That includes Texas</a>, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott recently vetoed a bill to ban that state’s estimated $5.5 billion hemp industry.</p>
  91. <h2 id="focus-on-banking-after-rescheduling-stalemate">Focus on banking after rescheduling stalemate</h2>
  92. <p>Industry lobbyists considered marijuana banking protections the top priority on Capitol Hill before the Biden administration <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/biden-calls-for-review-of-marijuana-scheduling-pardons-thousands-for-mj-offenses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decided in October 2022 to reschedule marijuana</a> under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).</p>
  93. <p>Moving marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 of the CSA grants plant-touching businesses <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/rescheduling-marijuana-would-liberate-plant-touching-firms-from-section-280e/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immediate tax relief</a> – something banking protections do not do, observers have said.</p>
  94. <p>But with the <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/no-progress-at-dea-on-marijuana-rescheduling-new-filing-says/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rescheduling process in limbo</a>, there’s renewed focus on banking for the cannabis industry.</p>
  95. <p>Banking reform has passed a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives multiple times <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/no-marijuana-banking-protections-from-current-congress/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">but has yet to pass the Senate</a>.</p>
  96. <p>Passing even modest marijuana reform is still considered a prerequisite to tackling tougher issues such as <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/us-drug-czar-hints-at-interstate-commerce-after-marijuana-rescheduling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interstate commerce</a> or regulating all forms of THC under one unified policy.</p>
  97. <p>SAFER Banking “opens the door up to future discussion of other financial services the industry is in desperate need of, as well as other reform efforts too,” the U.S. Cannabis Roundtable’s Culver said.</p>
  98. <p><em>Chris Roberts can be reached at <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-banking-will-follow-major-budget-bill-congress-promises/mailto:chris.roberts@mjbizdaily.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60cbc0c62fd8529850e4e373">chris.roberts@mjbizdaily.com</a>.</em></p>
  99. <div class="columns col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 con_cta_wrapper">
  100. <h3 id="subscribe-to-the-mjbiz-factbook"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Subscribe to the MJBiz Factbook </span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></h3>
  101. <p><span data-contrast="auto">Exclusive industry data and analysis to help you make informed business decisions and avoid costly missteps. All the facts, none of the hype.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
  102. <p><span data-contrast="auto">What you will get:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
  103. <ul>
  104. <li>Monthly and quarterly updates, with new data &amp; insights</li>
  105. <li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="9" data-list-defn-props="{" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Financial forecasts + capital investment trends</span></li>
  106. <li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="9" data-list-defn-props="{" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">State-by-state guide to regulations, taxes &amp; market opportunities</span></li>
  107. <li>Annual survey of cannabis businesses</li>
  108. <li>Consumer insights</li>
  109. <li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="9" data-list-defn-props="{" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">And more!</span></li>
  110. </ul>
  111. </div>
  112. </div>
  113.  
  114. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-banking-will-follow-major-budget-bill-congress-promises/">Source link </a></p>
  115. ]]></content:encoded>
  119. </item>
  120. <item>
  121. <title>Jones Soda sells marijuana beverage business for $3 million</title>
  122. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/jones-soda-sells-marijuana-beverage-business-for-3-million/</link>
  124. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  125. <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:32:33 +0000</pubDate>
  126. <category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
  127. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/jones-soda-sells-marijuana-beverage-business-for-3-million/</guid>
  128.  
  129. <description><![CDATA[(This story was updated June 26 with more details and comment.) Jones Soda Co. sold its marijuana-derived THC&#8230;]]></description>
  130. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  131. </p>
  132. <div>
  133. <p><em>(This story was updated June 26 with more details and comment.)</em></p>
  134. <p>Jones Soda Co. sold its marijuana-derived THC beverage business to MJ Reg Disrupters <a href="https://investors.jonessoda.com/press-releases/#b2iLibScrollTo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for $3 million</a>.</p>
  135. <p>The deal was for about $489,000 in cash with the remaining in the form of a promissory note with fixed payment schedules, according to a Monday news release.</p>
  136. <p>Seattle-based Jones Soda will continue to focus on its hemp-derived THC business, which includes Mary Jones sodas, shooters and gummies.</p>
  137. <p>The Mary Jones hemp business has experienced four consecutive quarters of revenue growth through the first quarter of this year.</p>
  138. <p>As part of the deal, MJ Reg Disrupters has the right to use the Mary Jones brand name in any “consumable product containing an emulsion containing THC derived from the marijuana plant” in exchange for an annual $150,000 licensing fee payable on the first anniversary of the sale and $225,000 in subsequent anniversaries, the release noted.</p>
  139. <p class="p1">“Although we made the strategic decision to sell our marijuana-derived THC business, we are excited about the opportunity to increase our focus on and continue to expand our distribution of our Mary Jones HD9 products, which have been some of our fastest growing product categories,” Scott Harvey, Jones Sodas’ president and CEO said in a statement.</p>
  140. <p class="p1">“I believe the divestiture of our marijuana-derived THC business will enable us to sharpen our strategic priorities and accelerate investment in our core soda, functional beverage, and adult beverage categories, including our hemp-infused THC segment.”</p>
  141. <p>The Mary Jones brand ran afoul of the California Department of Public Health in 2024, when the agency <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/california-cannabis-product-recalls-are-on-the-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned consumers not to drink</a> the beverages because they were “mislabeled and contain specific ingredients prohibited under state law.”</p>
  142. <p>According to an <em>MJBizDaily</em> report, the products contained hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) isolate, an intoxicating ingredient that is banned in California and could pose a risk to consumers.</p>
  143. </div>
  144.  
  145. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/jones-soda-sells-marijuana-beverage-business-for-3-million/">Source link </a></p>
  146. ]]></content:encoded>
  150. </item>
  151. <item>
  152. <title>Principals of cannabis ad firm Weedmaps back out of stock purchase</title>
  153. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/principals-of-cannabis-ad-firm-weedmaps-back-out-of-stock-purchase/</link>
  155. <dc:creator><![CDATA[MCL]]></dc:creator>
  156. <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:13:33 +0000</pubDate>
  157. <category><![CDATA[What's Hot]]></category>
  158. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/principals-of-cannabis-ad-firm-weedmaps-back-out-of-stock-purchase/</guid>
  159.  
  160. <description><![CDATA[WM Technology co-founders Douglas Francis and Justin Hartfield are backing out of a deal to purchase the company’s&#8230;]]></description>
  161. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  162. </p>
  163. <div>
  164. <div class="bialty-container">
  165. <p>WM Technology co-founders Douglas Francis and Justin Hartfield are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250625103996/en/The-Special-Committee-of-the-Board-of-Directors-of-WM-Technology-Updates-Stockholders-on-the-Status-of-Non-Binding-Proposal-from-Co-Founders-Regarding-Potential-Take-Private">backing out of a deal to purchase </a>the company’s outstanding common stock.</p>
  166. <p>WM Technology is the Irvine, California-based parent company of cannabis advertising platform Weedmaps.</p>
  167. <p>Francis, the company’s CEO, and Hartfield will continue to evaluate the deal and could submit an alternative proposal, according to a Tuesday news release.</p>
  168. <p>In December, Francis and Hartfield submitted a proposal to take WM Technology private.</p>
  169. <p>The proposal was to <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/weedmaps-shares-surge-after-cannabis-company-proposes-going-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquire the stock for $1.70 per share</a>, which would have represented:</p>
  170. <ul>
  171. <li>A 39% premium on the stock closing price on Dec. 17.</li>
  172. <li>A 52% premium on implied enterprise value as of Dec. 17.</li>
  173. <li>A 65% premium to the volume-weighted average price of the past year.</li>
  174. </ul>
  175. <p>The company formed a special committee to consider the proposal.</p>
  176. <p>“The Special Committee does not intend to comment on or disclose further developments regarding any potential transaction unless and until it deems future disclosure is appropriate or required,” according to the release.</p>
  177. <p><em>MJBizDaily</em> reached out seeking additional details, but the company has not responded.</p>
  178. <p>At the time the deal to go private was announced, WM Technology said it was facing headwinds, with licensed end markets declining from the peak volumes achieved at the time the <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-tech-platform-weedmaps-goes-public-with-579-million-infusion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">company merged with</a> special purpose acquisition company Silver Spike Acquisition Corp.</p>
  179. <p>WM Technologies, which trades as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/maps" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60cbc0c62fd8529850e4e373">MAPS</a> on the Nasdaq exchange, was <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/sec-alleges-data-inflation-fines-parent-of-cannabis-ad-platform-weedmaps/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fined $1.5 million</a> by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last September for allegedly misstating user metrics.</p>
  180. </div></div>
  181.  
  182. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/principals-of-wm-technology-cannabis-firm-weedmaps-back-out-of-stock-purchase/">Source link </a></p>
  183. ]]></content:encoded>
  187. </item>
  188. <item>
  189. <title>California lawmakers fail to include cannabis tax relief in budget bill</title>
  190. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/california-lawmakers-fail-to-include-cannabis-tax-relief-in-budget-bill/</link>
  192. <dc:creator><![CDATA[MCL]]></dc:creator>
  193. <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:01:02 +0000</pubDate>
  194. <category><![CDATA[What's Hot]]></category>
  195. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/california-lawmakers-fail-to-include-cannabis-tax-relief-in-budget-bill/</guid>
  196.  
  197. <description><![CDATA[Faint hopes for California cannabis industry excise tax relief evaporated Wednesday when lawmakers failed to squeeze a freeze&#8230;]]></description>
  198. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  199. </p>
  200. <div>
  201. <p>Faint hopes for California cannabis industry <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/california-cannabis-stores-need-more-customers-to-combat-high-taxes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">excise tax relief</a> evaporated Wednesday when lawmakers failed to squeeze a freeze on the levy into a state budget bill.</p>
  202. <p>“It would not be a budget if there weren’t things to be disappointed about,” Democratic state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon said during a budget hearing.</p>
  203. <p>“I wish we had reached an agreement on the cannabis tax increase.”</p>
  204. <p>Negotiations between Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders in the Legislature over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-24/newsom-democrats-budget-cuts-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">final details of a $321 billion spending package</a> went well into the night Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.</p>
  205. <p>The so-called “budget trailer bill” that marks the beginning of the state’s new fiscal year represented the final opportunity to stave off an increase in California’s <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/california-tax-agency-will-raise-cannabis-excise-rate-to-19-percent-on-july-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marijuana excise tax from 15% to 19%</a> before it was to take effect July 1.</p>
  206. <h2 id="governor-made-final-push-on-behalf-of-cannabis">Governor made final push on behalf of cannabis</h2>
  207. <p>In a sign of the cannabis industry’s burgeoning influence among lawmakers, Newsom and state Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas supported putting an excise tax freeze in the budget trailer bill, several sources told <em>MJBizDaily</em>.</p>
  208. <p>However, the sources said, the idea was rejected by Sen. President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, who, coincidentally, represents California’s legacy marijuana growing region, the Emerald Triangle.</p>
  209. <p>McGuire did not immediately respond to <em>MJBizDaily </em>requests for comment.</p>
  210. <p>The chance that state’s legislative leaders and Newsom would come to terms with slipping the tax freeze into the budget trailer bill was always slim, observers said.</p>
  211. <p>Doing so would have required one of two things:</p>
  212. <ul>
  213. <li>Finding another source of revenue in a down budget year, a feat made even more challenging with California finances already a mess because of the <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfires-southern-california-15199a02942f11f6a1b7aac340f7e9a1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deadly January wildfires</a> in Los Angeles as well as the Trump administration cutting promised federal funding to the blue state.</li>
  214. <li>Mollifying other powerful Sacramento lobbies’ discomfort with giving what they saw as a tax cut to a vice industry. Those lobbies represent <a target="_blank" href="https://s43100.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/Cannabis-Tax-Revenues-and-Tier-3-Programs-Letter-final-2-24-24.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recipients of marijuana tax revenue</a> such as <a target="_blank" href="https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/09/two-cannabis-bills-detrimental-to-public-health-and-food-safety/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youth-serving and drug-prevention outfits</a>.</li>
  215. </ul>
  216. <p>When the tax takes effect, regulated marijuana businesses in California – still the nation’s largest market but steadily shrinking since the industry’s 2021 peak – would be <a target="_blank" href="https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/recreational-marijuana-taxes/">among the most heavily taxed in the country</a>, according to the Tax Foundation.</p>
  217. <p>In addition to excise taxes, cannabis sales in California are <a target="_blank" href="https://cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/rates.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subject to the state sales tax</a>, which varies from 7.25% to 10.75%, depending on the jurisdiction, as well as any local taxes.</p>
  218. <p>According to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office, increasing the excise tax will likely lead to an <a target="_blank" href="https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/824" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overall decrease in revenue</a> as price-conscious consumers seek cheaper alternatives.</p>
  219. <h2 id="pending-bill-is-marijuana-industrys-last-gasp">Pending bill is marijuana industry’s last gasp</h2>
  220. <p>Tax relief might yet be on the way for California’s cannabis operators, but at least six months of higher rates are guaranteed.</p>
  221. <p>Separate legislation, introduced earlier this year by San Francisco Democratic Assembly Member Matt Haney, would <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/california-bill-would-derail-planned-marijuana-tax-increase/">freeze the excise tax at its current 15%</a>.</p>
  222. <p>Haney’s bill passed the California Assembly on a unanimous 74-0 vote on June 2 but has yet to be heard in the state Senate.</p>
  223. <p>The 15% tax rate in Haney’s measure is still considered far too high to compete with the illicit market in California and boost flagging retail revenue.</p>
  224. <p>But it’s far preferable to the coming increase to 19%.</p>
  225. <p>The earliest that Newsom – an early adult-use legalization supporter – could sign Haney’s measure into law would be August or September.</p>
  226. <p>If he does, the earliest the law could take effect as currently written is Jan. 1, 2026.</p>
  227. <p>That potential delay – and the specter of six months of punishing taxes – left the budget trailer bill as the last, best opportunity to stave off the tax increase entirely.</p>
  228. <p>“I’m very concerned that we’re going to see less revenue as a result of this increase than we would have without it as well as severely hampering the legal industry and significantly advantaging the illicit and illegal activities around our state,” said Cabaldon, who, along with state Sen. Scott Wiener, publicly supported putting the tax freeze in the budget bill.</p>
  229. <p>“I hope we remain committed to solving this issue.”</p>
  230. <p><em>Chris Roberts can be reached at <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/california-lawmakers-fail-to-include-cannabis-tax-relief-in-budget-bill/mailto:chris.roberts@mjbizdaily.com">chris.roberts@mjbizdaily.com</a>.</em></p>
  231. <div class="columns col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 con_cta_wrapper">
  232. <h3 id="subscribe-to-the-mjbiz-factbook"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Subscribe to the MJBiz Factbook </span></b><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></h3>
  233. <p><span data-contrast="auto">Exclusive industry data and analysis to help you make informed business decisions and avoid costly missteps. All the facts, none of the hype.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
  234. <p><span data-contrast="auto">What you will get:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
  235. <ul>
  236. <li>Monthly and quarterly updates, with new data &amp; insights</li>
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  239. <li>Annual survey of cannabis businesses</li>
  240. <li>Consumer insights</li>
  241. <li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="9" data-list-defn-props="{" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">And more!</span></li>
  242. </ul>
  243. </div>
  244. </div>
  245.  
  246. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/california-lawmakers-fail-to-include-cannabis-tax-relief-in-budget-bill/">Source link </a></p>
  247. ]]></content:encoded>
  251. </item>
  252. <item>
  253. <title>NORML Op-Ed: Debunking Cannabis Potency Myths</title>
  254. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/norml-op-ed-debunking-cannabis-potency-myths/</link>
  256. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  257. <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2025 22:20:38 +0000</pubDate>
  258. <category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
  259. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/norml-op-ed-debunking-cannabis-potency-myths/</guid>
  260.  
  261. <description><![CDATA[From the onset of marijuana prohibition, criminalization advocates sought to advance their agenda — an unduly influence to&#8230;]]></description>
  262. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  263. </p>
  264. <div itemprop="text">
  265. <div class="wp-block-image">
  266. <figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img data-recalc-dims="1" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="730" height="411" data-attachment-id="68594" data-permalink="https://norml.org/legal-cannabis-preroll-flower/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/norml.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/legal-cannabis-preroll-flower.png?fit=730%2C411&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="730,411" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="legal-cannabis-preroll-flower" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/norml.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/legal-cannabis-preroll-flower.png?fit=730%2C411&amp;ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/norml.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/legal-cannabis-preroll-flower.png?fit=730%2C411&amp;ssl=1" src="http://moderncannabislifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/legal-cannabis-preroll-flower.png" alt="a legal cannabis joint rests atop a cannabis flower" class="wp-image-68594" style="width:365px"  /></figure>
  267. </div>
  268. <p>From the onset of marijuana prohibition, criminalization advocates sought to advance their agenda — an unduly influence to the public — by sensationalizing the supposed strength of cannabis. </p>
  269. <p>In the 1930s, while lobbying for the first-ever federal ban on cannabis, Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger <a href="https://libquotes.com/harry-j-anslinger/quote/lbl9w2g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alleged</a> that the marijuana of a century ago was so uniquely potent that it was “entirely the monster Hyde, the harmful effect of which cannot be measured.”</p>
  270. <p>Since then, legalization opponents have repeatedly alleged that cannabis’ potency has exponentially grown stronger. Testifying before Congress in 1996, then-Sen. Joe Biden opined that the potency of 1990s weed was unlike anything America had ever seen. “It’s like comparing buckshot in a shotgun shell to a laser-guided missile,” he <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-weed-should-be-legal-its-getting-stronger-more-potent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>.</p>
  271. <p>Modern day prohibitionists continue to engage in this same rhetorical tactic.</p>
  272. <p>Let’s set the record straight. First, the availability of higher potency cannabis products is not a phenomenon unique to today’s state-legal markets. In fact, more potent products like hashish have always been publicly available. </p>
  273. <p>Typically, when consumers encounter higher strength marijuana, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93198-5.epdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">they ingest lesser quantities</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2560548/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">of it</a>. This self-regulatory process is known as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18367390/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">self-titration</a>.</p>
  274. <p>Second, higher potency marijuana products do not dominate state-legal markets. In fact, retail sales records from legal states show that most consumers <a href="https://norml.org/news/2020/09/10/survey-over-three-in-four-cannabis-consumers-prefer-flower-over-concentrates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tend to prefer</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28556310/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitate toward</a> lesser strength products. </p>
  275. <p>Third, unlike alcohol (which is readily available in a variety of potencies, including highly-potent formulations like grain alcohol and absinthe), THC is <a href="https://www.thecannabist.co/2017/07/12/marijuana-overdose-statistics-dea/83506/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">incapable of causing lethal overdose</a> — regardless of its potency or the quantity consumed. </p>
  276. <p>That’s not to say that cannabis products cannot be over-consumed. They can. But in such instances, consumers typically experience only temporary dysphoria (commonly referred to as a panic attack) — the effects of which dissipate within a few hours. (By contrast, alcohol overconsumption is associated with some 2,200 overdose deaths annually.) </p>
  277. <p>Nonetheless, in order to discourage overconsumption, most states regulate certain cannabis products, like edibles, to <a href="https://norml.org/act/marijuana-policies-in-legal-states/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">single serving sizes</a>. All legal states require that products’ potencies appear on their labels so consumers can make informed decisions prior to consuming them. </p>
  278. <p>In some instances, overexposure to higher strength products might induce temporary psychotic-like symptoms. However, such incidents are exceedingly <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-022-02112-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rare and are typically exclusive to those</a> who are either predisposed to or have a preexisting psychiatric disorder. (Notably, exposure to high-potency alcohol <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459134/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">also triggers psychosis</a> in certain consumers.) </p>
  279. <p>Specifically, an exhaustive <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2800728" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> published in the <em>Journal of the American Medical Association</em> determined that “state medical and recreational cannabis policies were not associated with a statistically significant increase in rates of psychosis-related health outcomes.”</p>
  280. <p>Overall, most Americans are happy with cannabis legalization. Thirteen years into states’ marijuana legalization experiment, public support for making marijuana legal nationwide <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/514007/grassroots-support-legalizing-marijuana-hits-record.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">has never been higher</a>. To date, 24 states have legalized the adult-use market. None of these states have everrepealed their legalization laws. That’s because these policies are working largely as voters and politicians intended — and because they are preferable to cannabis criminalization.</p>
  281. <p>Ultimately, any potential harms associated with cannabis are best mitigated by a policy of legalization, regulation and education. They are only exacerbated by criminalization, sensationalism and stigmatization.</p>
  282. <p><em>A version of this op-ed <a href="https://www.ajc.com/opinion/2025/06/claims-of-high-marijuana-potency-are-overblown-medical-research-shows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">was initially published</a> in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.</em></p>
  283. <div class="sharedaddy sd-block sd-like jetpack-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded" id="like-post-wrapper-161076362-73352-685c763495d7b" data-src="https://widgets.wp.com/likes/?ver=14.8-a.9#blog_id=161076362&amp;post_id=73352&amp;origin=norml.org&amp;obj_id=161076362-73352-685c763495d7b" data-name="like-post-frame-161076362-73352-685c763495d7b" data-title="Like or Reblog">
  284. <h3 id="like-this" class="sd-title">Like this:</h3>
  285. <p><span class="button"><span>Like</span></span> <span class="loading">Loading&#8230;</span></p>
  286. <p><span class="sd-text-color"/><a class="sd-link-color"/></div>
  287. <p><h3 id="related" class="jp-relatedposts-headline"><em>Related</em></h3>
  288. </p></div>
  289.  
  290. <br /><a href="https://norml.org/blog/2025/06/25/norml-op-ed-debunking-cannabis-potency-myths/">Source link </a></p>
  291. ]]></content:encoded>
  295. </item>
  296. <item>
  297. <title>Ohio lawmakers unlikely to change marijuana law before break</title>
  298. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/ohio-lawmakers-unlikely-to-change-marijuana-law-before-break/</link>
  300. <dc:creator><![CDATA[MCL]]></dc:creator>
  301. <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:47:06 +0000</pubDate>
  302. <category><![CDATA[What's Hot]]></category>
  303. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/ohio-lawmakers-unlikely-to-change-marijuana-law-before-break/</guid>
  304.  
  305. <description><![CDATA[It appears unlikely that Ohio lawmakers will make changes to the state’s recreational marijuana law before their summer&#8230;]]></description>
  306. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  307. </p>
  308. <div>
  309. <p>It appears <a target="_blank" href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/06/25/we-are-going-to-push-pause-on-ohio-marijuana-legislation-says-republican-lawmaker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unlikely that Ohio lawmakers will make changes</a> to the state’s recreational marijuana law before their summer break.</p>
  310. <p>The state’s House Judiciary Committee was expected to vote on whether to advance Senate Bill 56, but for two consecutive weeks, the vote did not occur <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/controversial-ohio-adult-use-cannabis-changes-stall-amid-political-dissension/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amid political infighting</a>.</p>
  311. <p>“We are going to push pause,” state Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart told the Ohio Capital Journal about the adult-use bill.</p>
  312. <p>“We’re going to take the summer and come back and potentially take another crack at it.”</p>
  313. <p>SB 56 would cut levels in recreational marijuana extracts from a maximum of 90% to 70%, limit the number of retailers to 400 and forbid smoking in most public places.</p>
  314. <p>The measure also would allow only licensed marijuana stores to sell intoxicating hemp products that have been tested and comply with packaging, labeling and advertising requirements.</p>
  315. <p>Grocery stores, carryout stores, bars and restaurants would be able to continue to sell hemp-derived THC beverages.</p>
  316. <p>Two lawmakers voiced concern that the Legislature was even considering making changes to a law that Ohio <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/ohio-adult-use-marijuana-legalization-vote-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voters approved in 2023</a>. Adult-use sales subsequently <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/ohio-adult-use-marijuana-sales-launch-gets-off-to-really-special-start/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">began in August 2024</a>.</p>
  317. <p>“The people of Ohio spoke very clearly on this issue,” House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, a Democrat, said, according to the Capital Journal.</p>
  318. <p>“They knew what they were voting on, and they voted to pass adult-use cannabis.”</p>
  319. <p>Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan, also acknowledging the adult-use bill’s decisive victory at the polls, noted that lawmakers failed to propose changes to the measure or offer an alternative before it went to the voters.</p>
  320. <p>“The <a target="_blank" href="https://ohiohouse.gov/members/sean-p-brennan/news/rep-brennan-defends-voter-voice-backs-constitutional-limits-on-overriding-cannabis-initiative-134805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voters filled the gap</a> lawmakers left,” he said in response to comments made during a panel discussion at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center.</p>
  321. <p>“Now that the people have acted, our job should be to carry out their will – not override it.”</p>
  322. </div>
  323.  
  324. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/ohio-lawmakers-unlikely-to-change-recreational-marijuana-law-before-break/">Source link </a></p>
  325. ]]></content:encoded>
  329. </item>
  330. <item>
  331. <title>Arkansas can enforce hemp-derived THC ban, appeals court rules</title>
  332. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/arkansas-can-enforce-hemp-derived-thc-ban-appeals-court-rules/</link>
  334. <dc:creator><![CDATA[MCL]]></dc:creator>
  335. <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:43:57 +0000</pubDate>
  336. <category><![CDATA[What's Hot]]></category>
  337. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/arkansas-can-enforce-hemp-derived-thc-ban-appeals-court-rules/</guid>
  338.  
  339. <description><![CDATA[Most hemp-derived THC products in Arkansas are illegal and state officials may enforce a 2023 ban, according to&#8230;]]></description>
  340. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  341. </p>
  342. <div>
  343. <p>Most hemp-derived THC products in Arkansas are illegal and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10616106/bio-gen-llc-v-sarah-huckabee-sanders/?q=%22Bio+gen%22&amp;type=o&amp;order_by=score+desc&amp;stat_Published=on" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state officials may enforce a 2023 ban</a>, according to a ruling from the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.</p>
  344. <p>The Tuesday decision overturns a 2024 lower-court ruling in a case brought by four hemp companies that <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/hemp-companies-sue-to-overturn-arkansas-ban-on-delta-thc-products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued in an attempt to halt</a> Arkansas officials from enforcing Act 629.</p>
  345. <p>Signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in May 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/new-arkansas-law-prohibits-sales-of-delta-8-thc-products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Act 629 banned</a>:</p>
  346. <ul>
  347. <li>Synthetic cannabinoids derived from hemp such as delta-8 and delta-10 THC.</li>
  348. <li>Hemp-derived delta-9 THC products with more than 0.3% THC. However, the measure stipulated that companies could ship such products through Arkansas.</li>
  349. </ul>
  350. <p>In a September 2023 ruling, a judge with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas issued a preliminary injunction <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/judge-blocks-arkansas-ban-on-delta-8-thc-other-hemp-products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">halting enforcement of the ban</a>, ruling that the hemp companies were likely to prevail.</p>
  351. <p>The hemp companies had argued that the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause prevented states from passing laws <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/arkansas-attorney-general-defends-delta-8-thc-ban-in-court/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stricter than the 2018 Farm Bill</a>.</p>
  352. <h2 id="why-the-judges-upheld-arkansas-law">Why the judges upheld Arkansas’ law</h2>
  353. <p>A three-judge 8th Circuit panel rejected that argument, writing in part that “just because states may legalize hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill does not mean they must.”</p>
  354. <p>States are also free to abandon “the federal definition of hemp,” according to the 8th Circuit’s opinion, which was signed by President Donald Trump appointee Judge Jonathan Kobes.</p>
  355. <p>As Kobes’ opinion noted, the case is still active and will return to the district court for more proceedings.</p>
  356. <p>But in the meantime, Arkansas officials are now allowed to enforce the state’s ban.</p>
  357. <h2 id="ruling-provides-clarity-for-lawmakers-nationwide">Ruling ‘provides clarity’ for lawmakers nationwide</h2>
  358. <p>In a statement, the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH) welcomed the decision, “which affirms the right of states to regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products and provides clarity to state lawmakers seeking to address these products in their states.”</p>
  359. <p>The decision comes amid serious reconsideration of the 2018 Farm Bill’s meaning and impact.</p>
  360. <p>In Congress, House Republicans <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/house-republicans-hemp-derived-thc-ban-approved-in-committee/">are pushing a redefinition of hemp</a> meant to close a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/MJBizMag/mjbizmag-february-2022/index.php#/p/34" target="_blank" rel="noopener">perceived “loophole” that’s allowed</a> intoxicating hemp-derived THC products to proliferate across the country.</p>
  361. <p>However, some conservative states are choosing to regulate rather than ban.</p>
  362. <p>That would include Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott recently <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/texas-delivers-potential-major-milestone-for-hemp-and-medical-marijuana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vetoed a bill that would have outlawed</a> the state’s estimated $5.5 billion hemp industry.</p>
  363. <p>Notably, Abbott cited the Arkansas litigation <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/texas-governor-saves-hemp-thc-industry-expands-medical-marijuana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as a reason for his veto</a>, noting that Texas’ ban was also likely to end up in the courts.</p>
  364. </div>
  365.  
  366. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/arkansas-can-enforce-hemp-derived-thc-ban-appeals-court-rules/">Source link </a></p>
  367. ]]></content:encoded>
  371. </item>
  372. <item>
  373. <title>Arkansas nears annual medical marijuana sales record</title>
  374. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/arkansas-nears-annual-medical-marijuana-sales-record/</link>
  376. <dc:creator><![CDATA[MCL]]></dc:creator>
  377. <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:17:01 +0000</pubDate>
  378. <category><![CDATA[What's Hot]]></category>
  379. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/arkansas-nears-annual-medical-marijuana-sales-record/</guid>
  380.  
  381. <description><![CDATA[With Arkansas’ medical marijuana sales exceeding $121 million through May, the state is on track to break its&#8230;]]></description>
  382. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  383. </p>
  384. <div>
  385. <div class="bialty-container">
  386. <p>With Arkansas’ medical marijuana sales <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/arkansas-medical-marijuana-sales-on-track-to-reach-new-high-dfa-says/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exceeding $121 million</a> through May, the state is on track to break its annual record set in 2023.</p>
  387. <p>Sales of medical marijuana products in the state – $121,024,696 – are about $7.2 million higher than they were for the same period last year, Fayetteville TV station KNWA reported, citing data from the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).</p>
  388. <p>During the first five months of 2025, MMJ dispensaries in Arkansas sold 32,474 pounds of product, up from about 30,000 pounds during the same period in 2024.</p>
  389. <p>According to the Arkansas health department, the number of active patient cards is up 12.8% to 109,854 compared with 97,374 at the start of 2024.</p>
  390. <p>“With daily medical marijuana sales averaging $806,000, we are on track to surpass the 2023 sales <a target="_blank" href="https://mjbizdaily.com/arkansas-medical-marijuana-sales-hit-283-million-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record of $283 million</a>,” DFA spokesperson Scott Hardin said in a statement.</p>
  391. <p>Arkansas’ MMJ industry took a hit in April when Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders vetoed legislation that would have:</p>
  392. <ul>
  393. <li>Legalized drive-thru windows at dispensaries in the state.</li>
  394. <li>Eased MMJ deliveries by reducing the number of employees state law requires to be in a transport vehicle from two to one.</li>
  395. <li>Allowed dispensary tours.</li>
  396. </ul>
  397. </div></div>
  398.  
  399. <br /><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/arkansas-nears-annual-medical-marijuana-sales-record-may-transactions/">Source link </a></p>
  400. ]]></content:encoded>
  404. </item>
  405. <item>
  406. <title>Mature cannabis markets see job losses as emerging states boom</title>
  407. <link>https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/mature-cannabis-markets-see-job-losses-as-emerging-states-boom/</link>
  409. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  410. <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:07:36 +0000</pubDate>
  411. <category><![CDATA[Recipes]]></category>
  412. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://moderncannabislifestyle.com/mature-cannabis-markets-see-job-losses-as-emerging-states-boom/</guid>
  413.  
  414. <description><![CDATA[Despite a 4.5% increase in revenue that reached $30.1 billion in 2024, the regulated marijuana industry experienced a&#8230;]]></description>
  415. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
  416. </p>
  417. <div>
  418. <p>Despite a 4.5% increase in revenue that reached $30.1 billion in 2024, the regulated marijuana industry experienced a 3.4% decline in employment, shedding 15,000 jobs to settle at 425,000 workers.</p>
  419. <p>The trend signals that cannabis operators are recalibrating in response to economic conditions, market saturation leading to price compression and burdensome state and local taxes that push consumers to unregulated markets, according to Vangst’s <a href="https://www.vangst.com/2025-jobs-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“U.S. Cannabis Jobs Report 2025.”</a></p>
  420. <p>But it’s important to look <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/map-of-us-marijuana-legalization-by-state/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at individual regulated markets</a> rather than the United States as a whole, said Portland, Oregon-based cannabis data analyst Beau Whitney, who wrote the report for Vangst, an cannabis industry recruitment platform in Denver.</p>
  421. <p>“Mature markets are atrophying and seeing declining revenue because of price compression,” Whitney told <em>MJBizDaily</em>.</p>
  422. <p>“In Oregon, we have so many licenses and <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/oregons-marijuana-glut-leads-to-lowest-prices-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">so much oversupply</a> that people just aren’t making it anymore.</p>
  423. <p>“When you’re struggling just to survive, it’s really tough to add workers.”</p>
  424. <p>While many cannabis businesses in mature markets are cutting jobs, emerging markets such as <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/maryland-high-demand-marijuana-market-undermined-by-restrictions-delays/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maryland</a>, <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/ocm-chief-felicia-reid-discusses-new-york-marijuana-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York</a> and <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/ohio-increases-adult-use-marijuana-purchase-quantities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a> are experiencing job growth.</p>
  425. <p>New York added 743 new adult-use marijuana licenses, which translated into a 209% increase in jobs.</p>
  426. <p>But mature markets, particularly California and Illinois, are experiencing significant declines:</p>
  427. <p>“People just aren’t making any money in this space anymore,” Whitney said.</p>
  428. <p>“It takes a long time to get a license and approvals, and people just run out of cash.”</p>
  429. <h2 id="u-s-wages-top-canadas">U.S. wages top Canada’s</h2>
  430. <p>In a separate report, White Ash Group looked at salaries for cannabis industry workers.</p>
  431. <p>The Toronto-based staffing and recruiting firm’s report, <a href="https://www.whiteashgroup.com/salary-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“The 2025 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide,”</a> found that salaries for marijuana employees in the United States outpace those in Canada by up to 20% – especially in newer markets.</p>
  432. <p>“In Canada, it’s been legal for a long time, so things are settling down,” said Graydon Welbourn, the managing partner and co-founder of White Ash Group.</p>
  433. <p>“The sentiment in the U.S. is that it’s still an exciting green rush opportunity.”</p>
  434. <p>Another explanation for the higher salaries is a greater cost of living in the United States, he said.</p>
  435. <p>Salaries for leadership roles in the United States have increased by 10%-15% compared to 2023, especially in high-demand markets including California and New York.</p>
  436. <p>Western U.S. markets such as California and Colorado offer slightly higher base salaries, while newer East Coast markets including New Jersey and New York offer significant equity incentives to attract leadership talent.</p>
  437. <h2 id="location-location-location">Location, location, location</h2>
  438. <p>Salaries also differ by location.</p>
  439. <p>A master grower in California can expect to earn $95,000 to $125,000; in Colorado, the range is $75,000 to $95,000.</p>
  440. <p>The salary for retail store managers in California ranges from $70,000 to $95,000 compared with $55,000 to $75,000 in Arizona.</p>
  441. <p>The hourly rate for entry-level budtenders in California is $17-$23 but drops to $15-$18 in Colorado.</p>
  442. <p>Canada is seeing an uptick in international positions as the country’s cannabis producers <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/canadian-cannabis-operators-exporting-in-saturated-domestic-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">focus on overseas markets</a>.</p>
  443. <p>Positions in international business development have a different pay structure than similar positions domestically because the supply chain is more complicated and the laws are different, Welbourn said.</p>
  444. <p>“There are a lot of companies that just grow flower for other countries – they don’t even bother selling it in Canada,” Welbourn said.</p>
  445. <p>“A lot of these companies are starting to have an international strategy.”</p>
  446. <p><em>Margaret Jackson can be reached at <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/mature-cannabis-markets-see-job-losses-while-emerging-states-boom/mailto:margaret.jackson@mjbizdaily.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">margaret.jackson@mjbizdaily.com</a>.</em></p>
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  449. <p><span data-contrast="auto">Exclusive industry data and analysis to help you make informed business decisions and avoid costly missteps. All the facts, none of the hype.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
  450. <p><span data-contrast="auto">What you will get:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
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