New York Global Edition

Cannabis Means Business – Conference & Expo

Linkedin Instagram Facebook Youtube

Category: Professional Services

Essential Professional Services For Cannabis Business, brought to you by Cannabis Means Business.

Malta
By CMB Global

August Newsletter – States, National and Maltese News

Farewell August.
Fall into September.

Comments from CMB 2025:

“Cannabis culture in full bloom — farmers, brands, innovators, and even Whoopi Goldberg, who dropped her new infused drink. Big moves happening!”
– NYCPov420

“Loved making new connections at the expo, and had an absolutely blast at their annual yacht party.”– Andrea, Expo and Yacht Party Attendee

August is over. We leave the sun, fun, and beaches of summer behind and enter into the more structured routines that September will bring. August ended the silence on rescheduling and unleashed recommendations to the White House, to and by members of Congress, as well as letters from dozens of US Attorneys General, seeking to push rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III as the beginning of a path to full legalization.

Keep reading and do check out our social media platforms, and our website, for more important information.

New York Cannabis News

OCM Issues an Update on Correcting Proximity Rule Compliance Status

When the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) went into effect in 2021, a proximity rule legislated that dispensaries must be at least 500 feet away from schools and religious entities. A dispensary is supposed to be 500 feet from the property line to schools and/or religious entities. It was reported in late July that scores of dispensaries, some that are already opened, and some yet to open, were measured incorrectly because the rule was not accurately interpreted, creating non-compliance with the law. The error caused a thunderstorm of reactions from dispensary owners and license holders that included confusion and anger. The OCM has tried to quell fears that the affected dispensaries will have to abruptly close, and that a correction will be made. They have issued a comprehensive info page and update on what is being done.

Find out more from NYS here.

NYS Seed-to-Sale Tracking Mandate Paused

The recent merger announced this August, by the two leading seed-to-sale tracking systems, BioTrack and METRC, has caused a delay in NYS implementing the contract that it had with BioTrack for seed-to-sale tracking of cannabis grown and sold in NYS. The merger was unexpected and has caused the OCM to pause implementation while it learns more about how the merger will affect its plans to use BioTrack. Where does this leave growers and the NYS supply chain who are looking to ensure that legal cannabis grown in NYS is in the marketplace?

Read more from Spectrum News.

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 464 legal Adult-Use dispensaries were operational by August 29, 2025. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries across NYS:


Strains for Life Powered by Indoor
MANHATTAN | 3547 Broadway, New York 10031
Website: strainsforlife.com
    
Erudito Cannabis Boutique
BROOKLYN | 120 Union Street, Brooklyn 11231
Website: erudito.nyc

The Coughie Shop
WOLCOTT | 12044 East Main Street, Wolcott 14590   

NYCBUD Midtown
MANHATTAN | 405 West 39th Street, New York 10018
Website: nycbud.com

Good Daze Dispensary
LITTLE NECK | 25306 Northern Blvd, Little Neck 11362
Website: gooddaze.nyc

Cannabis Huts Poughkeepsie
POUGHKEEPSIE | 4-10 Taft Avenue, Poughkeepsie 12603
Website: cannabishuts.com

Lighthouse Cannabis
MANHATTAN | 381 Broadway, New York 10013
Website: lighthousecannabis.nyc

Vereleaf
MANHATTAN | 383 8th Avenue, New York 10001

Greene Street
BROOKLYN | 3448 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn 11229
Website: gstnydispensary.com

FlynnStoned Baytowne
ROCHESTER | 1900 Empire Blvd, Suite 190, Rochester 14580
Website: flynnstoned.com

Excite Unlimited
MANHATTAN | 4441 Broadway, New York 10040
Website: unlimitedcannabis.net

King of Budz Cannabis Company
CHEEKTOWAGA | 2200 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga 14225
Website: kingofbudz.com

Le Flora Cannabis
MANHATTAN | 111 Fulton Street, New York 10038
Website: lefloracannabis.com

 

Brookie’s Cookies*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
HOLLAND PATENT | 8890 Thompson Road, Holland Patent 13354
Website: twinacresestatesinc.com

Canna Planet Newburgh
NEWBURGH | 217 S Plank Road, Newburgh 12550
Website: cannaplanet.com

Cannabis Realm of NY Spring Valley
SPRING VALLEY | 76 Route 59, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Website: cannabisrealmny.com

Stash Box
SPRINGFIELD GARDENS | 23004 S Conduit Ave, Springfield Gardens 11413
Website: stashboxdispensary.com

Thrive Syracuse
SYRACUSE | 3065 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse 13224
Website: thrivesyracuse.com

Stellar Dispensary
NEWBURGH | 5440 Route 9W, Newburgh 12550
Website: stellardispensary.com

Fumi Dispensary
QUEENS VILLAGE | 217-12 Hempstead Ave, Queens Village 11429

Rockland Cannabis Dispensary
AIRMONT | 296 Route 59, Airmont 10901
Website: rocklandcannabisdispensary.com

Hudson Charisma
NEWBURGH | 496 Broadway, Newburgh 12550

Cloud 9 Dispensary
CHEEKTOWAGA | 1380 French Rd, Suite #1, Cheektowaga 14043

The THC Shop Bronx
BRONX | 1031 Southern Blvd, Bronx 10459

FlynnStoned Bay Ridge
BROOKLYN | 8112 5th Ave, Brooklyn 11209
Website: flynnstoned.com

The Cannabis Vault
BUFFALO | 2234 Seneca Street, Buffalo 14210

Oz Dispensary
STATEN ISLAND | 97 Nugent Street, Staten Island 10306

New Jersey Cannabis News

Municipalities and Opt-in/Opt-out Process

Now that the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) has approved its first four consumption lounges, it is issuing information to its Municipalities to opt-in or opt-out of having consumption lounges in their Municipality.

Click here to learn more about the issues.

The next NJCRC meeting is virtual and will be held on September 10.

See agenda here.

Michigan Cannabis News

Cannabis Sales Slowdown

While Michigan shows high cannabis sales, it is starting to show signs of a slowdown since its inception of legalization.

Read more here.

Delaware Cannabis News

Strong Adult Use Sales After Launch

On August 1, Delaware launched its adult use sales market through its existing medical dispensaries who applied to sell adult use cannabis. It is showing strong results so far with nearly $1M being reached in the first few days of adult use sales.

Read more here.

Oklahoma Cannabis News

Activism to Gather Signatures Attracts Attention

Activists in Oklahoma are working to get signatures to secure a ballot measure for legalizing Recreational Marijuana. State Question 837 would make it a constitutional amendment. In 2023, an attempt with State Question 820 failed in a special election with 60% voting against such a measure. Now the issue is very much alive again. While pro-cannabis activists are amassing signatures to get the measure on the ballot again, they are attracting the attention of police leaders and law enforcement groups who are speaking out against the measure.

Read the article from Marijuana Moment.

National Cannabis News

Rockefeller Institute of Government Issues Report on States’ Legalization

The Rockefeller Institute of Government issued an interesting report on the status of cannabis reform across the US, including initiatives specifically geared to halt voter-approved ballot measures that would have legalized cannabis in certain states.

Review it here.

Let Our People Bank! 32 Attorneys General Send Letter to Congress

Let our people bank! A letter to Congress, signed by 32 Attorneys General, was sent urging Federal Lawmakers to enact SAFE Banking legislation. While it was not the first time such a letter was sent to Congress, this letter is another piece of the many overtures in August that called for cannabis reforms on various levels.

Read more from NORML.

Will President Trump Reschedule Cannabis?

Late August was filled with reports that many groups and advisors were urging President Trump to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III, with just as many advising him not to. Trump asserted on August 11 in a news conference that he is looking at it and he will make a decision in a few weeks.

Get the story from NORML.

Maltese Cannabis News

Legalization Rolls Back in Malta – Odor Too Much

Malta was once a model of recreational cannabis in Europe when it legalized cannabis for adult use in 2021. Now cannabis smoke odor has become a top complaint, and Malta and has put forth legislation calling it a “nuisance.” The Parliament of Malta enacted Bill 128, mandating a €235 fine for public consumption of non-medical cannabis—including “in any place where the [odor] causes a nuisance to third parties.”

Read about it here.

Be in the Right Room

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Cannabis Means Business events.

Czechoslovakia
By CMB Global

July Newsletter – Hot News & Czechoslovakia

July Heat. No Sweat.
CMB Glows with Hot News.

Cannabis Now, 2025 CMB Recap

“The carefully curated event combined high-level education with powerful networking and immersive brand activations for an impactful two days. Exhibiting brands reported exciting product launches and a genuine interest among attendees, leading to meaningful connections all the way around…

“Held in New York every single year, the exposition reflects ‘the vibrancy and complexity of New York City — a global hub for business, innovation and cannabis.’ “

Cannabis Now

July has turned out to be a very hot month. We celebrated and saluted our country’s independence and freedom while tolerating sweltering high temperatures, as many of us planned and took much needed vacations. As we leave July, we highlight some of the important industry news items. Keep reading and do check out our social media platforms and our website for more exciting information, and save the dates for our June 2026 CMB event at the Javits.

New York Cannabis News

OCM Appoints New Chief Medical Officer, Dr. June Chin

Last month the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) welcomed Jessica Garcia, the newly named Cannabis Control Board (CCB) Chair, and L. Simone Washington, the new Social Equity Officer. Then, on July 7, the OCM announced the appointment of Dr. June Chin as their Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Download the comprehensive CCB press release here.

On Tuesday July 29, 2025, Dr. Chin presented a #NYCannabis Grand Rounds session titled, “Cannabis in the Care of Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): What Clinicians Need to Know.” The session was moderated by Sang Choi, Research Scientist at the OCM.

To view the session on YouTube, click here.

OCM Launches Map to Buy Legal

In case you missed it, the OCM launched the “Buy Legal Map” and is urging cannabis customers to buy cannabis from only legal dispensaries and is also providing a useful resource to do so with the “Buy Legal Map” showing where the legal dispensaries are. The resource allows for filtering your searches by dispensary type, retail activity, and social and economic equity.

Learn more here.

CCB Meeting July 25, 2025

Friday July 25 the CCB held a meeting. The agenda was full of issues to discuss, and the meeting yielded the following including the latest on dispensary openings, licensees, and product recalls. Highlights from the meeting were:

  • Recognition and thanks was given to former Chair Tremaine Wright, the first Chair of the OCM CCB
  • Approval of 53 additional CAURD licenses while over 7,000 applications were received after opening the most recent application window 11/17/24 to 12/18/24.
  • Licensee data was presented submissions, approvals, and pending approvals
  • Market data for dispensaries was presented
  • Staten Island and Long Island lead dispensary sales across NYS
  • NYS year-to-date retail sales are over $650M, with total retail sales since 2023 reaching $1.7B

For all of the data and meeting details click here to download the full deck.

Proximity Rule Error May Cause Some NY Dispensaries to Close or Relocate

When the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) went into effect in 2021, a proximity rule legislated that dispensaries must be at least 500 feet away from schools and houses of worship. What exactly is supposed to be measured in distance from a dispensary? It should be 500 feet from the property line of a school and/or religious entity. This is different than what was measured for over 152 dispensaries that are either already opened for business, or that are pending to open. The measurement was incorrectly done from entrance to entrance, not to the property lines, and is now causing the possibility that those dispensaries will have to relocate or close.

Learn more about Albany’s response and what solutions may be on the table including grandfathering in those dispensaries so that they could stay open.

Click here for the Spectrum NY1 segment, which includes Governor Hochul’s comments, plus the list of affected dispensaries.

Read more here in the New York Post.

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 436 legal Adult-Use dispensaries were operational by July 25, 2025. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries across NYS:

The Joint
BUFFALO | 904 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 14222
Website: thejointcannabisdispensary.com

 

FlynnStoned Binghamton
BINGHAMTON | 21143 Upper Front Street, Binghamton 13905
Website: flynnstoned.com

 

Toke Lane
BUFFALO | 1727 Genesee Street, Buffalo 14211
Website: tokelane.com

 

Knotweed Farm
HANCOCK | 87 East Front Street, Hancock 13783
Website: knotweedfarm.com

 

Township Valley Farm
ONEONTA | 393 Main Street, Unit #101, Oneonta 13820

 

Quality High Farm & Dispensary
SLEEPY HOLLOW | 25 Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow 10591
Website: qualityhigh.com

 

The Greenhouse Cannabis
TROY | 514 Congress Street, Troy 12180
Website: thegreenhouseny.com

 

 

 

CannaFamily Dispensary
HOWARD BEACH | 102-15 159 Road, Howard Beach 11414

 

Buffalo Kind
EAST AURORA | 640 Main Street, East Aurora 14052
Website: buffalokind.com

 

Bloom Brothers
MENANDS | 442 Broadway, Menands 12204
Website: bloombrothers.com

 

Wicked Reserve Dispensary
ROCHESTER | 1150 University Avenue, Bldg 5, Set 7, Rochester 14607
Website: wickedreservedispensary.com

 

NSH LLC
BROOKLYN | 2280 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn 11234

 

The Flowery East Village
MANHATTAN | 101 E 10th Street, New York 10003
Website: thefloweryny.com

 

Kaya Bliss Brooklyn Heights
BROOKYLN | 64 Henry Street, Brooklyn 11201
Website: kayablissnyc.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

The First Four Consumption Lounges Have Been Approved

Big news in New Jersey this July. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved and announced at their July 15th public meeting the first four consumption lounges. All of the new lounges are minority-owned, or woman-owned, or disabled-veteran-owned. Below are the four approved consumption lounges and their locations:

1.     High Rollers Dispensary (Atlantic City)
2.     SunnyTien Dispensary (Atlantic City)
3.     Gynsyng (Merchantville)
4.     URB’N Dispensary (Newark)

Also at the July 15th meeting, the board gave approval of several types of applications and license renewals.

Click here to download the meeting slides.

Delaware Cannabis News

Adult-Use Sales to Begin August 1

Congratulations and good luck to Delaware. After recreational sales were enacted in 2023, this August 1 will be the big day that Delaware recreational sales will finally begin. The Office of Marijuana Commission is allowing medical dispensaries to sell for recreational use to 21 or older adults. When Delaware went legal, counties were given the option to allow, restrict or ban recreational sales. The expense for medical dispensaries to also accommodate recreational sales comes at a cost for those businesses via expensive required conversion licenses.

Read more about Delaware’s August 1 recreational sales launch from Delaware.gov.

Texas Cannabis News

Hemp Drama Continues in Special Session

In our June Newsletter we highlighted that the very contentious hemp bill to ban THC entirely in hemp products was vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott and he called for a special session to regulate hemp rather ban it. What has developed out of this special session is a messy drama that actually seems to ban rather than regulate.  Has Governor Abbott changed his original vetoed position and directive for the special session?

Read more about it in Marijuana Moment.

Oklahoma Cannabis News

Ballot Measure Signatures Being Gathered

Petitioners are working hard in Oklahoma to get signatures to secure a ballot measure for legalizing Recreational Marijuana. State Question 837 would make a constitutional amendment for such. In the past, an attempt with State Question 820 in 2023, failure prevailed in a special election with 60% against such a measure. Now there may be some hope to get the ballot measure approved and appear on a ballot in 2026.

Read more here from the Oklahoma Voice.

Florida Cannabis News

New Law Puts Access to Medical Marijuana at Risk for Patients

A new law put forth by Governor Ron DeSantis targets medical marijuana patients who violate the state’s Drug Abuse Prevention and Control laws. If they violate them, they could lose their cards either permanently or temporarily.

Read more from WESH 2 News.

National Cannabis News

Real Estate Values Seem to Be Increasing in Adult-Use Areas

Whoever would have thought that owning a home in a legal adult-use state would yield significant growth in the home’s value? A recent study shows that homes in jurisdictions in states that have adult-use cannabis legalization, actually experience higher value growth over time as compared to homes in non-legalized adult-use jurisdictions. A study by Clever Offers cited as much as $60K in higher value when doing the comparison.

Review the full report from Clever Offers here.

Read more about this from NORML.

This article from The Zebra looks at cannabis legalization and home values across the USA and the impact on local real estate.

Read it here in The Zebra.

New Poll Shows Almost 90% Support Among Americans for Legalization

It seems that no matter how much the industry continues to wait for something to happen regarding full cannabis legalization in the USA, support among Americans keeps growing and is approaching 90%. A recent nationwide poll conducted by the Pew Research Center resulted in 87% of Americans wanting cannabis legalization.

Read more here from NORML.

Voter-Approved Legalization Measures Under Threat

Many ballot measures that have been voter-approved in recent elections continue to be threatened for enactment. Stay informed and up to date with what is happening in this regard. NORML’s Paul Armentano’s Op Ed written in April 2025 is not to be overlooked.

Read the Op Ed here.

National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) Founding Leadership Changes

Aaron Smith has announced his next phase of leadership and is departing as the Founding CEO of the NCIA. He will remain a board member. His departure and new role were released by the NCIA July 23. He will be the Political Director of Unite America.

The team at CMB appreciates the NCIA and the leadership that Aaron provided for 15 years. CMB wishes Aaron all the best and congratulations in his new role.

Read about it from the NCIA.

Federal News

Passage of SAFER Banking Act Urged by 32 State Attorneys General

As the industry awaits the results of any activity regarding rescheduling of cannabis by the DEA, a truly reformative action for banking regardless of what happens with rescheduling, would be the passage of a federally approved banking bill for cannabis businesses. In a letter dated July 24, 2025, a bipartisan appeal from 32 Attorneys General was sent to congressional leaders in the Senate and the House to pass the Secure And Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act.

Get the full story from the American Banking Association.

Download the full signed letter here.

New Drug Enforcement Administration Head (DEA) Confirmed

Terence Cole has been confirmed as the new DEA head. He has asserted that one of his priorities is to take up the Rescheduling of cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug. The issue has essentially been in pause mode since the last presidential admin initiated the possibility. What Cole has in mind is yet to be determined as a path forward one way or the other. Time will tell.

Read more from Forbes.

DEA Chief Administrator Law Judge Retiring

In a development in the Rescheduling process and oversight, Judge John J. Mulrooney, who was appointed by the DEA as the Chief Administrator Law judge to oversee the participants and testimonies, is retiring.

Read about it here in Cannabis Business Times.

Kentucky Governor Urging Presidential Rescheduling Support

Governor Beshear of Kentucky has formally sent President Trump a letter asking him to oppose and veto attempts to block Rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. His letter specifically addresses the bill that has congressional language that blocks the DEA from rescheduling it. Beshear cites the research and the benefits for medical cannabis in his letter to Trump.

For more, see the story from WBIR.

Czechoslovakia Cannabis News

Cannabis Decriminalization Takes Effect In Czechoslovakia

On July 17, President Petr Pavel enacted a bill that decriminalizes recreational cannabis and permits home grow, and possession with limitations. No sale of cannabis is permitted under the newly enacted bill. This bill is a pathway for a new and progressive framework regarding cannabis.

Read about it in the Prague Morning.

Turkey Cannabis News

Turkey Enacts Law to Allow Pharmacies to Sell Medical Cannabis

A legislative bill was passed in Turkey that allows the sale of medical cannabis and products from a pharmacy, with a prescription.

Check out Forbes for more info.

Be in the Right Room

We look forward to seeing you at our Cannabis Means Business 2026 events.

Hefestus Exhibiting at CMB 2025
By CMB Global

CMB Delivered the Right Room in June

Good Vibes. Great Exhibitors.
Relevant Topics. Product Launches.

"Cannabis culture in full bloom — farmers, brands, innovators, and even Whoopi Goldberg, who dropped her new infused drink. Big moves happening!" NYCPov420

As we leave this June, we reflect on our 11th Annual Cannabis Means Business New York flagship event June 4 – 5. Our attendees, exhibitors, speakers, council members, and sponsors helped make another show for the record books and were part of creating a new cannabis history.

Discussions and deep dives into cannabis entrepreneurship opportunities on a global scale were in full swing at CMB. Business planning commandeered the conversations in the booths, in the aisles, in the conference rooms, at the Women in Cannabis Entrepreneur Luncheon, at the rooftop kick-off party, and at the O2VAPE Industry Yacht Party.

The conference program on the mainstage highlighted relevant topics to help navigate the widening opportunities in cannabis with sessions that included:

Future of Cannabis Tourism
Mainstream Businesses & Investment Opportunities in Cannabis
Cannabis Beverage Infusion Boom and Where It is Heading
Marketing Brands Domestically & Globally
Artificial Intelligence for Cannabis Businesses
Opportunities Across the Globe
Real Estate and Cannabis 
Compliance
Health and Wellness

The show floor sizzled with red-hot exhibits and activations that sparked ideas and innovation including:

Pre-Roll Machinery
Lighting
Retail
Cultivation
Banking & Capital Raise
Packaging and Design
Advocacy and Regulation
Hefestus Exhibiting at CMB 2025
Kymberly "KymB" Byrnes, Faye Coleman, Dr. Chanda Macias, Degelis Tufts Pilla

The Special Events Stage featured amazing female entrepreneurs as they delivered their personal and business stories that built their cannabis companies at the themed “Meet the Journeywomen of Cannabis” at the Women in Cannabis Entrepreneur Luncheon.

 

Pictured from the left: Kymberly “KymB”Byrnes, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, TribeTokes; Podcast Host, “Highest: In the Room”; Faye Coleman,Co-Founder, CEO, Pure Genesis; Dr. Chanda Macias, Chairwoman of the Board of Managers and CEO, Women Grow; CEO, National Holistic Healthcare; Degelis Tufts Pilla, CEO, Co-Founder, TribeTokes

The Special Events Stage also featured a Fireside Chat, with Tim Seymour and Whoopi Goldberg discussing her entry into the infused beverage market with her product launch Whoop-Tea, a beverage created in partnership with Pure Genesis.

Whoopi Goldberg and Tim Seymour, CMB 2025
Denise Rue, Neal Usatin, Jason Konner, MD., Gaetano Lardieri

The Special Events Stage also provided educational insight into the medicinal importance of Psilocybin with an informative skit performed by practicing medical professionals and advocates. The skit depicted a therapy session to treat a patient’s depression with psychedelics.

Pictured from the left, Denise Rue, M.A., M.F.A., M.S.W.Social Worker; Founder, New Jersey Psychedelic Therapy Association; Neal Usatin, Filmmaker, Editor; Jason Konner, MD., Senior Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Gaetano Lardieri, Senior Executive Advisor, Future Entheogenic Medicines (F.E.M.); Co-founder, Managing Director, Quantum WellCare (QWC)

Rooftop Party, CMB 2025
O2VAPE Industry Yacht Party, CMB 2025

The Rooftop Party and the O2VAPE Industry Yacht Party continued the conversations and deal-making that began in the workshops, in the conference sessions, at the exhibitor booths, and throughout the show floor, and created an environment that forged new and long-lasting relationships.

Cannabis Means Business (CMB), has always been the tag line of our exposition and conference, and it lives on through the evolution of the cannabis industry – past, present, and future. CMB looks forward to its 12th year in building Expos and Conferences with the information, the exhibits, the curated activations, the seminars, the professionals, and the carefully planned networking events that build the industry together in the right room.

“Tons of great energy & culture flowing through our city beautiful to see & to have everyone come together for one common goal I love it.” Little Beach Harvest

New York Cannabis News

Welcome New CCB Chair & OCM Chief Equity Officer

June was quite a busy month for the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) and licensees. On June 27th the CCB held a meeting where it welcomed Jessica C. Garcia, the new CCB Chair and L. Simone Washington, the new Chief Equity Officer. They also announced licensee information and sales data about the NYS cannabis industry.

Download the comprehensive CCB press release here.

New York State Office of Cannabis Management Issues BioTrack API Updates

Seed-to-Sale tracking was also a big item in June as the OCM released information bulletins and announced deadlines for integration into systems.

Click here for the latest guidelines and dates issued to integrators and licensees.

NYS Department of Health Issues Cannabis Use Report

On June 25 the NYSDOH released a report on cannabis use in NYS by adults 18 or older. The report has data on consumption, demographics and impact to health. The legal age to consume cannabis in NYS is 21. The report highlights that two million adults consumed cannabis in 2023, and it will be interesting to see what the outyears and future will yield as far as consumption.

See the NYSDOH press release here.

Meet Me at the Dispensary

Looking for a place to learn, meet people, play some games, or just hang out? Some dispensaries in NY have become meeting places and offer a variety of events that are creating a new pathway for the industry – and for cannabis-friendly socializing.

Read the New York Times article here.

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 421 legal Adult-Use dispensaries were operational by June 27, 2025. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries across NYS:

LakeHouse Cannabis
CORTLAND | 156 Clinton Avenue, Cortland 13045
Website: https://lakehousecannabis.com    

Innocence Cannabis*
APPLETON | 6730 Lake Road, Appleton 14008
Website: https://innocence.buzz

High Falls Garden*
THERESA | 121B Commercial Street, Theresa 13691   

Altitude NY
BROOKLYN | 807 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn 11222

Cannabis Corner
ROCHESTER | 2227 Clifford Avenue, Rochester 14609
Website: https://cannabiscornerny.com

The Corner House
ITHACA | 1708 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca 14850
Website: https://cornerhousecannabis.com

Canterra*
BUFFALO | 451 Elmwood Avenue, Ste 105, Buffalo 14222
Website: https://canterra.co

Hornbill
MANHATTAN | 224 1st Avenue, New York 10009
Website: https://hornbillnyc.com

Hudson & Main Cannabis Company
WARRENSBURG | 3873 Main Street, Warrensburg 12885
Website: https://hudsonmaincannabis.com

Liquid Monkey Dispensary
JAMESTOWN |177 Fluvanna Avenue, Jamestown 14701

Dark House Cannabis Dispensary
ALBANY |15 Centre Street, Albany 12207
Website: https://darkhorse-ny.com

The Alchemy
MANHATTAN |1302 8th Avenue, New York 10001
Website: https://thealchemy.nyc

Dansville Dispensary
DANSVILLE | 9483 Wheeler Foster Road, Suite C, Dansville 14437
Website: https://dansvilledispensary.com

Upstate Haze*
ITHACA | 1280 Dryden Road, Ithaca 14850
Website: https://upstatehaze.com

Hudson Valley Jane*
BEACON | 544 Main Street, Beacon 12508
Website: https://hudsonvalleyjane.com

Dutchess Roots
POUGHKEEPSIE | 2615 South Road, Poughkeepsie 12601
Website: https://dutchessroots.com

Yeti Greenery
JAMESTOWN | 607 W 3rd Street, Jamestown 14701
Website: https://yetigreenery.com

Pure Wellness Dispensary
ROCHESTER | 360 W Ridge Road, Rochester 14615

Strong Strains
EAST SETAUKET | 19 Technology Drive, East Setauket 11733
Website: https://strongstrains.com

Budd Barn
MONTICELLO | 428 Broadway, Monticello 12701
Website: https://buddbarn.com

Grass Root Wellness*
EAST ROCHESTER | 350 W Commercial Street, East Rochester 14445
Website: https://grassrootswellnessny.com

Cannalicious
BROOKLYN | 435 5th Avenue, Brooklyn 11215
Website: https://cannaliciousnyc.com

Just A Little Higher Queens
BROOKLYN | 2415 Queens Plza N, Unit NR1, Long Island City 11101
Website: https://justalittlehigher.com

Kushmart Lancaster
LANCASTER | 5211 Broadway, Suite 300, Lancaster 14086
Website: https://kushmart.com

Enflor
EAST ELMHURST | 3264 85th Street, East Elmhurst 11370
Website: https://enflor.com

Cloudfather
WILLIAMSVILLE | 6850 Main St, Suite 1, Williamsville 14221

Mrs. Green CANNAry
WILLIAMSVILLE | 204 E. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020

Bright Elephant
MANHATTAN | 206 8th Avenue, New York 10011

Maryland Cannabis News

More Pardons by Governor Moore

Governor Wes Moore has continued his pardons of cannabis related offenses in Maryland. This month he added 7,000 more pardons, totaling 182,000 cannabis pardons in Maryland.

Read it here from NORML.

Texas Cannabis News

Hemp Ban Vetoed by Abbott

The very contentious Texas Senate Bill 3 would have banned consumable hemp products with any THC including delta-8 and delta-9. Senate Bill 3 was championed by Texas’ Lt. Governor, Dan Patrick, and was vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott June 22, giving way to more debate and the prospect of what Abbott wants: regulation versus banning. Abbott called for a special session to regulate hemp rather ban it.

Get the story from Houston Public Media here.

Federal Cannabis News

A Tale of Two Hemp Bills

There are two competing and opposite bills, one in the House and one in the Senate regarding hemp. The House bill was put forth by Randy Harris (R-MD) and the Senate bill was put forth by Rand Paul (R-KY).  Rand Paul says Harris’ hemp bill would completely destroy the industry.

Read more here from Marijuana Moment.

British Cannabis News

A Royal Welcome Indeed – or In Weed?

Did you know that there is history with the British monarchy and hemp?

Read about it in Cannabis Cactus.

Italy Cannabis News

Italy & Medical Cannabis

This June, the Italian Ministry of Health expanded its medical cannabis program by authorizing Tilray Medical to distribute medical cannabis flower.

Read about it here from Cannabis Business Times.

Be in the Right Room

We look forward to seeing you at our Cannabis Means Business 2026 events.

Dawne Morris and Kristin Jordan
By CMB Global

It’s Showtime. And Being in the Right Room is Everything.

April Showers Brought May Flowers.
CMB and June are Here.

Dawne Morris
Dawne Morris, CEO, Co-founder, PROTEUS Business Solution, PROTEUS420
"...the most beneficial and rewarding show we've participated in..." – Dawne Morris, CEO, PROTEUS420

“Attending CMB was an incredibly enriching experience, making it the most beneficial and rewarding show we’ve participated in within the cannabis industry. The event was meticulously organized, facilitating meaningful business-to-business interactions and offering valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations. The vibrant and inclusive atmosphere fostered a strong sense of community, bringing together passionate professionals dedicated to advancing the cannabis sector. The knowledge and connections we gained have already started to benefit our business. We highly recommend CMB for anyone seeking to deepen their engagement with the cannabis community and explore new business opportunities.”
– Dawne Morris

Cannabis Means Business – Now in its 11th Year

Cannabis Means Business, formerly CWCBExpo – now in its 11th year– is a conference and expo that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry. It is the place to be if you want to expand your business in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Means BUsiness Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
(Pre-Show workshops and Rooftop Party, June 3)
Javits Convention Center, NYC

We are excited to share the latest industry highlights and happenings at the upcoming Cannabis Means Business Expo & Conference June 4 – 5, 2025.

Hear the latest news and learn about opportunities on the domestic and global frontiers of the cannabis industry. Walk away with actionable tasks and follow-ups to pave your way into this rapidly evolving and opportunistic economic layer, or map out your routes to expand your existing business.

Cannabis Means Business (CMB), has always been the tag line of our exposition and conference, and it lives on through the evolution of the cannabis industry – past, present, and future.  Cannabis Means Business is in its 11th year, and so many segments of the cannabis supply chain have developed to positive levels. The CMB Expo and Conference has the information, the exhibits, the curated activations, the seminars, the professionals, and the carefully planned networking events that you do not want to miss.

Plan your CMB days of networking, business building, deal making, and being in the right room.

Pre-Show Workshops (Tuesday June 3, 2025)
Attend and learn from pre-Show Workshops that focus on the latest strategies that help increase ROI and give you the latest relevant and real business examples that could help you make informed business decisions.

    • AI & Everything Cannabis for Your Business
    • Marketing & Communications for Brands & Retailers

Specialized Networking Events (June 3 – June 5)

    • Tuesday, June 3, B2B Rooftop Bash at the Yotel
    • Wednesday, June 4, O2VAPE Industry Yacht Party
    • Thursday, June 5, Women in Cannabis Entrepreneur Luncheon

Expo Show Floor Product Launches & Innovation (June 4 – June 5)

    • Be at the product launch of Whoop-Tea, and sit in on the Fireside Chat with Whoopi Goldberg and Tim Seymour, discussing the new beverage from Whoopi and Pure Genesis (This Fireside Chat is open to all expo attendees.)

       

    • Plug into the Lightning Talks on the show floor from Green Life Business, Grow America, and PLI and get the latest on various sectors of the cannabis supply chain (The Lightning Talks are open to all attendees.)

       

    • Activations that will energize you and spark innovations that will help propel business growth including:

       

The Grow Zone – See cultivation innovation in action
Cannabis Capital & Money Hub – Where finance meets opportunity
Podcast Row – Hear the voices shaping the conversation
Powering Entrepreneurship Lounge – Tap into resources and insight with these women owned businesses
Special Educational Skit: Journey to Healing with Psychedelics (Open to All Attendees)

Seminar Sessions That Inform (June 4 – June 5)
Engage with professionals and learn about the latest and most relevant information in the cannabis industry on a domestic and global scale. Don’t miss the seminar sessions that might change your next business decision:

 

    • New York Cannabis Industry – The Big Picture Tim Seymour sits with the NYS Cannabis Control Board Chair, Tremaine Wright
    • The Investment Renegades Changing the Face of Cannabis – Has Cannabis Funding Turned from Green to Yellow? (moderated by MarketWatch Reporter, Steve Gelsi)
    • Market Analysis, Trends & Business Opportunities: Industry Trends – the Center of Opportunity, New York or Berlin? Where is the Cannabis Market Headed?

       

    • Mainstream Industry: Cannabis infused – Are You In or Out? Business Opportunities in the Cannabis Industry

       

    • Infusion from the Beverage Industry: How Far Has It Come into Cannabis, and Where is it Heading? (moderated by MarketWatch Reporter, Steve Gelsi)
    • Industry Check-In: Proliferating your brand to multiple markets – Gaining market share for your brand

       

    • Spotlight on Hospitality & Cannabis Tourism

       

    • Cannabis Marketing, Social Media, & PR: Winning the Clicks, Swipes and Likes

       

    • Real Estate & Cannabis Business Planning: Location, location, location – Where Will Your Cannabis Business Grow Most?

       

    • Ensuring Compliance and Embracing Best Practices: Setting the Highest Standards From Application to Sale

       

    • Journey to Health & Wellness (2 Segments)
      Segment 1: Medical Cannabis – Progress, Present, and Future
      Segment 2: Patients, Physicians, Caregivers: Aging and Elder Care, Autism, PTSD, Pain Management, Personal Care, and Intimacy

CMB is shaping up to be the must-attend event of the year for anyone in — or entering — the cannabis industry, offering unmatched opportunities to learn, connect, and grow.

We are excited to share the latest industry highlights and happenings at the upcoming Cannabis Means Business Expo & Conference June 4 – 5, 2025.

New York State Cannabis News

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 396 legal Adult-Use dispensaries were operational by May 30, 2025.
Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries across NYS:

48 Genesee St Dispensary   
AUBURN | 48 E Genesee Street, Auburn 13021
Website: https://dispensaryauburn.com 

Greenlakes Dispo
ROCHESTER | 714 W Ridge Road, Rochester 14615

Gold Leaf Cannabis
HUDSON | 235 Fairview Avenue, Hudson 12534
Website: https://goldleafcannabis.com   

Verdi Park Slope
BROOKLYN | 360 7th Avenue, Brooklyn 11215
Website: https://verdicannabis.com

202 Cannabis Co.
GARNERVILLE | 81 West Ramapo Road, Garnerville 10923
Website: https://202cannabisco.com

The Corner House
ITHACA | 1708 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca 14850
Website: https://cornerhousecannabis.com

ZenZest Queens
QUEENS | 27206 Union Turnpike, Queens 11040
Website: https://zenzest.com

Mindset Cannabis Shop
TARRYTOWN | 51 Main Street, Tarrytown 10591
Website: https://mindsettarrytown.com

Best Budz
BUFFALO | 146 Virginia Street, Buffalo 14201
Website: https://bestbudz716.com

Canna Vibes NY
DEPOSIT | 146 Front Street, Deposit 13754
Website: https://cannavibesny.com

Sage Seeds
QUEENS | 248-15 Union Turnpike, Jamaica 11426
Website: https://sageseed.com/

Superfly
MANHATTAN | 57 W 86th Street, New York 10024
Website: https://hellosuperfly.com

Grams Cannabis*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
BROOKLYN | 360 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn 11211
Website: https://gramsbk.com

Budega NYC

BROOKLYN | 321 4th Avenue, Brooklyn 11215
Website: https://budega.nyc

Union Chill
BROOKLYN | 34 W Pulteney Street, Corning, NY 14830
Website: https://unionchillny.com

Crush Dispensary
ALBANY | 45 Grove Avenue, Albany 12208
Website: https://crushdispensary.com

Twenty8Gramz
BROOKLYN | 2201 Avenue U, Brooklyn 11229
Website: https://twenty8gramz.com

Jupiter Cafe
OLEAN | 172 N Union Street, Olean 14760
Website: https://jupitercafeny.com

Silver Cannabis Company Lake George
LAKE GEORGE | 1471 State Route 9, Lake George 12845
Website: https://silver-therapeutics.com

Herbwell Cannabis Bronx
BRONX | 372 E Fordham Road, Bronx 10458
Website: https://herbwellcannabis.com

LakeHouse Cannabis
CORTLAND | 156 Clinton Avenue, Cortland 13045
Website: https://lakehousecannabis.com

Innocence Cannabis*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
APPLETON | 6730 Lake Road, Appleton 14008
Website: https://innocence.buzz

High Falls Garden*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
THERESA | 121B Commercial Street, Theresa 13691

Altitude NY
BROOKLYN | 807 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn 11222

Cannabis Corner
ROCHESTER | 2227 Clifford Avenue, Rochester 14609
Website: https://cannabiscornerny.com

Pennsylvania Cannabis News

Adult Use May Not Make June 30 Deadline

Efforts have been made by Pennsylvania lawmakers to legalize Adult Use several times. The latest attempts were hoping to get it done in time for the June 30 budget deadline. Earlier this May, PA House of Representatives passed the HB1200 Bill which would have legalized Adult Use with a state-run model to operate dispensaries. This was shot down by the Senate Law and Justice Committee as it did not support the state-run model. The goal of getting Adult Use passed in PA may not happen by the June 30 deadline.

It’s complicated.

Read more on PA legalization efforts from SpotLight PA.

Minnesota Cannabis News

Tribal Nation To Operate Off-Reservation Dispensary

The first ever authorization for a tribal nation to operate dispensaries outside of its reservation was granted by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for White Earth Bans of Chippewa. This is ground-breaking for the state.

Read more from Cannabis Business Times (CBT).

Federal Cannabis News

SAFE Banking Act

So where does the SAFE Banking Act stand? Cannabis business owners have been waiting for some time for its passage. Despite several attempts to pass it, even with bipartisan support, it is still not done. The latest news on the SAFE banking possibility, is that it could be inserted into a Crypto Bill called the GENIUS Act. GENIUS is an acronym for Guiding and Establishing US Stable Coins.

Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a leading anti-cannabis group, has sent out messages to its recipients to rally against such a possibility by Congress.  

Learn more about this from the Marijuana Herald.

What Happened to Rescheduling? Legalization?

An interesting article came out in the NYT that discusses how cannabis reform under both the Biden and Trump administrations did not happen, even though there appeared to have been support to do something significant.

Read about it from the New York Times.

Kristin L. Jordan, Founder, CEO, Park Jordan
Kristin L. Jordan, Founder, CEO, Park Jordan

“It should be noted that the CMB has always been THE premier conference for the NYS cannabis industry, well before adult-use was legalized.

“CMB has carefully curated a physical nexus for business leaders and the advocacy community to network and to celebrate cannabis.” – Kristin Jordan

We look forward to seeing you at the
Cannabis Means Business Conference & Expo.

Be in the RiGht Room.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
Webinar, Equity, 2025
By CMB Global

It’s About the Economy. Raising Capital. Looking Ahead. Being in the Right Room…and Twinkies…

"CMB is the place to B2B." – Sheri Tarr, 68 Partners

“This industry is so eclectic and there’s so much opportunity for everybody to participate and collaborate so that we can build a really robust industry together.

Sheri Tarr, Esq., Founder and Chief Advisor, ’68 Partners

“I decided to come to this show because this is the B2B place to be in cannabis. I also was an invited speaker. I had a beautiful day with other panelists. We had a retail and cultivation boot camp and it was a firehose of information for anybody that was fortunate enough to show up.”
– Sheri Tarr

Cannabis Means Business – Now in its 11th Year

Cannabis Means Business, formerly CWCBExpo – now in its 11th year– is a conference and expo that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry. It is the place to be if you want to expand your business in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Means BUsiness Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

Meet Green Life Business Group at CMB 2025.
Learn more from their website, then speak to them in person at the CMB

Green Life Business Group

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board, Cannabis Advisory Board

April was a busy month. At an April 24th meeting the CCB:

  • Approved 93 additional adult-use licenses
  • Reported that Adult Use Sales are on target to exceed $1.5B in 2025
  • Issued a report that detailed updates on:
    • Adult Use Market
    • Social & Economic Equity (SEE)
    • Public Health & Education
    • Community Reinvestment Program
  • Noteworthy in the market update report is that Long Island and Staten dispensaries lead average regional revenue relative to population for March sales revenue

Download the deck and details of these important updates.

New York State Office of Cannabis Management NYS OCM

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 368 legal Adult-Use dispensaries were operational as of April 25, 2025. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS.

Sunwalker Farms    
CANANDAIGUA | 101 Eastern Blvd, Canandaigua 14424
Website: https://sunwalkerfarms.com

 

Herbal Woodstock
WOODSTOCK | 17 Tinker Street, Woodstock 12498
Website: https://herbalwoodstock.com

 

Herbwell Cannabis Manhattan
MANHATTAN | 519 Madison Avenue, New York 10022
Website: https://herbwellcannabis.com   

 

Soulmate
BROOKLYN | 2347 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn 11205
Website: https://soulmatebk.com

 

The Shady Grove Dispensary
HENRIETTA | 3047 W Henrietta Road, Henrietta 14623

 

Bodega Dreams
NORTH SYRACUSE | 3711 Brewerton Road, Ste 8-10, North Syracuse 13212

 

Quality Roots
BROOKLYN | 330 Tompkins Avenue, Brooklyn 11216
Website: https://qualityroots.nyc

 

Gotham Chelsea
MANHATTAN | 146 10th Avenue, New York 10011
Website: https://gotham.nyc

 

Mango Cannabis
ROCHESTER | 3553 W Henrietta Road, Rochester 14623
Website: https://mangocannabis.com

 

All Good Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 3405 Avenue H, Brooklyn 11211
Website: https://stayallgood.com

 

Cannabis Huts
NEWBURGH | 165 South Plank Road, Newburgh 12550
Website: https://cannabishuts.com

 

Quality Control Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 3169 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn 11235
Website: https://qualitycontroldispensary.com

 

Mary Jane Cannabis Co.
MAHATTAN | 799 Lexington Avenue, New York 10065
Website: https://maryjanecannabisco.com

 

Green Apple
BROOKLYN | 572 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn 11222
Website: https://greenapple.nyc

 

NY Cannabis Co. 5th Ave
MANHATTAN | 381 5th Avenue, New York 10016
Website: https://nycannabisco.com 

Ignyte Red Hook
BROOKLYN | 387 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn 11231
Website: https://ignyteny.com/


Q Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 733 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn 11226
Website: https://qiscannabis.com


Nucleus Dispensary
MANHATTAN | 1819 2nd Avenue, New York 10128
Website: https://nucleusdispensary.com


Smokey Paradise
EAST GREENBUSH | 574 Columbia Tpke, East Greenbush 12061
Website: https://smokeyparadise.com


Green Leaf Cannabis & Wellness
NEWBURGH | 1400 Route 300, Newburgh 12550
Website: https://greenleafny.co


Happy Times Cannabis Co. Niagara Falls
NIAGARA FALLS | 7560 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls 14304


Happy Goat Dispensary
ROCHESTER | 1330 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester 14620
Website: https://happygoatdispensary.com


Village One Stop
ANGOLA | 11 Commercial Street, Angola 1400


Altitude Ithaca
ITHACA | 1429 Danby Road, Ithaca 14850
Website: https://altitudeithaca.com


Herbalwai
AMHERST | 6970 Transit Road, Amherst 14221
Website: https://herbalwai.com 


Good Life Collective Finger Lakes
CANANDAIGUA | 230 S Main Street, Canandaigua 14424
Website: https://goodlifeweed.com


Sky High Club
MANHATTAN | 129 Avenue C, New York 10009
Website: https://skyhighclubnyc.com


Tetra East Harlem
MANHATTAN | 2152 3rd Avenue, New York 10035


High Dankery
BROOKLYN | 7815 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn 11209
Website: https://highdankery.com


DISPO Cannabis Club
MANHATTAN | 588 4th Avenue, New York 11215
Website: https://dispostore.com

Long Island Cannabis Coalition (LICC)

CMB looks forward to welcoming the Long Island Cannabis Coalition (LICC) to the CMB at Javits this June. The LICC will be holding its meeting at the CMB.

LICC Long Island Cannabis Coalition

New Jersey Cannabis News

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Creates Expungement Portal

Heading into April, Governor Murphy signed a bill that makes expungement more transparent and accessible for those who seek expungement.

“Individuals seeking a second chance through expungement deserve a clear and transparent process.” – Governor Murphy.

Learn more here.

Federal Cannabis News

Legislation for Federal Legalization

A bipartisan trio of Representatives put forth legislation that proposes to federally legalize cannabis in every state. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NEV) reintroduced the legislation called the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) 2.0 Act which would give all U.S. States, Washington D.C., U.S. Territories, and federally recognized tribal nations the right to determine how to approach cannabis within its borders. Does this have legs? Is it viable? Will it make it through any votes? What is this legislation?

Learn more about this bipartisan action and legislation here.

Slovenia and Medical Cannabis News

Proposed Medical and Research Legislation

Slovenia has made a bold and progressive move as it has put forth legislation to legalize medical cannabis and to allow scientific research of cannabis. The proposed legislation has a solid framework and progressive outline that makes way for a very strong and sustainable cannabis industry there. Learn more from CannaReporter:

Read more from the CannaReporter.

Corporate Cannabis News

Twinkies

Hostess has found a new market: people who have the “Munchies.”  In a move to make the brand more relevant in popular culture, they handed out free snacks at various 4/20 events via their “Munchie Mobile” truck.

The Wall Street Journal has the full report!

Green Life Business Group

This Month’s Archived Video

Equity & Entrepreneurship:
Business Tools for Cannabis Entrepreneurs to Level the Playing Field

In April, CMB hosted the webinar “Equity & Entrepreneurship: Business Tools for Cannabis Entrepreneurs to Level the Playing Field.”

We are featuring the recording of that webinar in this newsletter.

For so many in the cannabis industry, the path to success is riddled with systemic barriers. The lasting effects of the War on Drugs, the prison pipeline, and financial roadblocks continue to hold back entrepreneurs from the very communities that fought hardest for legalization.

The webinar panelists discussed:

  • How to navigate certifications, funding, and strategic business partnerships
  • Access to certifications, business support, and financial resources for Equity entrepreneurs
  • Strategies to connect with allies, build networks, and secure sustainable growth
  • The power of education, collaboration, and allyship in breaking industry barriers

 

Equity Webinar Speakers,Jillian Reddish, Mike Lomuto, Ramon Garcia
From the left: Gia Morón, Sara Gullickson, Matt Karnes, and Brett Finkelstein

Moderator:
Jillian Reddish, Co-Founder, Global Cannabis Network Collective (GCNC)

Speakers:

Mike Lomuto, Board Chair of the Minority Cannabis Business Association

Ramon Garcia, Co-Founder, Co-President of Equity Trade Inc., Co-creator of Equity Trade Certification (Federal Certification Mark) and Equity Sessions

To watch this session now, click here.

At the end of the session, Mike and Ramon gave a shout out to the CMB:

Mike Lomuto: “One of the things I’ll say so far about CMB, from what I’ve seen, is that there is a lot more intent and intention to figure out…and that makes all the world of difference.”

Ramon Garcia: “I want to shoot that shout out to Cannabis Means Business…Like Mike was saying about being intentional about pulling in different views and being very diverse. It is necessary for a conference or a trade show to be as diverse as possible in this industry because it is something that is ever evolving and changing. And if we’re not investing into the diversity of that, you could be turning away the next greatest thing just because they’re smaller and they can’t afford to actually participate in a way that other capitalized companies participate.

“And so I appreciate you guys really looking at that very intentionally and very creatively and making sure that there is access. Because the biggest part of all this is information.”

We look forward to seeing you at the
Cannabis Means Business Conference & Expo.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
Webinar, Finance 2025
By CMB Global

Spring. Stay Positive. Seize Opportunities.

Happy Anniversary MRTA!
Be in the Right Room.

Spring Has Sprung

Blink. Four years has gone by. Indeed. March 31, 2025, marks 4 years for the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) of New York State which was signed into law March 31, 2021, legalizing adult-use cannabis. Happy Anniversary MRTA!

Cannabis Means Business, CMB, (formerly CWCBExpo), featured Chair Tremaine Wright, at our 2021 Conference & Expo at the Jacob Javits Center. It was her first keynote address as Chair of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB).

It was exciting on so many levels. The energy of being back in-person was exhilarating. That year, as venues began to re-open, several live in-person expos started up again across many business sectors. We held our 2021 event in October and returned to our typical date pattern in the spring of 2022.

Equally exciting and energizing was that NYS had legalized adult-use cannabis earlier that year. Much has happened in four years. Like many of the states, MRTA’s rollout had its challenges and still has many to tackle. NYS remains one of the top markets for cannabis business owners and investors to seize upon and make their mark here.

As we soak up the warming air and sun this spring, and say goodbye to March, let’s remember it is MRTA’s birthday. The Office of Cannabis Management has accomplished much in the past 4 years.

  • More than $1Billion in retail sales has been clocked
  • CCB issued over 1,600 licenses across several types of cannabis businesses
  • The number of legal dispensaries is closing in on 340
  • Social Equity programs were implemented successfully with over 50% of all adult-use licenses being awarded to Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants including Service-Disabled Veterans, Women, Distressed Farmers
  • Working collaboratively with all state and city agencies to shutdown illicit cannabis businesses
  • …and much more

Blink.
Four more years will go by.
Much more will be accomplished.

MRTA 4th Anniversary
Cannabis Means Business – Now in its 11th Year

Cannabis Means Business, formerly CWCBExpo – now in its 11th year– is a conference and expo that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry. It is the place to be if you want to expand your business in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Means BUsiness Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board, Cannabis Advisory Board

The CCB held a meeting on March 20, 2025. Some highlights include:

  • Over 100 new adult-use licenses were approved for a total of 1,614 across the NYS, of which 225 are CAURD licenses
  • Adult-use sales have passed $220 million already in 2025 with most of the sales coming from dispensaries in Manhattan, Queens and Long Island
  • The CAURD Grant Program was launched designed to help CAURD licensees actually get their dispensaries started. Although the amount of the grants is small, at least the program exists. It covers quite a few expenses regarding dispensary openings
  • US Veterans support regarding cannabis use, employment and business opportunities
  • Issuance of a new license for research that allows the licensee to get cannabis for research purposes and studies from licensed dispensaries, processors, and cultivators
  • Extended the provisional licenses for 6 months for those issued prior to February 1, 2025
  • …many other items were discussed and resolutions made

Download the deck of meeting slides here.

New York State Office of Cannabis Management NYS OCM

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 338 legal Adult-Use dispensaries were operational by March 28, 2025. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS.

Yerba Buena
BROOKLYN | 292 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn 11201
Website: https://yerbabuena.nyc
    
FlynnStoned Rochester
ROCHESTER | 125 State Street, Rochester 14614
Website: https://flynnstoned.com 

Chelsea Cannabis Co.
MANHATTAN | 104 7th Avenue, New York 10011
Website: https://chelseacannabis.co

Command Cannabis Dispensary
BLASDELL | 3871 South Park Ave, Blasdell 14219
Website: https://commandcannabiswny.com

 

Coney Island Cannabis
BROOKLYN | 875 Neptune Avenue, Brooklyn 11224
Website: https://coneyislandcannabisny.com

 

Jungle Kingdom Flower
BROOKLYN | 515 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn 11216
Website: https://junglekingdomflower.com

 

Hell’s Kitchen Cannabis*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
MANHATTAN | 356 W 40th Street, New York 10018
Website: https://hkcc.nyc

 

Cannabis on Lex
MANHATTAN | 459 Lexington Avenue, New York 10017
Website: https://cannabisonlex.com

RENAISSAÑT NYC
SUNNYSIDE | 40-07 A Queens Blvd, Sunnyside, NY 11104
Website: https://renaissant.nyc

 

Cloud Nine Legal Cannabis Dispensary
YONKERS | 305 Saw Mill River Road, Yonkers 10701
Website: https://cloudninelcd.com

 

LA FFOCA
NIAGARA FALLS | 1618 18th Street, Niagara Falls 14305
Website: https://laffoca.com

Starlife Dispensary
WHITE PLAINS | 1 Hall Avenue, White Plains 10603
Website: https://starlifedispensary.com

Canna Planet Wappingers
WAPPINGERS FALLS | 1444 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls 12590
Website: https://cannaplanet.com/location/wappingers

Culture Canna Co.
CORNING | 90 E Market Street, Unit 101, Corning 14830
Website: https://culturecanna.co

Lively Harvest*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
MARGARETVILLE | 75 Bridge Street, Margaretville 12455
Website: https://livelyharvestny.com

Canna Buddha
BAYSIDE | 215-46 39th Avenue, Bayside 11361
Website: https://cannabuddha.us

Silver Cannabis Company Albany
ALBANY | 10 Executive Park Drive, Albany 12203
Website: https://silver-therapeutics.com

Gaea’s Garden*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
FLUSHING | 134-24 Northern Blvd, Flushing 11354
Website: https://gaeas.garden

Paint, Puff ‘n Peace
MANHATTAN | 2119 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York 10026

Dream Daze
DEPEW | 5100 Transit Rd, Depew, NY 14034
Website: https://thedreamdaze.com

Bud City Cannabis
BROOKLYN | 3343 Fulton Street, Brooklyn 11208
Website: https://budcityny.com

Third Rock Cannabis
SOUTH GLENS FALLS | 131 Saratoga Avenue, Unit 7, South Glens Falls 12803
Website: https://thirdrockcannabis.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

Town Hall Meetings for Medicinal Cannabis

The NJ-CRC was quite busy this March with conducting town hall meetings for the NJ Medicinal Cannabis Program (MCP) to update its regulations and help patients get access to medical cannabis. They held 3 virtual town hall meetings: March 19, 25 and 26.

These virtual meetings is where the commission plans to consider annual license applications, conditional-to-annual conversions and renewals.

You can watch the March 18 meeting here for licensing updates and other issues.

Apply for Consumption Area Licenses

Quite exciting is that consumption areas will be coming to NJ very soon. The NJCRC will begin to accept applications starting April 2, 2025.

Learn more about applying for a consumption area license here.

NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

Virginia Cannabis News

Governor Vetoes Cannabis Legislation

Governor Youngkin vetoed the cannabis legalization bill that would have legalized retail sales – again. He also limited medical cannabis provisions.

Read more from NORML.

Ohio Cannabis News

GOP Senators Amend Cannabis Measure

Once again, the voter-approved measures for cannabis legislation approved by Ohioans have been set back by a super majority of state GOP Senators.

Read the whole story from NORML.

Corporate Cannabis News

Edibles Brand

Mainstream businesses are still coming strong into the cannabis space strengthening the industry and removing stigma. Edible Brands, which owns Edible Arrangements, created Edibles.com to sell high-end edibles with THC, and hemp beverages. Deliveries are planned to be done within their existing franchised network. Store-fronts are also planned for Edibles.com in the future.

Read about it from CNBC.

International Cannabis News

France and Medical Cannabis

France has initiated medical cannabis legalization. France conducted a 3-year program with patients, prescriptions and distribution using cannabis as a medicine. The French Health Ministry has asserted success in its 3-year program and wants to move forward with a formal legal medical cannabis program.

Learn more here from Radio France Internationale.

Special Recognition – Dasheeda Dawson

The CMB Team wishes Dasheeda Dawson good luck in her next phase of championing the industry.

Dasheeda Dawson, NYC Cannabis Czar, Keynote Presentation, NY 2023

We thank you, Dasheeda, and want you to know that you have made a difference for everyone in the cannabis space with your many years of dedication, vision, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and kindness.

You have been integral in moving cannabis forward in all of its aspects, most recently as NYC Cannabis Czar at Cannabis NYC.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in your next chapter going forward.

This Month’s Featured Video

Where is Wall Street: Now You’re Funded, Now You’re Not

This month, we share what is a very timely and important conference session that we presented in June at our 2024 CWCBExpo event.

In this session, we feature a discussion with financial home offices, banks, fund managers and investors who discuss the funding crunch for cannabis businesses, investing in cannabis, and what attracts the prospects of M&A for a business.

Finance & Banking Webinar speakers

Moderated by: Chris Day, Co-Founder, Global Cannabis Network Collective (GCNC)

With Speakers:

Jennifer Makris, Director of Banking & Compliance, Cannabiz Media and Industry Consultant; 
Cassidy McFarland, CPA, Owner/Franchisee, Dope CFO Certified Advisors; 
Peter Su, Director of Specialty Banking, Hanover Bank

This session was recorded at CWCBExpo, Javits Convention Center, NYC, on June 5, 2024.

To watch this session now, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at the
Cannabis Means Business Conference & Expo.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
Where is Wall Street: Now You’re Funded, Now You’re Not, withGia Morón, Sara Gullickson, Matt Karnes, Brett Finkelstein
By CMB Global

Back to Business. Innovation. Perseverance. Progress.

Be in the Right Room.

The industry is entering the final month of the first quarter of 2025. No matter what month, what quarter and what year, the legalized cannabis industry with all of its brave, courageous and committed business owners, must continue to do what it always does: innovate, persevere, and plow forward.

Nothing has been easy for legalized cannabis businesses. With no real signs to fully de-schedule cannabis now or anytime soon, the hopes, planning, and expectations that rescheduling it to a Schedule III drug was going to happen have been put on hold, and for now we must continue dealing with Cannabis as a Schedule I drug. As we layer in the new administration and the cabinet appointees – the challenges and uncertainty in the cannabis industry keep mounting.

Despite these realities, the legalized cannabis industry has always taken care of business and has persevered for decades from coast-to-coast and has built a robust marketplace. According to the Pew Research Center, across the USA, 74% of residents have either adult-use and/or medical laws.

All of this requires that cultivators, processors, dispensary owners, and ancillary services serving the cannabis industry come together to build-out and strengthen the cannabis economic layer across a full range of business sectors.

How and where the marketplace gets built is important.
Being in the right room is crucial.
The CMB Expo & Conference is the right room.

Cannabis Means Business – Now in its 11th Year – Be There

Cannabis Means Business, formerly CWCBExpo – now in its 11th year– is a conference and expo that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry. It is the place to be if you want to expand your business in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Means BUsiness Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

National News

Most Americans Live in a State with Adult- or Recreational-Use Laws

Pew Research Center:

“Marijuana is illegal under federal law, but most Americans now live in a state that has legalized the drug. And most also have at least one cannabis dispensary in their county, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.”

Read here directly from the Pew Research Center.

 

Rescheduling – Postponement and Uncertainty

The drama continues surrounding the DEA’s plan and subsequent postponement to hold hearings to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Uncertainty and lawsuits abound against the process, as well as motions to no longer participate as selected witnesses in the DEA hearings – whenever they will occur.

Read the Cannabis Business Times for a good explanation of what’s going on.

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board, Cannabis Advisory Board

February was a busy month at the OCM:

New York State Office of Cannabis Management NYS OCM

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 309 legal Adult-Use dispensaries are operational by February 27, 2025. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS.

 

Black River Supply Company
CARTHAGE | 15 Bridge Street, Carthage 13619
Website: blackriversupplyco.com
    
RNR Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 21 Gardner Ave, Brooklyn 11237
Website: rnrdispensary.com

Broadway Strains
MANHATTAN | 3858 Broadway, New York 10032

Cotton Mouth Dispensary
BINGHAMTON | 439 Court Street, Binghamton 13904
Website: cottonmouth-dispensary.com

Green Flower Wellness Oakland Gardens
OAKLAND GARDENS | 214-24 73rd Avenue, Oakland Gardens 11364
Website: greenflowerwellness.com

Green Flower Wellness Floral Park
QUEENS | 270-01 Hillside Avenue, Queens 11064
Website: greenflowerwellness.com

 

Elevation HQ NY
MANHATTAN | 701 8th Avenue, New York 10036
Website: elevationhqnyc.com

New Amsterdam NYC
MANHATTAN | 245 W 14th Street, New York 10011
Website: newamsterdam.nyc

Lucky Green Ladies
KINGSTON | 365 S Wall Street, Kingston 12401
Website: luckygreenladies.com/

The THC Shop
ROSEDALE | 144-07 243rd Street, Rosedale 11422
Website: ourthcshop.com

716 Cannabis*
*This is an existing dispensary that had to relocate to a new location.
HAMBURG | 5161 Camp Road, Hamburg 14075
Website: 716cannabisllc.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

Cannabis Tax Funding Anti-Violence Intervention Programs

In last month’s Newsletter we noted that NJ Governor Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin credited the NJ cannabis industry, through adult-use tax revenue, for helping to fund anti-violence and violence intervention programs. Governor Murphy now wants to increase the social equity excise tax on cannabis so that even more money can be allocated toward social service and violence prevention and intervention programs.

While the tax increase that he seeks in his budget is large, from $2.50 per ounce climbing to $15 per ounce, Governor Murphy said at a recent budget address on February 25, 2025:

 

“In just five years, cannabis has gone from destroying lives — in the form of excessive criminal sentences — to helping save lives.”

Read more from the NJ Monitor.

New Testing Guidelines

This month, new testing guidelines have been issued by the NJ-CRC that are meant to improve product safety and standardize testing methods for cannabis businesses. The new testing guidelines have compliance dates for testing labs to meet.

Testing changes that address batch size sampling have to be implemented by testing labs by Wednesday March 19, 2025. Any revised guidelines to stability testing have to be implemented by labs by midnight Friday, May 23, 2025.

Download the NJCRC Testing Guidance document here.

NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

Arkansas Cannabis News

Cannabis Revenue is Doing Good: Free Breakfast for School Children

Governor Sara Huckabee signed a bill that uses the tax revenue from medical cannabis sales to fund free breakfast for school children.

Read more from Axios NW Arkansas here.

Colorado Cannabis News

City Council Fails to Overturn Voter-Approved Adult Use Measure

Last month we noted an attempt by the Colorado Springs City Council to overturn the 54% voter-approved ballot measure that was to allow adult-use within the city’s limits. A district judge ruled in favor of the voter-approved ballot, and no further appeals will be heard by the Supreme Court.

Read the whole story from NORML.

Illinois Cannabis News

Illinois Exceeds $2 Billion in 2024 Cannabis Sales

Congratulations to Illinois and Governor Pritzker, who celebrate that the state exceeded $2B in marijuana sales in 2024.

Click here for more from Spectrum News.

Michigan Cannabis News

Tax Revenue Doing Good

Cannabis tax revenue is also doing good also in Michigan as that state will be distributing $100 million to over 300 local entities and tribes throughout the state.

Read more here for the Michigan Treasury Department.

International News

Germany and European Legalization

In a previous newsletter, we highlighted Germany as one of the trailblazers in Europe to legalize cannabis use. (We also highlighted Malta and Luxembourg in other newsletters.) Where is all of this at now? What did their trailblazing mean for other countries in the European Union?

Euro News has an update on the Germany and European Union legalization.

This Month’s Archived Video

Where is Wall Street: Now You’re Funded, Now You’re Not, withGia Morón, Sara Gullickson, Matt Karnes, Brett Finkelstein
From the left: Gia Morón, Sara Gullickson, Matt Karnes, and Brett Finkelstein

Where is Wall Street: Now You’re Funded, Now You’re Not

This month, we share what is a very timely and important conference session that we presented in June at our 2024 CWCBExpo event.

In this session, we feature a discussion with financial home offices, banks, fund managers and investors who discuss the funding crunch for cannabis businesses, investing in cannabis, and what attracts the prospects of M&A for a business.

Moderator: Gia Morón, Founder and CEO, GVM Communications

Speakers: Sara Gullickson, Founder, CEO, The Cannabis Business Advisors; Matthew (Matt) Karnes, Founder, GreenWave Advisors; Brett Finkelstein, Managing Partner, XIVIX Partners LP

This session was recorded at CWCBExpo, Javits Convention Center, NYC, on June 5, 2024.

To watch this session now, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at the
Cannabis Means Business Conference & Expo.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era,From the left: Mike Zaytsev, Ed Keating, Solonje Burnett, Mike Ballard, and Jon Lowen
By CMB Global

A new year. Unpredictability. Entrepreneurship & Opportunities in Cannabis.

Power and Deal Rooms at CMB Conference & Expo.

Happy New Year!

As we look toward the rest of 2025 and beyond, the industry and our thousands of entrepreneurs continue to be faced with challenges. The difficulties the industry had at the end of 2024 still remain, with 2025 arriving with additional concerns including:

  • Uncertainty of the Rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III and what appears to be stagnation of any progress, as the anticipated January Rescheduling hearing has been postponed.
  • A new congress and government administration whose support for cannabis reform is also uncertain.
  • Threats to ballot measures that have been approved at the ballot box for medical and/or retail cannabis legislation– will they be challenged to the point of not being economically feasible, or not being implemented at all?
  • Continued tax burdens for legitimate cannabis business owners as collateral damage of the Rescheduling stagnation.
  • Debanking issues where business owners are prevented from opening bank accounts and obtaining other financial services from banks in the name of risk management and risk aversion.

Amid the many challenges, the industry has much to be optimistic about, thanks to the business owners who continue to build and expand it with their passion for the plant, their ingenuity, their dedication to developing the plant’s health benefits, and their perseverance. In addition, as the new year unravels, the industry will welcome new entrepreneurs and investors who see the opportunities ahead.

Cannabis Means Business – Now in its 11th Year – Be There

Cannabis Means Business, formerly CWCBExpo – now in its 11th year– is a conference and expo that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry. It is the place to be if you want to expand your business in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Means BUsiness Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

Federal News

Rescheduling Hearings

As we highlighted in our December Newsletter, on December 2, 2024 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held its first hearing about Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug – without testimony from selected participants. Full hearings with testimony had been delayed into 2025 with the timeline set by Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney. Hearings with actual witness testimony were set to start January 21, 2025, but have again been postponed.

More background on this cancellation can be found from The Hill.

See the media advisory statement from the DEA asserting postponement of the hearings.

SAFER Banking Act

Whatever Happened to SAFER Banking Act?

High hopes abounded for well over a year regarding the SAFER Banking Act, which was not brought to a vote despite good prospects that it may have gotten passed. “Debanking” has become an issue in the newly Republican-controlled Senate. Where this all goes will have to be seen.

Read more here in Cannabis Business Times.

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board, Cannabis Advisory Board

The OCM, the CCB and the CAB held meetings in January with much to celebrate – as NYS retail cannabis sales exceeded $1B and over 295 dispensaries were opened for business. Several items were addressed and discussed at these meetings including:

  • Market Update & Data Highlights
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Advocacy
  • Social Equity and Licensing
  • Training Programs for Licensees
  • More Adult Licenses Approval

Download the CCB January 9th meeting deck here.

Download the press release detailing the CAB’s January 28th meeting here. Training Workshop info sheet here.

New York State Office of Cannabis Management NYS OCM

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Noteworthy is that 298 legal Adult-Use dispensaries are were operational by the end of January. Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS.

 

Woodstock Oasis
BETHEL | 2166 NY-17B, Bethel 12720
Website: woodstockoasis.com

 

Kaya Bliss Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 8412 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn 11209
Website: kayablissnyc.com

 

The Spot Dispensary
BROOKLYN | 154 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn 11205

 

Cannabicity
SCHENECTADY | 220 Harborside Drive, Suite 111, Schenectady 12305
Website: cannabicity.net

 

The Phinest Buds
DEPEW | 576 Dick Road, Suite 10, Depew 14043
Website: thephinestbuds.com

 

Phenos*
*This is a microbusiness with retail location.
BUFFALO | 69 Allen Street, Buffalo 14202
Website: phenosnewyork.com

 

Canna Planet Kingston
KINGSTON | 1221 Ulster Avenue, Kingston 12401
Website: cannaplanet.com

 

Canna Planet Ellenville
ELLENVILLE | 37 N Main Street, Ellenville 12428
Website: cannaplanet.com

The Station Beacon
BEACON | 463 Main Street, Beacon 12508
Website: thestationbeacon.com

 

Clouditude Dispensary
STATEN ISLAND | 4034 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island 10308

Website: clouditudedispensary.com

 

Wild Flower Dispensary
AUBURN | 41 E Genesee Street, Auburn 13021
Website: nywildflower.com

 

Monticello Cannabis
MONTICELLO | 73 Pleasant Street, Monticello 12701

 

Vaporize
SOUTH RICHMOND HILL | 124-20 Liberty Avenue, South Richmond Hill 11419
Website: vaporizeny.com


The Dabber Hashery*
ELMIRA | 1051 College Avenue, Elmira 14901
Website: dabberhashery.com

 

Buddeez
ROCHESTER | 1460 Lyell Avenue, Ste 200, Rochester 14606

 

Caffiend Cannabis
BROOKLYN | 892 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn 11237

 

The Flowery Upper West Side
MANHATTAN | 2465 Broadway, New York 10025
Website: thefloweryny.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

Certain NJ Employees’ Insurance Now Includes Medical Cannabis

Some good news for certain municipal NJ employees who will now have insurance coverage for medical cannabis. Learn more from NORML.org who has been front and center on supporting health coverage for medical cannabis patients everywhere.

Read about it from NORML.

Cannabis Tax Revenue Helping to Fund Violence Intervention Programs

More good news in NJ as Governor Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin credit the NJ cannabis industry, through adult-use tax revenue, for helping to fund violence intervention programs.

Read more from NJBiz.

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Licensing Portal Timetable

The NJCRC set a timeline for applications for cannabis consumption areas. Consumption areas must be attached to a licensed dispensary.

The Consumption Area Endorsements Licensing Portal began accepting applications for consumption area endorsements in January 2nd.

Here is the timeline:

    • January 2, 2025: Applications open for Social Equity designated retail businesses (owners with cannabis-related convictions or residents of Economically Disadvantaged Areas)
    • April 2, 2025: Applications for all other microbusinesses and Diversely-Owned dispensaries (minority-owned, women-owned, disabled-owned)
    • July 2, 2025: Applications open for all other Class 5 retail operators
Read more details from the NJCRC.
NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

California Cannabis News

Wildfires Have Impacted Cannabis Business Owners

Our prayers and thoughts are with all of the victims affected by the CA wildfires. So many businesses have been affected both inside and outside the cannabis sector. The entire supply chain has been impacted to an astronomical degree.

Read more from Cannabis Business Times.

Ohio Cannabis News

Lawmakers Propose to Roll Back Voter-Approved Cannabis Legalization

In our December newsletter we highlighted that Ohio had surpassed $200MM in adult-use sales in only the four months since it started. In spite of this strong start, Ohio is one of the states with cannabis legalization laws being challenged by its own lawmakers. The laws that are being challenged were approved by voters in 2023 and have started a thriving and sound adult-use cannabis industry.

The state Senate is proposing severe changes that would impose higher taxes on retail cannabis sales, restrict home-grow, limit the statewide retailers, and bar adults from sharing cannabis.

Read more from NORML.

Colorado Cannabis News

Colorado Springs City Council Attempting to Overturn Voter-Approved Adult Use

The Colorado Springs City Council is trying to flatly overturn the 54% voter-approved ballot measure to allow adult-use within the city’s limits. Rejected was a ballot measure that restricted allowing it. Now, council members are trying to overturn it by asserting that voters voted on confusing write-ups of the ballot measures and are second guessing the voter-approved outcome.

Get the details from NORML

Corporate News

Door Dash

Door Dash will begin to deliver to legal-aged customers hemp-derived THC and CBD products for on-demand delivery in select states.

Read more about this announcement from Door Dash.

This Month’s Archived Video

Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era,From the left: Mike Zaytsev, Ed Keating, Solonje Burnett, Mike Ballard, and Jon Lowen
Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era,From the left: Mike Zaytsev, Ed Keating, Solonje Burnett, Mike Ballard, and Jon Lowen

Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Era

This month we feature a session from our June 2024 conference that focuses on retail marketing for dispensaries and brands.

This session explores marketing cannabis brands in the digital era. What are the best methods and platforms to market cannabis brands? What are the demographics that guide how cannabis brand owners create campaigns? What works and what does not work to market your brand front and center? What platforms should you spend your marketing dollars on? Should Artificial Intelligence (AI) be figured into your digital marketing budget? How does influencer marketing figure into your digital budget? Hear from experienced dispensary owners on how to secure shelf space for your product, what is driving the marketing for certain products, how a dispensary makes decisions in what products they sell, and what analytics are used.

Moderator: Michael Zaytsev, Academic Director, LIM College

Speakers: Michael Ballard, Vice President Sales, Leafwire; Solonje Burnett, Weed Auntie, Co-Founder and Chief Culture & Community Officer of Erven; Ed Keating, Co-Founder CannaBiz Media; Jon Lowen, Co-CEO, Surfside Media

This session was recorded at CWCBExpo, Javits Convention Center, NYC, on June 6, 2024.

To watch this session now, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at the Cannabis Means Business Conference & Expo.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
Business & Culture at a Crossroads: Cannabis & Psychedelics, From the left: Ryan Hurley, Gaetano Lardieri, Maurice Hinson, Lisa Gora, Kymberly Byrnes, and Joe McKay
By CMB Global

Be in the Right Room

Shape, Witness and Own the Next Phase of Cannabis History.
Be Part of CMB – the Business Leader of the Pack.

As December ends, it is also the lead-in to a new and challenging year ahead for the cannabis industry – perhaps like no other. As we leave 2024 and usher in 2025, there is so much that lies ahead for cannabis business owners, regulators, lawyers, accountants, medical professionals, and investors to watch including:

  • The establishment of a new government administration and new nominees and appointees to sensitive government agencies that regulate and mandate currency and financial markets, health, medicine, drugs, education, the flow of public information and social media platforms

  • The outcome of the Rescheduling hearings to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug as the hearings unfold

  • Ballot measures for several states that voted on medical and/or retail cannabis legislation and how they get implemented or challenged as the year progresses

  • How an economic layer due to cannabis tax revenues is being built in states that have legal adult-use cannabis laws

  • The legitimate cannabis business and industry can’t be ignored much longer nor be unsupported long-term at the federal level without some banking provisions finally being passed by Congress

  • New York is expected to exceed $1 Billion in 2024 retail sales

  • New Jersey surpassed $1 Billion for 2024 in combined medical and retail sales – up 25% compared to 2023

Cannabis Means Business (CMB)

Be ready for the future and making your mark in the industry. We announced our rebrand from CWCBExpo to Cannabis Means Business (CMB)—designed to better serve the modern cannabis industry and build your business to seize and create the future. New York is not just a sales epicenter – it’s becoming a hub of commerce and insight, influencing the cannabis market on a national and international level.

Cannabis Means Business–New York Global Edition is a transformation that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry. Make sure you are it the right room – the CMB room!

Cannabis Means BUsiness, Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

Federal Rescheduling News

CMB Recorded Discussion About the DEA’s December 2nd Hearing

On December 2, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held its first hearing about Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug – without testimony from selected participants. Full hearings with testimony have been delayed into 2025 with a timeline set by Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney. Hearings with actual witness testimony is set to begin January 21, 2025.

We share with you a special conversation that dissects the issues of rescheduling and its ramifications for the industry with Steph Sherer, Founder, Executive Director, President of the Board, Americans for Safe Access, and moderated by Chris Day, Co-Founder of GCNC.

Watch now on YouTube.

Rescheduling Discussion, Steph Sherer and Chris Day, December 2024

Re-Scheduling Hearings – January through March 2025

Witness testimony is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 and continue with a sequence of scheduled sessions through the beginning of March.

Get the scheduling details from NORML.

Conservative Think Tank: 73% of Americans Support Some Form of Legalization

In past newsletters we highlighted polls that show there is an overwhelming majority of Americans who support cannabis legalization at the federal level for medical and/or adult-use. Recent poll data as of December 18, 2024 – from the conservative think tank, Manhattan Institute – has yielded more of the same. In fact, the data shows that 73% of its respondents supported some form of legalization.

Read more from NORML.

NORML

Federal Farm Bill News

Farm Bill Extended

As part of the last-minute government congressional action to avert a government shutdown as 2024 comes to a close, the Farm Bill was extended for one year which leaves the hemp and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) definitions and rules alone.

Read more in the Cannabis Business Times.

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board

The final meetings for 2024 were held by the NYS OCM this December. A number of issues were addressed as the last meetings were conducted.

The December 11, 2024 CCB meeting discussed details of the year in review including:

  • Number of operational dispensaries
  • Retail Sales hitting $1 Billion
  • Number of adult-use licenses and types of licenses issued
  • Medical and Cannabinoid Hemp Licenses Issued
  • Enforcement efforts to shut down illicit shops
  • Compliance Inspections
  • Medical cannabis program
  • Energy & Sustainability
  • …and many other items

Download the CCB December 11th meeting deck here.

The Cannabis Advisory Board (CAB) held their last meeting on December 13, 2024 and discussed the number of retail licenses that should be issued in NYS. The number they decided on was 1,600 retail dispensaries that could be sustained. This figure was based upon market data that was presented by the OCM.

Download the press release detailing the CAB’s meeting and decisions here.

To close out the year, the NYS OCM has some good news for its “budding entrepreneurs.” It announced that the OCM and Our Academy are partnering together to provide workforce development and mentorship for justice-impacted entrepreneurs.

Download the Budtender Training Workshop info sheet here.

New York State Office of Cannabis Management NYS OCM

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

As 2024 comes to a close, the OCM has reported that a total of 269 legal Adult-Use dispensaries have opened for business.

Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS:

Peace, Love, & Bud
LOCKPORT | 320 S Transit Street, Lockport 14094
Website: www.plbud.com   

Beleaf Calverton
CALVERTON | 4462 Middle Country Road, Calverton 11933
Website: https://beleafny.com

Cannabis Central
CLIFTON PARK | 1520 Crescent Road, Clifton Park 12065
Website: https://shopcannabiscentral.com

Domes Dispensary
KINGSTON | 268 Forest Hill Drive, Kingston 12401
Website: domesdispensary.com

Farmers Choice Dispensary
FISHKILL | 18 Westage Drive, Fishkill 12524
Website:
https://farmerschoicedispensary.com/   

Long Island Cannabis Club
DEER PARK | 94 East Industry Court, Deer Park 11729
Website: https://cannabisclubli.com/

RR Legacy Dispensary
GLENS FALLS | 12 Hudson Avenue, Glens Falls 12801
Website: https://rrlegacydisp.com

Cloud 914
PEEKSKILL | 807 Washington Street, Peekskill 10566
Website: https://cloud914.com

ROC Dispensary*
*This location is a microbusiness with retail dispensary. ROCHESTER | 324 Jefferson Road, Rochester 14623
Website: https://rochester420.com

Evexia Cannabis
HALFMOON | 217 Guideboard Road, Halfmoon 12065
Website: https://evexiacannabis.com

The Cannabis Store
BUFFALO | 1936 S Park Avenue, Buffalo 14220

Strain Stars Riverhead
RIVERHEAD | 1871 Old Country Road, Riverhead 11901
Website: https://strainstarsny.com

82-J Cannabis Company
BUFFALO | 1673 Hertel Avenue, Suite B, Buffalo 14216
Website: https://eightytwo-j.com

Wilde Roots
CASTLETON | 4179 State Route 20, Castleton 12033
Website: https://wilderoots.com

The Green Village Dispensary
NEW HARTFORD | New Hartford Shopping Ctr, Suite 41, New Hartford 13413

Transcend Wellness
TROY | 289 Oakwood Avenue, Troy 12182
Website: https://transcendwps.com

Charlie Fox
MANHATTAN | 719 7th Ave, New York 10036
Website: https://shopcharliefox.com

Upstate Pines
RED HOOK | 7345 South Broadway, Red Hook 12571
Website: www.upstatepines.com

The Flowery Brooklyn
BROOKLYN | 692 Grand Street, Brooklyn 11211
Website: www.thefloweryny.com

The Kokoro Way Cannabis
KENMORE | 2454 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore 14217
Website: www.thekokoroway.com 

The Emerald Dispensary Manhattan
MANHATTAN | 1190 Lexington Ave, New York 10028
Website: www.emeralddispensary.nyc

I Bud You NY
BRONX | 898 Gerard Avenue, Bronx 10452

Housing Works Cannabis Co NoMad
MANHATTAN | 846 6th Avenue, New York 10001
Website: www.hwcannabis.co

Ripe Cannabis
SCHENECTADY | 245 Broadway, Suite 4, Schenectady 12305
Website:www.ripecannabisny.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Issues Announcements

New Jersey was also busy in December having their final meeting and decided on several things heading out of 2024 and into 2025.

  • Consumption areas will be a reality very soon. The NJ-CRC approved a Notice of Application Acceptance (NOAA) for consumption areas and will be accepting applications from specific licensee groups starting on January 2, 2025, and continuing on April 2, 2025 and July 2, 2024. All applicants must use the portal to submit their applications.

  • In our November newsletter we highlighted that The Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) decision amount for 2025 regarding cultivation had been extended past November 1 to give the NJ-CRC more time to get an appropriate (SEEF) rate determined. The SEEF is collected from cannabis cultivators when they sell or transfer products to other license classes. During their final public meeting, they voted that the SEEF be adjusted to $2.50 per ounce, an increase of $1.24 from 2024.

  • The 2025 10 public meetings schedule was approved at the final meeting of the NJ-CRC.

Learn More here from the NJ-CRC.

New Jersey Surpasses $1 Billion in Sales

There is more good news out of NJ regarding the combined medical and retail cannabis sales – combined they reached $1 billion this year – an increase of 25% when compared with the combined cannabis sales of 2023.

Get the details from the NJ-CRC.

NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

Pennsylvania Cannabis News

PA House Democrats are Drafting a Legalization Bill

Will Pennsylvania join the other 24 states to legalize recreational cannabis? House Democrats are trying to do just that for PA with new legislation that is currently being written. Dan Frankel, Representative of Allegheny, and Rick Krajewski, Representative of Philadelphia are co-sponsoring legislation.

Read more from the Times Observer.

Ohio Cannabis News

Ohio Adult Use Sales Surpass $200 Million in 4 Months

High hopes are in the air in Ohio for cannabis recreational sales. This past August, Ohio began recreational sales. In the four months since, Ohio recreational sales has hit over $200M.

Read more from yahoo! Finance

Nebraska Cannabis News

Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Voter-Approved Measure for Medical Cannabis

We highlighted in the November newsletter that Measures 437 & 438, (Medical Expansion), both passed during the November election by Nebraska voters. Former Senator Kuhn has filed another lawsuit that seeks to stop the two voter-approved measures for medical cannabis legislation.

Read about this development from NORML.

Austrailia Cannabis News

Australia Capital Teritory (ACT)

Australia is known as the down under continent. Did you know that within Australia, there is the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which has cannabis rules that were enacted in 2020 specifically around personal use, and were designed to help people to stay out of the justice system?

Recently, in 2024, changes were made to those rules to shore up support of that goal. While cannabis is not legalized in the ACT, it has been decriminalized in the ACT.

It is illegal to sell, share or give cannabis to anyone as a gift, for people under the age 18 to grow, use or possess cannabis, and to drive under the influence of cannabis.

Some of the recent allowable changes regarding personal use include:

  • Having possession of 50 grams of dried cannabis or up to 150 grams of fresh cannabis
  • Growing 2 cannabis plants per person, up to 4 plants per household
  • Using cannabis in one’s own home

Some of the changes that are not allowable regarding personal use and are considered offenses include:

  • Smoking or using cannabis in a public place
  • Exposing a child or young person to cannabis smoke
  • Storing cannabis within the reach of children
  • Growing cannabis using hydroponics or artificial cultivation
  • Growing plants where they can be accessed by the public

Learn more about cannabis rules in Australian Capital Territory here.

This Month’s 2024 Archived Video

Business & Culture at a Crossroads: Cannabis & Psychedelics, From the left: Ryan Hurley, Gaetano Lardieri, Maurice Hinson, Lisa Gora, Kymberly Byrnes, and Joe McKay
Business & Culture at a Crossroads: Cannabis & Psychedelics, From the left: Ryan Hurley, Gaetano Lardieri, Maurice Hinson, Lisa Gora, Kymberly Byrnes, and Joe McKay

Business & Culture at a Crossroads: Cannabis & Psychedelics

This month we feature a timely session from our June 2024 conference that ties into current conversations around psychedelics and cannabis.

As cannabis has been emerging out of isolation and extreme stigma, it has created numerous opportunities across the United States and the globe. Cannabis has evolved and is still evolving as a business layer for ancillary services, the medical community, adult-use markets, and government research. The psychedelic market has also emerged as an opportunistic business layer. While both cannabis and psychedelics offer business opportunities and potential for investors – the culture and the business pressures are each at a crossroads.

In this panel we discuss the progress and obstacles for the next level of business and opportunities for these two Schedule 1 drugs. Tune in to this informative, timely, energetic and forward thinking panel discussing the legal, medical and cultural crossroads of cannabis and psychedelics.

Moderator: Gaetano Lardieri, Co-Founder of Future Entheogenic Medicines LLC (F.E.M.), Co-Founder, THCBD

Speakers: Kymberly Byrnes, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, TribeTokes; Lisa Gora, Attorney, Epstein Becker Green; Maurice Hinson, MD, Founder, Director, MediRootz Medical Group; Hospitalist, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center; Ryan Hurley, Cannabis Practice Leader, Rose Law Group; Joe McKay, Retired FDNY Firefighter, Board Member, Clusterbusters

This session was recorded at CWCBExpo, Javits Convention Center, NYC, on June 5, 2024.

To watch this session now, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at Cannabis Means Business 2025.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
Transactions and Services to Expand Your Cannabis Business, From the left: Neil Kaufman, Drew Mathews, Jacob Miller, Jeff Booker
By CMB Global

Seize and Create The Future

New York Approaches $1 Billion in Sales.
Ballot Measures are In.
Rescheduling.

November was a big month for our industry. Important cannabis news includes:

  • A presidential election is finally over. Cannabis ballot measure results are mostly in
  • Stakeholders remained poised for the first Rescheduling hearing set for December 2, 2024 – a hearing that will not include the planned testimony from selected participants
  • New York State is on target to hit $1Billion in retail cannabis sales this year
  • New York State clocked 252 total retail dispensaries open for business – with New York City’s own cannabis culture icons Vladimir Bautista and Ramon Reyes opening up their second dispensary in Brooklyn, NY
  • A cannabis update from Morocco, and more…

Cannabis Means Business (CMB)

Another happening in November was CWCBExpo’s rebrand to Cannabis Means Business (CMB). The new CMB is designed to better serve the modern cannabis industry and build your business to seize and create the future. New York is not just a sales epicenter – it’s a hub of cannabis commerce, culture and insight, influencing the cannabis market on a national and international level.

Cannabis Means Business–New York Global Edition is a business-to-business conference and expo that reflects the rapid growth of cannabis as a legitimate global industry.

Cannabis Means BUsiness, Conference & Expo
June 4 – 5
Javits Convention Center, NYC

Rescheduling News

DEA December 2nd Hearing to be Without Testimony

On December 2, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will hold its first hearing about rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug – without the planned testimony from the many selected participants. Full hearings with testimony have been delayed into 2025. As this first hearing approaches, there is a lot of anticipation surrounding it.

For more information on the upcoming hearing and how the public can listen live, click here.

NCIA and the Rescheduling Hearing

The National Industry Cannabis Association (NCIA) reported that they have been selected to participate at the December 2 hearing. As a member of the NCIA, CMB thanks the NCIA for their continued efforts and advocacy for the cannabis industry.

Read more from the NCIA.

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board

New York State has continued its efforts to strengthen and expand the build-out of its cannabis industry. The most notable and exciting news is that the state is closing in on $1 billion in retail cannabis sales by year’s end. In addition, the Cannabis Control Board held a meeting on November 12, 2024, resulting in a number of approvals and decisions including:

  • Adult-Use License Approvals 
  • Medical Cannabis Patients and Increased Access Across NYS
  • Processing Type 3 Branding Licenses
  • Market and Social Economic Equity Report for NYS

Download the published press release from the OCM.

New York State Office of Cannabis Management NYS OCM

New York City Cannabis Culture Icons Open Second “Happy Munkey” Dispensary

Congratulations to Vladimir (Vlad) Buatista and Ramon Reyes, Co-Founders of Happy Munkey who have successfully opened up their second retail dispensary in New York City. With Happy Munkey, Vlad and Ramon have built a thriving lifestyle brand that has helped shape New York City’s iconic cannabis culture.

Their hard work and passion recently evolved into two culture-forward legal cannabis dispensaries in upper Manhattan and Brooklyn. Their first dispensary opened this past September on Dyckman Street, in Manhattan’s Inwood neighborhood. Their second opened in November and is the first legal retail dispensary inside the Fulton Mall in Downtown Brooklyn.

Both Vlad and Ramon and their new dispensaries were recently featured in the Brooklyn Paper.

Learn more about Vlad and Ramon and their iconoclastic Happy Munkey enterprise.

Vladimir (Vlad) Buatista and Ramon Reyes, Co-Founders of Happy Munkey

Recent New York Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

As November comes to a close, the OCM has reported that a total of 252 legal Adult-Use dispensaries are now open for business.

Congratulations to these newly opened dispensaries in NYS:

Happy Munkey Brooklyn
BROOKLYN | 453 Fulton St, Brooklyn 11201
Website: happymunkey.com

Just Breathe Syracuse
MANLIUS | 185 W Seneca Street, Manlius 13104
Website: https://dutchie.com/dispensary/just-breathe-syracuse/info

Twisted Vibration
BROOKLYN | 301 Broadway, Brooklyn 11211
Website: twistedvibration.com 

Fireleaf
BROOKLYN | 2102 Ralph Avenue, Brooklyn 11234
Website: fireleafny.com

Rochester’s Finest Cannabis Dispensary
ROCHESTER | 74 Lake Avenue, Rochester 14608
Website: rochestersfinestcannabis.com   

Waterman’s Greenhouse LLC (dba Greenside Cannabis)*
*This location is a microbusiness with retail dispensary.

EAST CONCORD | 12317 Vaughn Street, East Concord 14055
Website: greensidecannabis.com

Munchies Dispensary
QUEENS | 8701 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rockaway Beach 11693
Website: munchiesdispensaryny.com

Budd’s Dispensary
CATSKILL | 70 W Bridge Street, Catskill 12414
Website: buddsdispensary.com

NY Cannabis Co.
MANHATTAN | 743 9th Avenue, New York 10019
Website will be provided on the OCM Dispensary Verification page soon.

Northern Lights Dispensary
CANTON | 51 Main Street, Canton 13617
Website: nynorthernlights.com/

THTree
WEST COXSACKIE | 12187 Route 9W, West Coxsackie 12192
Website: thtreeny.com

Weedside
QUEENS | 50-22 72nd Street, Woodside 11378
Website: weedsideny.com

High Tide Dispensary
LANCASTER | 1829 Como Park Blvd, Lancaster 14086
Website: hightide716.com

By Any Other Name
BROOKLYN | 946 Fulton St, Brooklyn 11238
Website: byanyothernamebk.com

Buzzsaw Cannabis Company*
*This location is a microbusiness with retail dispensary.
NEW HAMPTON | 5044 Route 17M, New Hampton 10958
Website: buzzsawcannabis.com

Diamond Tree Dispensary
SYRACUSE | 2700 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse 13224
Website: diamondtreedispensary.com

Root 9 Dispensary
WAPPINGERS FALLS | 1546 Route 9, Wappingers Falls 12590
Website: root9dispensary.com

Misfits Dispensary
ROCHESTER | 420 Jefferson Road, Ste 2, Rochester 14623
Website: misfitsdispensary.com

The Plug
BROOKLYN | 428 Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn 11225
Website: theplugny.com

Juniper NY
MANHATTAN | 229 Avenue B, New York 10009
Website will be provided on the OCM Dispensary Verification page soon

Herbology
BROOKLYN | 304 Ellery Street, Brooklyn 11206
Website: herbologynyc.com

Flower City Dispensary
VICTOR | 8053 Pittsford Victor Road, Victor 14564
Website: nyflowercitydispensary.com

New Jersey Cannabis News

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Issues Announcements

New Jersey made significant decisions and announcements as they continue to build the economic layer of their cannabis industry. Among them:

  • On the municipality front, the NJ-CRC is trying to build community around legal cannabis and allow towns to benefit from the tax revenue that gets generated by these sales. The NJ-CRC created CREAMMA – Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act which allows municipalities to “opt-in” to allow cannabis businesses to exist in their communities. In return, those communities would economically benefit by reaping a portion of the tax revenue, while also allowing the local governments to control how many cannabis businesses would be allowed in their communities. Up to 2% of the cannabis tax revenue would be allocated to the municipalities who opt-in.
    Read more here.
  • The Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) amount decision for 2025 regarding cultivation has been extended past November 1. It will give the NJ-CRC more time to get an appropriate SEEF rate determined. Learn more from the NJ-CRC.
NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

State Ballot Measures: Election Results

Many States Had Cannabis Ballot Measures

While not all legislative measures passed as the industry may have wanted, it only proves there is much more to work to be done. States that had ballot measures  were:

  • Florida – Amendment 3, (Recreational Use), Failed
  • North Dakota – Measure 5, (Recreational Use), Failed
  • South Dakota – Measure 29, (Recreational Use) Failed
  • Nebraska – Measures 437 & 438, (Medical Expansion), Both Passed
  • Arkansas – Issue 3 (Medical), Votes Not Yet Counted

See a wrap-up of state ballot measures here from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Morocco Cannabis News

Legal Harvest Approved for Export

Morocco has always been an intriguing country. Cannabis, as an industry there, is also interesting and has seen some significant emerging opportunities. While recreational cannabis remains illegal in Morocco, it is quite fascinating that in some parts of Morocco, cannabis is the main economic activity.

This year some notable occurrences have transpired in the Moroccan cannabis space. First, it is important to note that in 2023, Morocco celebrated its first major legal harvest approved for export – for medical and industrial uses. This past September 2024, the King of Morocco – Mohammed VI, pardoned 4,800 illegal cannabis farmers to help build a legal cannabis industry there.

The Moroccan cannabis laws are regulated by the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-Related Activities (Anrac). It is led by Mohammed El Guerrouj. Anrac has been in the process of approving thousands of licenses and is working to make cannabis much more accessible and legal, with the goal of creating prosperity and developing a thriving legitimate Moroccan cannabis industry.

Learn more about these emerging opportunities from Arabian Gulf Business Insight.

This Month’s 2024 Archived Video

Transactions and Services to Expand Your Cannabis Business, From the left: Neil Kaufman, Drew Mathews, Jacob Miller, Jeff Booker
Transactions and Services to Expand Your Cannabis Business, From the left: Neil Kaufman, Drew Mathews, Jacob Miller, Jeff Booker

Transactions and Services to Expand Your Cannabis Business

We share a session from our recent June 2024 conference that featured innovators and thought leaders who continue to build and shape the modern cannabis ecosystem. In this energetic session, we learn about the importance of transactional platforms that help business owners reach their end goals of expansion, M&A, and more. This session sparks workable and actionable ideas for every cannabis business owner to consider.

Hear from panelists who conduct transactions in the areas of: Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), leasing and sales of full-scale cannabis operations, compliance, insurance, real estate, loan and credit solutions, payment platforms, and more.

Moderator: Neil Kaufman, Managing Member, Kaufman McGowan PLLC

Speakers: Drew Mathews, Founder & CEO Green Life Business; Jacob Miller, COO, Paybotic; Jeff Booker, Co-Founder and COO, CannaCoverage

To watch this session now, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at Cannabis Means Business 2025.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
Loading...
Loading...