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Michigan's cannabis industry led job creation between 2018 and 2024, adding 52% of net private sector jobs, a figure the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MICIA) is using in a lawsuit to challenge a proposed 24% wholesale tax. The MICIA argues the tax violates the constitution regarding amending voter-initiated laws without a supermajority, while the state claims the wholesale tax is distinct from the voter-approved retail tax. < Back Report: Michigan’s Cannabis Industry Led State’s Job Creation from 2018-2024 Dec 9, 2025 TG Branfalt Ganjapreneur Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link From 2018 to 2024, Michigan’s cannabis industry led job creation in the state from 2018 to 2024, accounting for 52% of jobs added to the net private sector, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency data analyzed by Crain’s Detroit Business . The job creation is a key argument by the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MICIA) in a Court of Claims case. In that case, the association is pushing back against the implementation of a 24% wholesale tax, slated to take effect January 1. The group argues the tax violates the state’s constitution, which requires changes to voter-initiated laws to be passed by a legislative supermajority. Attorneys for the state contend that the wholesale tax is lawful because it is distinct from the retail tax included in the voter-approved adult-use law and, therefore, does not need the three-fourths supermajority required to amend voter-initiated statutes. In the lawsuit, Kevin Blair, a partner at Honigman and an attorney representing the MICIA, claims that the cannabis industry accounts for 50,000 of the roughly 60,000 jobs created since 2018. While Crain’s could not verify those claims, Rose Tantraphol, spokesperson for the MICIA, told Crain’s that figure is derived from multiple sources and includes ancillary jobs. According to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), licensed medical and adult-use cannabis companies employed 41,359 direct employees as of October 31, representing a more than 163% growth in jobs since the CRA began counting industry employees in October 2021, when it counted 15,722 jobs. Through October this year, the state’s cannabis industry added 6,315 new jobs, marking an 18% growth rate, the report says. A decision on the case is expected from Judge Sima Patel in the coming weeks. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill to ban products with any amount of THC, impacting the state's hemp industry. The ban excludes the medical cannabis program. Lawmakers also voted to expand the medical cannabis program. < Back Texas Lawmakers Pass Total Ban on THC May 23, 2025 Graham Abbott Ganjapreneur Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 3, a proposal that seeks to ban products containing any amount of THC, even when sourced from federally legal industrial hemp crops, CBS News reports. The ban does not apply to the state’s limited medical cannabis program. The House voted 95-44 in favor of SB3, which was authored by Sen. Charles Perry and passed the Senate in March. If signed into law, the bill would prohibit the sale of any products containing delta-8 or delta-9 THC — or any other cannabinoids, except CBD or CBG — effectively shuttering the state’s $8 billion retail hemp products industry. “We are deeply disappointed by the Texas House’s passage of [SB3], a bill that dismantles the legal hemp industry and ignores the voices of small businesses, farmers, veterans and consumers across the state who rely on hemp-derived products for their livelihoods and well-being.” — The Texas Hemp Business Council, in a statement Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who announced last year that banning THC outright would be one of his top priorities in 2025, thanked lawmakers for passing the bill. Meanwhile, House lawmakers prefaced the THC crackdown with a vote last week to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis program by adding chronic pain and Crohn’s disease to its list of qualifying conditions. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

A Delaware lawmaker withdrew a bill that aimed to regulate the sale of intoxicating hemp products. The bill faced opposition from CBD store owners and advocates. A new bill is planned for the next session. The Marijuana Commissioner supports selling cannabis-infused drinks at retail dispensaries if produced in the state. An email campaign influenced the decision, and the hemp industry aims to create a comprehensive bill. < Back Delaware Lawmaker Pulls Bill to Restrict Intoxicating Hemp Products Jun 19, 2025 TG Branfalt Ganjapreneur Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A Delaware lawmaker has pulled a bill that sought to restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp products to state-licensed cannabis stores and only allow sales of cannabis-infused beverages at liquor stores, WHYY News reports. State Rep. Debra Heffernan (D) indicated she pulled the proposal after pushback from CBD store owners, customers, and cannabis advocates, but that she plans to create a new bill “in the coming months” for consideration next session. “While I still believe in the importance of increasing safety testing and ensuring age verification for cannabinoid intoxicating products, I believe that further and wider conversations need to be had with business owners in this area and our new marijuana commissioner.” — Heffernan, in a statement posted to Facebook Joshua Sanderlin, Delaware’s Marijuana Commissioner, told WHYY News last week that he believes cannabis-infused drinks should be sold at retail dispensaries as long as they are produced in the state. He added that “there are no regulations” on intoxicating hemp products produced outside of Delaware and that “getting some” regulations and testing for the products “is the most important thing” facing regulators. Jena Murray, president of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable who works for a CBD company and is a resident of Delaware, told WHYY that an email campaign by her organization’s members and media stories led to Heffernan’s decision to pull the bill. She said the hemp industry in the state is looking forward to assisting in crafting “a bill that is really comprehensive and robust to protect children and adults as well.” < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Lighting trends in the grow room have significantly changed over the past decade. < Back 2025 State of the Cannabis Lighting Market: Research Results Nov 17, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A decade in the grow room shows major shifts in lighting trends. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

For the first time, the Pennsylvania state House has advanced an adult-use marijuana legalization bill. Pennsylvania House passes first adult-use marijuana legalization bill is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs < Back Pennsylvania House passes first adult-use marijuana legalization bill May 8, 2025 Chris Roberts MJ Biz Daily Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link For the first time, the Pennsylvania state House has advanced an adult-use marijuana legalization bill. Pennsylvania House passes first adult-use marijuana legalization bill is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Sister Somayah Kambui was a veteran Black Panther who advocated for racial justice in the cannabis movement. She won a groundbreaking legal victory, allowing her to provide cannabis to treat sickle-cell anemia. Kambui was arrested and faced a life sentence, but was found not guilty. She was also a leading figure in the cannabis activist scene, and her work highlighted the need to support freedom fighters. < Back Sister Somayah Kambui: An Early Visionary of Cannabis Equity Feb 21, 2025 Bill Weinberg Cannabis Now Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Today, “equity” is a watchword in the cannabis legalization movement, as state and local governments try to craft models for an adult-use market designed to correct the social harms of prohibition and the War on Drugs. But this public consciousness is due to the work of many who pushed the issue long before doing so was entirely socially acceptable. Sister Somayah Kambui, a veteran Black Panther turned cannabis advocate, was one of those who brought issues of racial justice to the forefront of the cannabis movement. And before her untimely death, she won a groundbreaking “jury nullification” victory, upholding her right to provide cannabis to treat sickle-cell anemia. Sister Somayah, as she was ubiquitously known (she was born Renee Moore), used cannabis to treat sickle-cell anemia, under the terms of California’s Proposition 215 medical marijuana measure after its passage in 1996. But her vocal advocacy made her a target of the authorities — resulting in her unprecedented legal victory. Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic blood anomaly that occurs in one in every 70,000 Americans, particularly those of African descent. It can cause debilitating pain, fatigue and swelling of the hands and feet. It took Kambui a while to figure out that cannabis was the most effective treatment for her. Kambui was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where she served several years during the Vietnam era. At VA and public hospitals, she was given morphine for her pain from the disease. “I couldn’t do anything on the morph,” she told High Times reporter Peter Gorman. “And neither can a million other people. That’s why you see so many middle aged and older black folk sitting on stoops looking like junkies. They are junkies. They’re U.S. government junkies.” After finding that cannabis helped, and after the passage of Prop 215, she founded the Crescent Alliance Self Help for Sickle Cell collective, or “buyers’ club.” With a doctor’s recommendation, she began cultivating in her South Los Angeles backyard. But the police raided her garden in October 2001 and confiscated, by their estimate, 200 pounds of cannabis plants. The LAPD brought in a helicopter for the raid, menacing the block of single-family homes. “I was sitting having a cup of coffee with a little hemp oil when they broke down the door,” Kambui told the Los Angeles Times. “I said, ‘I’m legal, I have a doctor’s note and I’m compliant with the law.'” She said the officers told her she had too much for her personal use. “I said ‘OK, why don’t you take what you think I don’t need and leave me the rest?'” she recalled to the LA Times. “They took it all.” She also disputed the police estimate of the haul. “That is 200 pounds wet, with dirt and stalks,” she said. Kambui was arrested, spent 60 days in jail and was charged with multiple felonies including cultivation, sale and shipping marijuana out of state. Worse still, she was facing a life prison term under California’s “Three Strikes” law. Her two prior convictions, involving illegal firearms possession and explosives, stemmed from her work with the Black Panthers in the early 1970s. During her time as a legendary Panther, she was known as “Peaches,” and was a leader of the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party, alongside Geronimo Pratt. When she went before the judge at Los Angeles County Court in January 2002, Kambui said the cannabis was not for her use alone, but was to be shared with some dozen sickle-cell sufferers in her club. “They’re all mine,” she said, taking full responsibility for all the uprooted plants. She also admitted shipping to sufferers who were too far away to come see her. And she asserted that her advocacy had made her a target, noting that she’d been similarly raided in 1998 — although the charges were dropped after she spent two weeks in jail. Making a medical necessity defense, Kambui spoke to the court of the long centuries of medicinal cannabis use in African traditional healing. Using her own idiosyncratic lingo, she referred to the African continent as “Nigretia,” and to her cannabis as “Nigretian Kif.” Sister Somayah Kambui The trial ended in an outcome that The Leaf Online website hailed as a “jury revolt or jury nullification,” in which a defendant is acquitted on moral or ethical grounds, in spite of uncontested evidence that she or he acted as charged. On March 18, 2002, Sister Somayah Kambui was found “not guilty” of all charges. In addition to being a rare victory for the doctrine of nullification, Kambui’s legal battle also anticipated a change in California law. It was the following year that the “medical marijuana collective defense” was enshrined in the Medical Marijuana Program Act, the notorious Senate Bill 420. *Pushing Racial Justice in the Cannabis Community * By the time of her court case, Kambui was already a leading figure in Southern California’s cannabis activist scene. She was the key mover behind the first Los Angeles Global Marijuana March in 1999, and all the subsequent ones until her death. And she was particularly aggressive in calling out the cannabis community one what she saw as its internal racism — for instance, in failing to emphasize sickle-cell anemia in medical marijuana advocacy, and failing to make the link between prohibition and militarized policing of black and brown communities. But she bridged a cultural divide in 1997, when she teamed up with B.E. Smith, a brazen and police-defying cannabis grower of white redneck roots in the backwoods of Northern California’s Trinity Alps. Smith became “designated caregiver” for Kambui, among a handful of other medical users around the state. Alas, she never got to use B.E.’s bud, as his cultivation site was raided by federal agents that harvest season—resulting in his own landmark legal battle. Smith died earlier this year. Unfortunately, Kambui’s run-ins with the law were not over after her court victory. In October 2003, her garden was again raided — this time by the DEA. A dozen plants were uprooted, although no charges were filed. California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer decried the raid as a “mean-spirited, gratuitous attack on a seriously ill woman who has been judged guiltless by her peers under California law. Like other victims of DEA’s medical marijuana raids, Somayah was targeted because she was a vocal, legal patient activist who was a thorn in the side of the law enforcement establishment.” Like many front-line activists who put a commitment to community ahead of personal gain, Kambui received little material reward for her efforts. When she died on Thanksgiving 2008, at the age of 57, the website Time4Hemp wrote that economic hard times likely contributed to her demise: “Many close to her believe she died of a broken heart based on lack of financial support. All those dispensaries in Los Angeles and not one would help her save her home from foreclosure.” Twelve years after her passing, Sister Somayah Kambui reminds us of the need to preserve the memory of those who sacrificed for such freedom and consciousness as we have now achieved. And more poignantly, of the need to honor and support our freedom fighters while they still walk among us. *TELL US,* what did you learn from Sister Somayah? The post Sister Somayah Kambui: An Early Visionary of Cannabis Equity appeared first on Cannabis Now. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall threatens a government shutdown if a proposed 24% wholesale tax on marijuana, brokered as part of a budget deal, does not pass the Senate. Despite opposition and an amendment to reduce the tax to 20%, Hall insists on the original deal, warning that renegotiation would lead to a shutdown. < Back Michigan House Speaker Threatens To Shut Down Government If Marijuana Taxes Aren’t Increased Oct 3, 2025 Marijuana Moment Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *“If our prices are no longer attractive to customers in Michigan or from other states, we’re going to lose a lot of those customers.”* *By Ben Solis, Michigan Advance* The leader of the Michigan House of Representatives said Thursday that he expects his Senate counterpart will deliver the votes needed to pass a proposed 24 percent wholesale tax on marijuana, and if not, he says the budget deal would fall apart at the seams. Such a scenario would also lead to a full Michigan government shut down, as House Speaker Matt Hall (R) reiterated that there will not be another continuation budget to keep the lights on if the deal brokered between him, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) falls apart. “This was a revenue source that Winnie Brinks offered in private,” Hall said while speaking to reporters on Thursday. “We took them up on their suggestion of marijuana, and we all made a deal on the budget. Brinks would never make that deal if she can’t perform.” It was now on the Senate to keep up their end of the road funding deal, Hall added. A message seeking comment on the state of the marijuana tax from Brinks’s office was not returned at the time of publication The tax has opposition from some members of the House and Senate, although Hall has said throughout the week that the plan was put forward by Brinks. The tax outlined in House Bill 4951 was initiated in the lower chamber, however, sponsored by Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills). That remains to be seen, given that at least one Democrat–Sen. Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor–said that he would not vote for the measure as is. Michigan cannabis industry stakeholders spent Tuesday in Lansing, lobbying lawmakers and rallying in hopes that the Legislature would either walk away from its proposed tax to fund roads or amend the bill to rescue the tax but at a much more palatable rate. On Tuesday, lawmakers worked late into the evening to move implementation bills that would set up passage of a final budget in the coming days. It was during that late-night session that an amendment to the proposed tax emerged in the Senate’s session database that would reduce the proposed tax to just 20 percent. The amendment to House Bill 4951, put forward by state Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) would also tie-bar the bill to Chang’s proposed tax on several tobacco products and levying a tax on e-cigarettes–Senate Bill 582. If it were to gain traction, it could give some comfort to cannabis industry leaders who said the tax in its current proposed form would lead to a shrinking of the industry and job losses, but some opponents to the tax say that the number is still too high and wouldn’t get their votes. Senate Bill 582 is in line with a bill she offered during the previous legislative session which levied an additional 75 mills on top of the tax levied on cigarettes, increasing the wholesale tax on cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and any tobacco product to 57 percent while levying a 57 percent wholesale tax on e-cigarettes. In an interview with Michigan Advance, Chang said the amendment amounted to a concept of a plan, so to speak, and that she was just throwing it out there to see what the appetite was. She was not confident that it would be taken up, or pass even if it did. Two House lawmakers said during an anti-marijuana tax rally held Tuesday that they were working behind the scenes to get that rate reduced. Chang was asked if she’s talked to her colleagues about the amendment, particularly on the House side, but she said she had not. Irwin, who has been a strong critic of the House Republican’s proposed marijuana tax, said the reduction in the rate was an improvement, but not enough to bring him on board. “I think it would still drive a lot of people out of the legal market, still discourage a lot of people from other states who are currently coming here because our prices are advantaged,” Irwin said. “And so if our prices are no longer attractive to customers in Michigan or from other states, we’re going to lose a lot of those customers.” Now is not the time to be levying additional taxes on cannabis, Irwin argued, noting that a black market for the product still exists, and driving people toward that market will lead to a decrease in revenue. That was the sentiment shared by industry advocates at the rally on Tuesday. Irwin also argued that lawmakers should respect the distribution model for cannabis taxes that voters approved when they voted to legalize the drug in 2018. “If we’re going to change that, we certainly should have a three quarters majority to change it as demanded by the Michigan Constitution,” Irwin said. Still, Hall thought that the deal on 24 percent would hold. He was adamant that he thought the initially proposed 32 percent tax on marijuana was too high, and that the House was able to bring that number down. Hall also wondered if the tax would change consumption habits, ultimately affecting the revenue the state could get from it. Chang would not discuss her reasoning behind the amendment other than that it was another option. When asked if the House would concur with the amendment if it somehow passed, Hall was noncommittal and said again that they had a deal. “If they try to change the terms of that deal, we would strip it out and we’d send it back the other way, because there are hundreds of things we could renegotiate in this deal, but then the government would shut down,” Hall said. *Michigan Advance reporter Kyle Davidson contributed to this story.* *This story was first published by Michigan Advance.* The post Michigan House Speaker Threatens To Shut Down Government If Marijuana Taxes Aren’t Increased appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has partnered with Torch Drinks, a hemp THC beverage company, to offer cannabis drinks as an alcohol alternative at VFW posts in legal jurisdictions. This first-of-its-kind collaboration for a major veterans service organization will use proceeds from VFW-branded Torch Drinks to fund veteran services like health claim assistance and financial aid for veteran families. The VFW supports legislative reforms for alternative veteran treatments, including medical cannabis and psychedelics, and views this partnership as a way to raise funds and explore new ways to meet veterans' evolving health needs. Research indicates a positive association between cannabis use and milder PTSD symptoms in veterans, and legislative efforts are ongoing to allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana. < Back Top Veterans Group Partners With Cannabis Brand To Promote THC Drinks As Alcohol Alternative At VFW Posts Oct 7, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A top veterans organization has entered a first-of-its-kind partnership with a hemp THC beverage company, with a licensing branding deal that will support a variety of veterans services and promote cannabis drinks as a potential alcohol alternative. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States on Tuesday announced it reached an agreement with Torch Drinks, a Florida-based cannabis business that produces hemp-derived THC beverages. In addition to the branding licensing agreement, the cannabis drinks will be made available at VFW posts across the country in jurisdictions where they are legal. “The VFW recognizes the importance of providing veterans with alternatives to alcohol consumption, and through this relationship the VFW can provide members in states where Torch beverages are legal with alcohol alternatives that may better benefit veterans coping with service-connected injuries, chronic pain or the invisible wounds of war,” the announcement says. This marks the first time a major veterans service organization (VSO) has collaborated in such a way with a cannabis company. Select Torch Drinks products will carrying VFW branding—and proceeds from the sale of those drinks will go toward initiatives such as the organization’s national veterans service program that provides no-cost assistance in filing health claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as well as another program delivering financial assistance to veteran families. “The VFW’s top priority is ensuring that veterans and their families receive the care, benefits and support they have earned through their service,” VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore said in a press release. “Working with Torch helps us raise funds for those vital programs while also allowing us to explore better ways to meet the needs of an evolving veterans’ community.” This relationship helps raise funds for vital VFW programs and keeps veterans’ health and wellness needs at the forefront. Torch Drinks LLC has a proven track record of creating products that are made of the highest quality, and it is committed to improving industry standards and… pic.twitter.com/DHgWaKV2zT — VFW National HQ (@VFWHQ) October 7, 2025 VFW, which describes itself as “the nation’s largest and most established major war veterans organization” has historically supported legislative reforms to expand research and access to alternative treatments for veterans, including medical cannabis, hemp-derived products and psychedelics. A representative of the organization testified before Congress earlier this year on the issue. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered organization has more than 1.4 million VFW and auxiliary members located in nearly 6,000 Posts worldwide, it says. “Torch Drinks is proud to work with the VFW to provide veterans with a safe, federally compliant, social alternative that is like none other,” Collin Kerrigan, co-founder of Torch Beverage Company, said. “Customers tell us Torch products help promote relaxation and revitalization, which is why we want to make it more widely available to people and veterans who may enjoy it.” “It is our mission to support the men and women who serve the United States in uniform while promoting ongoing research and discussions about innovative health solutions,” he said. “It is truly an honor and a privilege to make this announcement.” *— Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.* *Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. —* Meanwhile, marijuana and veterans advocacy groups recently launched a campaign to mobilize veterans to help convince Republican lawmakers to embrace embrace federal cannabis reform. Federally funded research published in August on the relationship between PTSD and cannabis use in veterans found that marijuana is associated with milder PTSD symptoms and reduced negative affect—the tendency to experience frequent or intense negative emotions. Also that month, the Senate approved large-scale spending legislation that includes provisions to allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to military veterans living in legal states. In past years, both the House and Senate have included provisions in their respective MilConVA measures that would permit VA doctors to make the medical cannabis recommendations, but they have never been enacted into law. Because both chambers again adopted differing language this year, the matter will once more be a topic of conversation in conference committee or informal bicameral negotiations and, as such, could end up being left out of the final package sent to the president this time, as has been the case in the past. Meanwhile, a GOP senator said in August that he’s “confident” that, under the Trump administration, lawmakers will help secure alternative treatment options for veterans—including access to psychedelic medicine, as multiple veterans have personally requested from him after disclosing they’ve travelled abroad for the novel therapy. The post Top Veterans Group Partners With Cannabis Brand To Promote THC Drinks As Alcohol Alternative At VFW Posts appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Mollie Culligan has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer at Sun Theory to oversee brand development and marketing strategy. She will focus on the national expansion of Dialed In Gummies and will later extend her efforts to other Sun Theory brands. Culligan's experience includes building 710 Labs into a nationally recognized brand and guiding brands like Moon Juice and Vittoria Coffee. Her marketing philosophy is story-driven, values-led, and rooted in consumer insight. Sun Theory is a leader in the cannabis industry with a mission to enhance lives by providing premium cannabis and hemp products. < Back Sun Theory Appoints Mollie Culligan Chief Marketing Officer Jun 19, 2025 Staff MG Magazine Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *AUSTIN, Texas —* Sun Theory has named Mollie Culligan Chief Marketing Officer to oversee brand development and marketing strategy across its growing portfolio of products and platforms. Culligan will focus on the national expansion of Dialed In Gummies, one of the fastest-growing rosin gummy brands, and will later extend her efforts to Sun Theory’s broader house of brands. “Mollie brings a rare blend of creative vision and strategic experience to everything she touches,” said Connor Oman, CEO and Co-Founder of Sun Theory Holding Co. “She has helped shape some of the most beloved and high-performing wellness brands in the country, and we’re thrilled to have her leading the charge as we scale Dialed In Gummies and launch new offerings across the U.S.” Culligan steps into the role during a period of rapid growth, with Sun Theory expanding into new markets and preparing to introduce additional retail and beverage brands. As CMO, she will lead efforts to unify the company’s brand storytelling, visual identity, and product positioning—keeping the consumer at the center of every touchpoint. Culligan steps into the role during a period of rapid growth, with Sun Theory expanding into new markets and preparing to introduce additional retail and beverage brands. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Culligan has a background in high-end wellness and cannabis CPG and is known for blending big-picture strategy with grassroots execution. Her experience includes building 710 Labs into a nationally recognized brand, a foundational executive and part owner of NOW wellness franchise and guiding iconic names like Moon Juice and Vittoria Coffee through creative and commercial growth. “Joining Sun Theory feels like stepping onto a rocket ship—one that’s grounded in integrity, plant-based wellness, and purpose,” said Culligan. “I’m excited to help grow a portfolio that truly honors the full potential of the cannabis plant. This work is personal to me, and I believe deeply in the power of these products to transform lives.” Culligan’s approach to brand-building is informed not just by business acumen, but by lived experience. A cancer survivor in her family gave her a firsthand view of cannabis’s medicinal impact—one that continues to inspire her mission. She describes her marketing philosophy as “story-driven, values-led, and always rooted in real consumer insight.” Her appointment reflects Sun Theory’s commitment to scaling responsibly, with an eye toward innovation, wellness, and human connection. About Sun Theory Sun Theory is a leader in the cannabis industry, with a network of dispensaries, consumer brands, and production facilities. The company’s mission is to enhance lives by providing premium cannabis and hemp products that honor the plant’s rich, 5,000-year legacy of benefiting human wellness. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Successful start-ups are adopting a cautious approach to development and effectively tracking expenses. < Back Cannabis Ventures, Start-Up Best Practices, and Ways to Compete Oct 24, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Most successful start-ups are taking a cautious and conservative approach to their build-outs and are properly capturing costs. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

The cannabis company is advancing its growth strategy and showing operational execution with its new indoor cultivation facility. < Back FLUENT Completes 1st Harvests at Rosa Facility in Florida Nov 4, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The cannabis company’s indoor cultivation facility advances its growth strategy and proves operational execution. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Virginia's incoming Democratic governor-elect, Abigail Spanberger, listed strong labeling requirements and dedicating new tax revenue to education and regulation as essential components for her to sign a marijuana sales legalization bill. The state currently allows cannabis possession but lacks a retail market, a situation the new governor wants to clarify. < Back Virginia’s Incoming Governor Lists Priorities She Wants In Marijuana Sales Legalization Bill If She’s Going To Sign It Dec 29, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The Democratic governor-elect of Virginia is laying out what “needs to be” included in a marijuana sales legalization bill in order for her to sign it into law—such as “strong labeling” requirements and allocating tax revenue toward education. In an interview with WDBJ7 that was published on Friday, incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), who supports cannabis reform, was asked about the future of marijuana policy in the commonwealth under her administration. “Right now is that we live in this gray space where there’s some legality to marijuana, there’s some illegality,” she said. “There’s a lot of questions—a lot of confusion—and that creates real problems for Virginians who might currently have the legal ability to buy it for medicinal needs, or for those who might try to fall under the personal use.” Cannabis has been legal to possess and cultivate for adult use since 2021, but there’s currently no retail access for non-medical marijuana. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who leaves office next month, has vetoed bills passed by the legislature to establish a commercial recreational cannabis market—but advocates have been encouraged by Spanberger’s position in favor of the policy change. “A consumer should always know what they are buying, and so that means strong labeling,” the governor-elect said. “That means understanding the strength… If you go and you buy a pack of beer, you know what percentage alcohol that beer is, you know what proof a liquor is, so you have an understanding of what it is that you’re actually purchasing. I think that is extraordinarily important with all marijuana-related products.” “So it needs to be well-regulated, well-labeled, and the revenue needs to be part of ensuring facilitating that regulation,” she added. “And also, with any new revenue stream you get to decide where it goes, it is incredibly important to me that that new revenue stream, in addition to going towards regulation, be invested in education.” Meanwhile, earlier this month, Virginia’s Senate president pro tempore filed a bill to provide relief for people convicted of past cannabis crimes, mandating that individuals with certain offenses automatically receive resentencing hearings and have their punishments adjusted. Youngkin has vetoed similar proposals in past sessions. *— Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.* *Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access. —* Also this month, the legislature’s Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market unveiled a much-anticipated proposal to legalize recreational marijuana sales that it is recommending lawmakers pass during the 2026 session. Sen. Louise Lucas (D), the Senate president pro tempore, recently said the state should move forward with legalizing recreational marijuana sales—in part to offset the Trump administration’s cuts to federal spending in support of states. Separately, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry published a new document this month outlining workplace protections for cannabis consumers. *Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.* The post Virginia’s Incoming Governor Lists Priorities She Wants In Marijuana Sales Legalization Bill If She’s Going To Sign It appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5