compliance
Meet California’s New Director of Cannabis Control
California’s medical cannabis market began in 1996 when voters passed Proposition 215 (the Compassionate Use Act), making it the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use. Twenty-two years later, Proposition 64 ushered in adult-use sales, which commenced in January 2018. Initially, three separate agencies handled different aspects of the industry: The Bureau of Cannabis […]
The Case For Cannabis Telemedicine: Can it Work in the US?
It has been one year since Germany fully legalized cannabis on April 1, 2024, following the launch of its medical program in 2017. While cannabis was removed from the narcotics list, Germany continues to take a medical-first approach. Few expect full adult-use legalization anytime soon, particularly after a conservative government was elected last year. According […]
New York’s Cannabis Boom Is Real, But So Are the Risks
The Most Exciting US Market No cannabis market in the United States has experienced a more compelling growth trajectory over the past two years than New York. After a halting and often-criticized launch, the state’s legal adult-use market has accelerated at an unmatched pace. In 2023, New York generated a paltry $100 million in legal […]
Building a Cannabis Banking Eco-System with Terry Mendez
The cannabis industry is still operating within a cobbled-together financial system—one defined by workarounds, instability, and uncertainty. Most major banks remain unwilling to work with cannabis businesses due to the risk and compliance burdens associated with serving a federally illegal industry. In 2014, former Safe Harbor Financial CEO Sundie Seefried helped establish one of the […]
The Hidden Costs of Getting HR Wrong in Cannabis Startups
When a new cannabis business starts hiring, the focus is usually on speed. You need people to pack, label, deliver, and sell. Payroll and HR often come later—until a compliance notice, tax penalty, or angry employee forces attention. By that point, “later” has turned into a crisis. I’ve watched that scene play out too many […]
2026 Trends in Cannabis Labeling
As the cannabis industry continues to mature, labeling will continue to shape the way for product identification and consumer safety. Looking ahead to 2026, cannabis businesses face growing pressure to improve accuracy, strengthen compliance, streamline production, and build trust with both regulators and consumers. The most successful organizations will modernize their labeling workflows by focusing […]
Cannabis Payments in 2026: Why Technology Will Move Faster Than Congress
For more than a decade, the cannabis industry has been stuck in a state of contradictions: fully legal in many states and fully illegal at the federal level. When it comes to finances, the result is a sector with modern retail expectations supported by armored cars, cash drops, and payment workarounds duct taped together. Looking […]
$1.3 Billion/Month Later: What Cannabis Banking Has Really Taught Us
A decade ago, most banks wouldn’t touch a cannabis business. Whenever banking access came up, the discussion stopped almost immediately. People said it was too risky, too unclear, or that the timing just wasn’t right. Today, Green Check has over 180 financial institutions across the U.S. that actively serve more than 17,000 licensed operators. Together, […]
Trump Reschedules Cannabis!
The moment many in the cannabis industry have been waiting for has finally arrived. Operators, investors, and advocates are cautiously celebrating President Trump’s executive order directing the Department of Justice to finalize the rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III, an action many hope is a stepping stone toward full federal descheduling. Full descheduling would free […]
Untangling Another Hemp Loophole, International Trade, and Supply Chain Liability
As the industry clings to the hope of rescheduling, legal chaos continues to intensify after Congress moved to close the hemp loophole. The new language, set to take effect next October, has many hemp beverage and edible companies scrambling for a Plan B. While the intent was to rein in intoxicating cannabinoids like THCV, the […]