Industry Analysis
Colorado Pushes to Normalize THC Beverages in Bars as Federal Pressure Mounts
As federal policymakers move toward restricting hemp-derived cannabinoid products, a new state-level effort in Colorado is taking the opposite approach by moving to integrate low-dose THC beverages into mainstream hospitality. A coalition led by Colorado-based attorney Brian Vicente, partner at Vicente LLP, has formed the Colorado THC Beverage Coalition and introduced legislation that would allow […]
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Preserve State Control as Federal Hemp Crackdown Looms
As the U.S. hemp industry braces for potential federal disruption later this year, a new bipartisan bill aims to give states a way to maintain control over intoxicating hemp products and potentially keep the category alive. Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) have introduced the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, legislation […]
Operational Efficiency Is Driving the Next Phase of Cannabis Growth
For years, the cannabis industry operated in an environment where expansion was the primary signal of success, and investors were excited to get involved. New markets opened, and rapid growth often took priority over efficiency. Companies could move quickly and sort out the details later, trusting that scale would eventually smooth things out. That environment […]
Commercial Insurance Has Failed Cannabis. Here’s What’s Next
In 2024, Colorado state officials announced a recall affecting 172 stores across the state. Batches of flower and pre-rolled joints from one grower exceeded mold and yeast limits. The losses were immense, including for companies that thought the money they were paying each year to insurance companies for premiums would provide, only to discover that […]
Cannabis Biopharma Company Enters Fight Over CMS Hemp Pilot
A cannabis biopharma company is seeking to join the federal lawsuit challenging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new hemp and CBD pilot program, adding a pharmaceutical voice to a government-sanctioned program allowing untested and unregulated hemp products into the marketplace. MMJ International Holdings and its subsidiaries, MMJ BioPharma Labs and MMJ BioPharma […]
Industry Coalition Warns New Bill Would Wipe Out California’s Legal Cannabis Beverage Market
A letter to California’s Assembly Committee on Business and Professions argues a proposed 10mg THC-per-package cap would eliminate 93% of beverage sales — and more than $21 million in annual tax revenue. But the bill has a longer backstory rooted in child safety, audit findings, and a statewide crackdown on unregulated hemp products. A broad […]
Industry Coalition Warns AB 2532 Would Wipe Out California’s Legal Cannabis Beverage Market
A letter to California’s Assembly Committee on Business and Professions argues a proposed 10mg THC-per-package cap would eliminate 93% of beverage sales — and more than $21 million in annual tax revenue. But the bill has a longer backstory rooted in child safety, audit findings, and a statewide crackdown on unregulated hemp products. A broad […]
Inventory Is the Biggest Cash Flow Problem in Cannabis
All roads in cannabis retail lead back to inventory. Retail cannabis operators across the country are being squeezed by razor-thin margins, declining cash flow, and a growing inability to pay vendors on time. The culprit is often not weak sales or lack of demand. It is mismanaged inventory. Inventory is the foundation on which the […]
What MJ Unpacked Reveals About Cannabis in 2026
From cultivation to retail, businesses are digging deep to tighten operations and increase margins as the only way to endure another grueling year in cannabis without federal support. A common sales pitch these days centers on cost-saving systems and operational efficiency. The industry has shifted from “how fast can we grow?” to “how do we […]
The Third Exit Path for Cannabis Founders
For many cannabis founders, the exit problem is not finding the right buyer. It is that there are barely any buyers at all. The field is narrow, capital is tight, and the strategic buyers that do exist are rarely showing up with clean cash offers. More often, founders are being asked to accept low valuations, […]