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How to Evaluate Cannabis Packaging Suppliers Before You Commit
Cannabis packaging decisions have downstream consequences for compliance, operations, customer perception, and margins. This article offers a practical framework for evaluating packaging suppliers across five dimensions: compliance, product quality, operational fit, customization, and partnership reliability. It closes with a pre-commitment checklist that operators can use before signing any supplier agreement. Cannabis packaging is no longer […]
Move Over Flower, Pre-roll is King
Driven by innovation and convenience, pre-roll sales in 2025 not only had the strongest growth of any major category, topping $3.6 billion in sales and moving 383 million units, but supplanted flower as the most units sold for the first time in the industry’s history, according to a new report from Custom Cones USA. It’s […]
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 […]
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 […]
What Cannabis Can Learn from the Luxury Perfume World
When most people think of luxury goods, they picture high-quality, high-priced products. But what truly sets luxury apart is not just cost. It is craftsmanship, design, heritage, cultural cachet, and mastery of materials and technique. Luxury is a sensory experience rooted in both tradition and innovation. Cannabis, with its complex chemistry, rich history, and powerful […]
How To Use Blunts As a Brand Building Catalyst
There’s an opportunity in the pre-roll sector that many companies are missing. The pre-roll sector is the fastest-growing category in the cannabis industry. In 2025 alone, $3.6 billion worth of pre-rolls were sold across the 14 markets tracked by cannabis analytics firm Headset. Customers love the portability, the ease of use, and the innovation modern […]
Building Inside Maryland’s Limited License Cannabis Market
Maryland launched its medical cannabis program in 2018 and transitioned to adult use in 2024 as a limited-license state. Currently, there are 108 active dispensaries, with additional operators expected to come online following a March 2024 lottery that awarded conditional licenses to social equity entrepreneurs. However, these licensees still need to clear a vetting process […]
The Cannabis Retailer’s Survival Guide to 2026
2025 saw most businesses scrutinizing their operations to trim margins and survive the tumultuous market. 2026 is about digging deeper to uncover hidden costs that will further improve their bottom line. Tom Zuber, partner at Zuber Lawler, led a panel discussion at the recent IgniteNJ event, where experts offered advice on margin discipline and where […]
Jersey Girls Bring Down the House At IgniteIt Event
There was passion, power, and plenty of practical business advice from the women (and one man) who took the stage at the recent IgniteIt event in New Jersey. As the industry shifts away from the early “shiny-object” phase, operators are increasingly doubling down on what works. A few years ago, the prevailing growth strategy was […]