Focus Article
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 […]
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, […]
Why Cannabis Businesses Are Turning to Captive Insurance for Better Coverage
It starts with a routine test result. A mid-size cannabis brand discovers that a batch of infused edibles has failed a pesticide screening. Within 48 hours, the company issues a voluntary recall, pulls product from dozens of dispensary shelves, and begins fielding calls from anxious retail partners. The financial damage — replacement inventory, logistics, regulatory […]
Operating in the Missouri Market with Curio Wellness
Missouri has quietly built one of the country’s more successful adult-use cannabis markets since launching recreational sales in 2023. Since legalization, the state has quickly grown into one of the largest cannabis markets in the Midwest, generating strong sales and supporting an expanding network of cultivators, processors, and dispensaries. Unlike many states that see medical […]
Are Acidic Cannabinoids the Next Frontier for Product Innovation?
While the cannabis industry has made significant strides in incorporating minor cannabinoids into product formulations, a vast number of therapeutic compounds remain largely unexplored. Researchers and cannabis physicians have been experimenting with acidic cannabinoids for several years with promising results, but the broader industry is only now beginning to catch up. As extraction technologies improve […]
The Power of AI and How it Will Transform Cannabis Medicine
Biotechnology, cannabis medicine, and the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are beginning to converge. Hemant Kumar Bid, program director for the Master of Science in Biotechnology and the Medical Cannabis concentration at Morehouse School of Medicine, believes this convergence could dramatically accelerate the development of cannabis-based therapies. With AI, cannabis […]
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 […]