Beer and liquor companies lobby DC over THC drinks 🍺

“The job of a cannabis regulator is to build structure and set expectations for an industry. It requires constant vigilance, while working to keep the integrity of the statutory scheme, build out market opportunities and access points, and hold industry actors accountable,” Felicia Reid, the Acting Executive Director of the New York Office of Cannabis Management, said in a LinkedIn post about her agency’s push to fine and ban Omnium Health from the state. 

“But some will always bet that regulation means posture without power. Overlay New York’s social and economic equity mandate—which flips the usual cannabis legalization script in favor of small business, community impact, and restorative justice—and the work of regulation becomes something more.”

Curaleaf sues New Jersey over labor peace agreements 🏛️

Curaleaf is suing the Garden State, claiming that the state's "pro-union" requirements are unfairly burdensome for the company. New Jersey requires all cannabis operators to obtain a labor peace agreement, which involves the company pledging to remain neutral against organizing activities, while the union promises not to call for a strike. 

Big beer and liquor companies lobby on THC drinks 🍺

Big alcohol companies, including Molson Coors, Moet Hennessy, and Bacardi are lobbying the federal government on hemp-derived THC drinks, Marijuana Moment reports, citing Q3 lobbying disclosures. It’s a notable uptick over the prior quarter.

Cannabis revenue growth outpacing alcohol in Manitoba 💨

Cannabis sales in the province grew by $16.46 million in the last year, according to a report from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries. At the same time alcohol sales grew by $14.27 million. Total cannabis revenue was over $170 million, while alcohol sales generated $887.8 million. 

West Virginia sitting on $34 million from medical cannabis program💰

The state has collected about $34 million since launching its medical cannabis market in 2021. The state Treasurer's Office told Mountain State Spotlight that those funds, which are being held in a credit union, will remain unspent until there is a change at the federal level, such as rescheduling or SAFER Banking. 

Ohio legislature working on compromise hemp bill 🧃

Ohio’s House Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would allow hemp-derived THC beverage sales in convenience stores but effectively ban edibles containing more than 0.5 mg of THC. The bill is the legislature’s push to satisfy Gov. Mike DeWine’s executive order banning all intoxicating hemp sales in the state. A judge imposed a temporary restraining order on DeWine’s ban last week, and a full hearing will be held on October 28.

REVOLUTIONIZING CANNABIS OPERATIONS
UZIO launches first-of-its-kind integrated payroll, HR, and POS solution for the industry *

Last month, UZIO, a leading AI-powered Payroll and HR platform, announced the first, fully integrated workforce and retail operations platform built specifically for the cannabis industry. 

This strategic collaboration between UZIO and TREEZ delivers a seamless, end-to-end solution that bridges front-of-house retail transactions with back-office payroll, compliance, and workforce management — helping cannabis operators scale with speed, intelligence, and simplicity. 

“This is more than just a tech partnership — it’s a new operating model for cannabis businesses,” said Sanjay Singh, CEO of UZIO. “By embedding AI into payroll and HR and linking that directly with real-time POS data, we’re removing friction, reducing compliance risk, and giving operators actionable insight across their entire operation.” 

Key Benefits of the Integration: 

The integrated solution is being piloted with select multi-location dispensaries. 

👉 Request a demo today

*SPONSORED

LüT, an electronic payment processing company that specializes in cannabis and other high risk industries, has appointed Mark Lewis as President of its Specialty Payments Division. Lewis previously served as CEO of Ember Services and President of 420 Financial.

Not just talking about practice 🏀

Circle K is preparing to roll out a line of hemp-derived THC drinks in partnership with former NBA star Allen Iverson, Viola, and Horticulture Co. The program will launch in the fourth quarter of 2025 in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, with a larger rollout in 2026 to all states that allow the products to be sold at gas stations. 

Canadian cannabis giant High Tide sets new goals on fourth anniversary 🎂

As the company celebrates four years of being in business, High Tide has announced new long-term goals to reach three million Cabana Club members and 350 total Canna Cabana retail locations across the nation. High Tide is a Cultivated partner.

And more: 

Fluent has rebranded its second and third dispensary in New York. The locations were formerly known as Etain, before Fluent acquired them from RIV Capital.

Legal cannabis reduces opioid use for cancer patients ✅

A new study from the journal JAMA Health Forum found that when medical or recreational cannabis dispensaries open in a state, commercially insured cancer patients fill fewer opioid prescriptions and get smaller daily supplies of opioids. The research — based on data from over 3 million insured US adults with cancer — suggests that greater cannabis availability might be linked to reduced opioid use in cancer-related pain management. Full study here. 

LA's staggering cannabis problem could cost the city $400M | SFGate

It's Not Going Well for Former Fall River Mayors in The Cannabis Industry | Talking Joints Memo