Good morning.
Tune in at 10 AM Eastern to Cultivated Live where we’ll be joined by NABIS co-founder and CEO Vince Ning. NABIS recently announced the acquisition of select assets from Humble Cannabis Solutions, expanding its operational footprint across California.
Watch it on our YouTube or LinkedIn pages.
-JB, JR, ZH
Today’s newsletter is 905 words about a 6.5-minute read.
💡 What’s the big deal?
MASSACHUSETTS
Cannabis cafes come to the Bay State ☕
Driving the news: Massachusetts officially joined the growing roster of states that allow for social consumption of cannabis on Jan. 2.
On that date, new rules took effect in the Bay State after years of discussion and regulatory planning.
Social consumption is often seen as a key step toward the normalization of cannabis use. With new rules in place, Massachusetts regulators still have more work to do before the first legal lounges can celebrate grand openings.
What they’re saying: “Next steps will include ongoing engagement with municipalities that must opt-in to hosting social consumption and educating residents to ensure the Commonwealth is prepared for this expansion of our $8 billion regulated cannabis industry,” Commissioner Bruce Stebbins said during the state Cannabis Control Commission's Dec. 12 meeting.
Zoom in: The new rules in Massachusetts allow for three separate licenses that allow public consumption.
A supplemental license for existing operators, a hospitality license for new or existing non-cannabis businesses, and event organizer for temporary events where consumption may take place.
Technically, consumers in Massachusetts are restricted to their own homes. Renters are not guaranteed the right, nor are tenants of public housing. Hotels do not allow consumption, which presents challenges to tourists.
The only immediate change for dispensaries under the new rules is that they can now sell prepackaged snacks that are non-infused.
Municipalities will have to opt-in to allowing lounges. Vendors will not be able to co-mingle cannabis sales with tobacco or alcohol and they are required to have a plan in place for dealing with customers who over-indulge.
Zoom out: Massachusetts is not the first state with legal cannabis to dabble with public consumption. California, Nevada, Alaska, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Maryland have laws allowing for legal lounges.
Aside from having specific laws allowing for lounges, many states have private clubs that essentially serve as consumption lounges.
What’s next: The next CCC meeting takes place on Jan. 15, which will be the first opportunity for the Commission to weigh in on any potential applicants for the new license types — assuming that there are applicants who are eager to be first in line.
-ZH
📣 Quotable
“It’s pretty hard to stay on top of the rules and regulations. They change them every day. One minute we’re told we don’t have to pull something off the shelf, and then all of a sudden, we do.” Bee Dynasty owner Dusty Higgins told WesternSlopeNow.com, regarding the ever-changing regulatory landscape of cannabis in Colorado.
✍️ Apply today
On January 29th, Gotham and Cultivated will host our inaugural event: The Highrise.
The Highrise’s goal is to host an event where attendees represent the full breadth and depth of the cannabis industry in New York and throughout the country.
To do that, we are asking would-be attendees to apply to attend. Only by identifying leaders throughout the industry can we truly create a representative group of attendees for The Highrise.
Spots are limited so get your application in today » thehighrise.nyc
⏩ Quick hits
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine may have signed a hemp regulation bill last month, but in doing so he also vetoed a line item that would have allowed for the sale of THC drinks.
Once again, New Hampshire's House has passed cannabis legalization. Each year the legislature has done the same, the Senate has consistently blocked legalization. It remains to be seen if the same will happen in 2026.
Florida lawmaker Dean Black proposed a new bill that would ban open cannabis products in cars.
Kentucky's medical market is officially open for business but dispensaries are falling behind expectations for access with far fewer shops open than were originally hoped for.
Georgia lawmakers are considering a boost to the state's low-THC medical program in the New Year.
Indiana Democrat Rep. Mitch Gore filed a bill that would legalize the consumption and possession of cannabis in the state, but commercial sales would remain banned. It’s perhaps a politically viable way to get legalization passed in Red states — but it begs the question, where does supply come from?
🚀 Deals, launches, partnerships
Montauk, New York-based THC beverage company Jeng raised an undisclosed amount from Quench Ventures, a beverage-focused firm. That’s despite the fact that Congress passed a ban on hemp-derived THC beverages, set to go into effect in November. Quench previously invested in Liquid Death.
📺 In case you missed it
Shield Compliance CEO Tony Repanich joined Cultivated LIVE on Wednesday to discuss what rescheduling means for cannabis operators and financial institutions.
Watch it 👇
🧳 People moves
Christina Hersey is Trulieve's new Chief Corporate Affairs & Strategy Officer. $TCNNF ( ▲ 5.85% )
📰 What we’re reading
8 trends that will define convenience retailing in 2026 | C-Store Dive
Ozempic and cannabis: what happens when you use both | GreenState
The More Things Change, the More They Stay The Same | Cannabis Business Times