Good morning.
We’re looking forward to seeing many of you at the Highrise tonight in New York City. It’s shaping up to be uniquely informative evening for the industry and beyond. This morning, we opened up a handful of last minute slots!
Let’s get to it.
-JB, JR
Today’s newsletter is 490 words or about a 4-minute read.
CULTIVATED CALENDAR
TONIGHT October 22 » The Highrise → Check out the second in our NYC series and apply to attend.
November 12 » Pot Policy and Politics → The second installation of the Midwest Cannabis Forum, this time in St. Louis.
COMING EVENTS → Las Vegas & Buffalo
Visit our revamped Events Page »
What’s the big deal?
DEA
DEA pushes back on opponents’ bid to reopen rescheduling hearing
The DEA asked its chief judge on Wednesday to reject a request from rescheduling opponents to reopen the Schedule III hearing for new discovery and testimony.
The fight is over a GAO report from last month that found neither DEA nor FDA has written procedures for how staff evaluate and schedule drugs.
Opponents led by the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association argue the missing standard undercuts HHS’s rescheduling recommendation.
The DEA says the report flags gaps in paperwork, not flaws in the process, and called the request “an obvious fishing expedition.”
What it means: Testimony wrapped this summer and final briefs are filed. The only step left was Judge Derek Julius sending his recommendation to the DEA administrator. Reopening discovery would push that back by months.
What’s next: Julius still hasn’t decided whether the GAO report even comes into the record, and opponents won permission Wednesday to file a reply. Medical cannabis has been in Schedule III since April.
We still await the decision.
-JB
Quotable
Delaware opens liquor stores to THC drinks seven weeks before federal hemp ban
Delaware’s THC beverage rules took effect Wednesday, letting liquor stores, dispensaries, and microbreweries sell hemp-derived drinks with up to 10mg of THC per can. The law is written to shut down when the federal hemp cap of 0.4mg per container kicks in Dec. 11, unless Congress acts first.
Cultivated Live
Ryan Dominguez, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition, joined Cultivated Live to discuss the No On 8 campaign — the fight against a ballot measure that would repeal adult-use recreational cannabis legalization in Massachusetts.
Voters head to the polls on November 3.
Deals, launches, partnerships
Oregon-based Grown Rogue raised its stake in New Jersey cultivator ABCO Garden State to 70% from 44% after state regulators signed off, taking board control for about $743,000 it had already advanced to ABCO back in 2023. $GRIN.CSE ( ▲ 4.0% ) $GRUSF ( ▲ 1.26% )
What we’re reading
Cannabis Addiction Reconsidered | Dr. Peter Grinspoon
