Former Congressman: ‘Deeply concerned’ about lost momentum for cannabis reform 😟

“I am deeply concerned with continued work on legalization and our progress…We’ve had a whole range of things that were set up. I’m more than a little concerned that it looks like we’ve lost some momentum,” retired Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said to Marijuana Moment. 

Blumenauer was the founding co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and a major backer of federal cannabis reform in the House. He now says that bipartisan support for cannabis reform is eroding in Congress, as oxygen gets sucked by Trump’s priorities.

Kentucky applicants sue state over medical rollout 🧑‍⚖️

A collection of cannabis companies in Jefferson County sued the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis. The plaintiffs claim the law that legalized medical cannabis in the state requires legislators to write rules for licensing, but it was instead left to the state's Cabinet of Health and Family Services. They also claim that the licensing lottery was conducted in a way that allowed out of state companies to secure multiple licenses using shell companies. The Courier Journal has more. 

Utah is looking for two more dispensaries ✌️

Utah's Center for Medical Cannabis is currently accepting applications for one new dispensary until July 31. The state currently has 15 active medical cannabis pharmacies. The state plans to award the new license, in October, based on the applicant's score. An application period for a second new license will open later this year or early next, though the state has yet to announce an official timeline. 

Minnesota opens social equity verification window 🪪

Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management will accept social equity verification applications from July 7 to 21. Individuals eligible for the program include those convicted of a cannabis related offense (possession or sale) “prior to May 1, 2023,” individuals located in a high cannabis enforcement area, or area of exceptional poverty, and veterans “who lost honorable status” due to cannabis related offenses. Verified individuals will receive increased lottery chances for a cannabis license as well as special grants, among other benefits.

Springfield, MA pulls intoxicating hemp off of shelves 👀

Officials in Springfield, Massachusetts are pulling intoxicating hemp products off of store shelves, two weeks after the city council banned the products, reports MassLive. Municipal, state, and federal lawmakers have sought to crack down on intoxicating hemp products containing THC. Read more about the fight over hemp in Texas in our June 23 newsletter.  

Ohio cannabis sales could hit $1B by the end of the year 💰

Recreational cannabis sales hit $587 million by mid-June, per MiTechNews.com. Sales first started in August of 2024. Despite the sales number, businesses in the state continue to struggle to compete with low prices in Michigan. 

LIT ALERTS’ INSIGHTS
Leading brands, retailers in the Lower Hudson Valley 📈

Lit Alerts continues to provide Cultivated with deep dives into local regional markets in New York.

Today’s focus: the Lower Hudson Valley in New York, including Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland counties.

Situated just north of NYC these counties represent a unique opportunity to connect with consumers who purchase both in their local market and in the NYC boroughs on their way to and from work.

Lit Alerts pulled the data in these counties to showcase which brands and retailers are finding success as well as category specific details when compared to the rest of the state.

New York juggernauts Ayrloom, Jaunty, and Dank continue to show their dominance while NY upstart Ruby Farms has found a footing in this local market. Rove also continues to show their ability to rank in the top brand positions in the top local markets. (Recall that they were also identified as a top brand in the Buffalo market along with Aylroom and Jaunty).

White Plains is the center point in this local market with Cannabis Realm continuing to be a top performing retailer in the state, even with competition coming from other top ranking local retailers like Purple Plains and Leafology.

This local market likes its flower. Average prices for both the flower and pre-roll category are higher in this local market than the state average. Flower alone accounts for a whopping 5% greater share in this local market as compared to the state.

Have a look at Lit Alerts’ exclusive insights. 👇

To learn more about Lit Alerts and get a special offer only available to Cultivated readers, visit litalerts.com.

Marijuana Farms New York (MFNY) is launching Riverway Live Rosin, with a statewide "Riverway Tour" to educate New York consumers on authentic live rosin products and promote transparent labeling for "OIL Day" (July 10th).

And in more sad news: Hashstoria, a Newark, New Jersey dispensary partially owned by Wu Tang Clan’s Raekwon, is shutting its doors, reports HeadyNJ.

1906 searching for a Head of Growth 📈

New York cannabis brand 1906 is looking for a Head of Growth for an up to $200,000 base salary. The person will report to the Chief Marketing Officer, and can work remote but preferably based on the East Coast. (And tune in to Cultivated Live on Wednesday, where 1906 CEO Peter Barsoom will be joining us).

New York OCM’s new Chief Equity Officer and Chief Medical Officer 🗽

New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced two new leadership hires. The OCM formally hired L. Symone Washington to be the next Chief Equity Officer on Monday, after the Cannabis Control Board voted to approve her at last month's meeting. The OCM has also hired Dr. June Chin as Chief Medical Officer. Chin previously served as the chief medical officer for Leafwell.

Most Pennsylvania medical patients qualify due to anxiety 😳

A study out of the University of Pittsburgh found that 60% of Pennsylvania's medical cannabis patients qualify for anxiety. The state started allowing anxiety as a qualified diagnosis for medical cannabis in 2019. At that point, two-thirds of registered patients listed chronic pain as their qualifying diagnosis. Go Erie, which is part of the USA Today network, has more. 

Mixing cannabis and alcohol makes hangovers worse 😨

Mixing cannabis and alcohol can actually make hangovers worse the next day, according to new research from Yale. Researchers followed 86 young adults aged 18-29 who reported their drinking and cannabis consumption. Researchers then checked in the next day, and the results were clear: Imbibing both substances made for a rougher day. If only we could go back in time and tell our college selves not to get cross-faded…

When will Alabama get medical cannabis? Officials, producers see reasons for hope | Alabama Reflector

‘This tax could kill this industry.’ California cannabis operators brace for increase | Cal Matters

The six-year saga of two cannabis facility licenses | Missouri Independent

Marijuana business all smoke, no pot, says South MS couple who invested $400,000 | Sun Herald

Inside the European Takeover of America's Cannabis Seed Market | High Times