‘If the carrot’s there, it’s rotten’ 🥕

“There’s been this carrot that’s been dangling in front of this industry for so long, and it’s been a mirage. If the carrot’s there, it’s rotten at this point. No one’s chasing it anymore, no one believes it’s going to come to pass," Roth Capital Partners’ Bill Kirk told Bloomberg. 

Bloomberg reports on why pot stock investors, who bet on a promising, emerging market, have gotten burned over the last few years as US legalization didn’t materialize as fast as they hoped. Read more.

Alcohol retailers come out against Congressional hemp ban 🍻

As Congress mulls a possible ban on hemp products, the president and CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America argued that products with hemp-derived intoxicants, such as most THC beverages, do not belong on the shelves next to soft drinks and other sugar-filled treats that kids crave. They belong in the WSWA's liquor stores. "This is a promising sector, and many consumers are embracing these products. But without common sense rules, this market risks collapsing under the weight of its own inconsistency," CEO Francis Creighton in an op-ed released last week. 

Missouri's AG threatens 18 hemp companies 💌

Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent out cease and desist letters to 18 different companies for allegedly selling hemp products that look just like legal weed sold in licensed shops. Missouri regulators have grappled with hemp producers in the past for imported distillate. This latest crackdown appears to be targeting hemp flower. 

INSIGHTS
What brands are challenging the Top 10 in NY?

Most of the time, the focus is on the top 10 rankings for brands.

But what about the brands that are on their way up but haven't yet cracked the top 10?

Lit Alerts calls these the “challenger brands” as they challenge the top 10 brands. These are types of brands that retailers should look out for — and could be using Lit Alerts to identify.

Have a look at the June 2025 challenger brands in New York, based on estimated sales 👇

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

Village Farms International can stay on the Nasdaq 📈

The Canadian agriculture giant is back in compliance with Nasdaq rules, allowing it to remain listed. The company faced delisting for almost a year after its share price dropped below the $1 minimum. The increase in share price comes shortly after the company sold off its non-cannabis produce business. 

LEEF Brands is getting into New York 🗽

The California-based extracts company announced the purchase of a type 1 processor license in New York. The state's strict rules about cross-tier ownership means that LEEF is not allowed to operate a retail shop in New York, but it will be able to provide products in the fast-growing market. 

Vireo Growth buys into Arizona 💸

The Minnesota-based company continued its buying spree, closing on Arizona's Deep Roots to acquire a 54,000-square-foot cultivation site, a manufacturing facility and 10 dispensaries in the Grand Canyon State for $132.7 million .

New chair of NY Cannabis Control Board 🗽

Gov. Kathy Hochul has officially appointedJessica Garcia as head of the state’s Cannabis Control Board, which oversees the state’s cannabis program. Garcia replaces Tremaine Wright, who was the first to hold the position.

Cannabinoids are bad for harmful yeast 🦠

In a study published in The Journal of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidivarin (CBDV) were shown to kill Cryptococcus neoformans, which is a harmful yeast whose spores are especially dangerous to the immunocompromised.

Free weed for Big Foot pics 👣

Ever get so high in the woods that you swear you saw Big Foot? Bring photographic proof of your sighting to Uniq Cannabis in Monroe, Michigan for a free pre-roll. The deal comes weeks after a 47-year-old man and his son reportedly saw the mythical cryptid while fishing.

250,000 Texans Voted to Decriminalize Marijuana, So Why Are Politicians Trying To Override Them? | Marijuana Moment

The Hidden Immigration Risks of Cannabis Employment: What Employers and Workers Need to Know | Cannabis Business Times

Mike Tyson dons DEA jacket, teams up with Alina Habba to deliver knockout punch to fentanyl smuggling: ‘One pill can kill’ | New York Post