Mass. CCC leadership fight continues 🥊

“We are an agency that is maturing. We are far from being a startup agency that we were even four or five years ago. We are keeping up with a bigger marketplace and currently still having our budget flatlined over the last couple years [by the Legislature]. We continue to learn. We continue to strive to be a better agency. Folks may look at us and say, ‘Well, you took too long to do this.’ I’d like to keep thinking that we did it in a thoughtful, diligent way when we’ve made some of these big changes.” Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Interim Chair Bruce Stebbins told the Commonwealth Beacon. 

The Commonwealth Beacon has more from the commissioner.

D.C.'s fight against unlicensed shops continues 🔒

The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration shut down two more unlicensed shops on Aug. 15, bringing the District's total number of closures to 68 since July 2024. Last year, the ABCA created a pathway for gray market shops to obtain legitimate medical licenses. Since then, the administration has also been cracking down on shops that chose to skip that pathway. Our partners at The Outlaw Report have more. (Make sure to subscribe to The Outlaw Report when you get there.)

Former Mass. Commission Chair argues for her old job 🧑‍⚖️

Shannon O'Brien, who has been fighting her termination as chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, made her final arguments in favor of reinstatement before a Suffolk Superior Court judge on Aug. 26. O'Brien says that she was unfairly terminated for attempting to reform the internal culture at the commission, which has endured chaos among its leadership over the last two years. 

Oklahoma law enforcement seizes 2,632 plants 👮

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics raided an illicit grow operation in Elmore City, where agents seized 2,632 plants and 303 pounds of processed cannabis. Two individuals from the site were taken into ICE custody. OBN's Marijuana Enforcement Teams have been cracking down on illicit grows since its formation in 2021. 

Dutchie launches new e-commerce platform 🚀

Dutchie announced the launch of E-Commerce Pro, a new online sales platform for dispensaries. The program is intended to help retailers design online stores with the assistance of Dutchie's Certified Partner Program, which consists of pre-approved third party consultants. Note: Jay will have more on this launch from Dutchie on Friday’s This Week in Cannabis News.

New Dispensary Openings 

• High Tide announced the opening of their 206th and 207th Canna Cabana dispensaries. The first in Burlington, Ontario and the other in London, Ontario.

• Trulieve Cannabis is opening a new dispensary in Cincinnati, Ohio operated by Harvest Grows LLC.

Former FLUENT CEO Robert Beasley has joined Chicago Atlantic as Partner and Head of Restructuring.

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