NC lawmakers seek to ban synthetic THC 🛑

“If you’re trying to support a historically disadvantaged group, giving them easier access to something they can’t afford isn’t solving the problem,” Industry expert Marc Hauser writes in his Cannabis Musings newsletter about the pitfalls of the social equity-first approach to cannabis legalization.

We’d encourage you to read and subscribe — it’s worth your time.

NC lawmakers want to restrict intoxicating hemp sales 🛑

Stop us if you’ve heard this before. North Carolina Republicans unveiled a proposal — to bipartisan support — this week that would ban synthetic THC derived from hemp, but would create regulations around selling hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, the naturally occurring compound in the plant. It’s a pretty smart middle ground strategy that federal lawmakers would be wise to heed. Axios has more. 

Gov. Abbott silent on whether he’ll sign Texas hemp ban 🤫

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hasn’t answered reporters’ questions as to whether he would sign SB 3, the bill that would ban intoxicating THC products in the state. The deadline is Sunday, though he did say there are “meaningful” concerns on both sides of the issue. 

Thailand to end three-year adult-use experiment ❌

Three years after Thailand removed cannabis from the government's official list of illegal narcotics, the country is set to revert back to just medical cannabis being legal. The change under the leadership of the Pheu Thai party, which came to power in 2023 pledging, among other things, to outlaw recreational cannabis. Advocates and cannabis businesses say this will kill the nascent industry — but Thailand never proactively sought to create a regulated market, as we’ve written. Rather, it just removed cannabis from the list of narcotics.

Cookies wins royalties dispute against partner 🍪

A California arbiter awarded Cookies $22.7 million after its retail partner failed to pay royalties for the brand in a series of Cookies storefronts in multiple states. Cookies Retail, the company operating the shops, reportedly stopped making payments to the larger company for the right to its brand and strains in 2021. MJBizDaily has more. 

Hemp operators sue Maryland for market access 🧑‍⚖️

A collection of hemp operators sued the state of Maryland in federal court on Monday, demanding that they be allowed to continue selling hemp products past the July 1 deadline when hemp sales were only going to be permitted for businesses with cannabis licenses. The lawsuit also challenges the state reserving market access to social equity applicants and rails against the state's general treatment of the hemp industry. 

Aurora Cannabis sued over CHS concerns 👀

Canadian cannabis firm Aurora Cannabis is facing a class action lawsuit from a group of consumers who say they experienced cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) after consuming Aurora products that didn’t warn about the side effects. CHS causes intense vomiting and stomach pain. 

RAW founder plans to revive High Times 💨

RAW founder Josh Kesselman is the new owner of the once-famous, now defunct cannabis publication High Times. Kesselman, who announced his purchase on social media Tuesday morning, told the Wall Street Journal that he plans to relaunch High Times as a print publication and website. Greenlife Business Group has had High Times listed for sale since March 4. 

AlpineIQ scoops up Terpli 🤝

AlpineIQ, a marketing and ecommerce platform for cannabis brands, says it bought Terpli, an AI product discovery and ‘virtual budtender’ platform. The company says it will add Terpli’s products to its broader offering. Financial terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed. 

Frontier Risk launches an insurance product for on-site hemp beverages 🍹

Cannabis insurance firm Frontier Risk launched a new product aimed at venues and live events that want to offer hemp-derived THC drinks. Read more. 

High Tide reports Q2 results 📈

Canadian cannabis company High Tide Inc reported a $2.8 million (CAD) net loss on nearly $138 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2025. The company said it generated $4.9 million in free cash flow. Full results here. 

On the calendar tomorrow:

• Aurora Cannabis will hold its earnings call on June 18 at 8:00 AM.

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