Happy Friday.
Introducing our inaugural Cultivated Thirty Thirties list.
We couldn’t include everyone — there’s too many amazing people in our industry.
This list is just a snapshot of the best and brightest in cannabis.
Congrats to all the winners.
Let’s get to it.
-JB, JR, ZH, NM
This newsletter is 598 words or about a 4-minute read.
💡What’s the big deal?
2025 Cultivated Thirty Thirties powered by White Ash Group
The Thirty Thirties
2025 Cultivated Thirty Thirties powered by the White Ash Group celebrates the rising leaders shaping the future of the cannabis industry.
From October 1 to October 24, we accepted nominations from across the sector — spotlighting innovators, entrepreneurs, advocates, and change-makers under the age of 40.
A panel of industry experts and Cultivated editors carefully reviewed submissions against clear criteria, including industry impact, leadership and influence, community contribution, and future potential.
The final list of thirty are being recognized for not only making their mark today but also driving the cannabis industry forward into tomorrow.
The list includes leaders and innovators up and down the cannabis supply chain in markets throughout North America and the world.
Congratulations to this year’s Cultivated Thirty Thirties.
📣 Quotable
“Only in Washington would the alcohol lobby, the cannabis lobby, and stone-age lawmakers still fixated on Reefer Madness join forces to attack hemp,” Sen. Rand Paul said.
“I don’t object to a 5mg gummy that helps someone’s grandmom sleep. It makes no sense.”
He said he plans to introduce a bill that would let state laws override the hemp ban. He’s advocating for states to set their own rules.
Watch the clip:
⏩ Quick hits
Mass. Prohibitionists confident about ballot campaign signatures 🗳️
The campaign to roll back the legal cannabis market in Massachusetts said that it was confident it had met the 74,574-signature minimum by the Nov. 17 deadline. The campaign, which has been accused of misleading voters when collecting signatures, is attempting to place a referendum on the 2026 ballot that would eliminate the sale of recreational cannabis, and ban home growing.
Colorado lawmakers consider relaxing beverage rules 🥤
Legislators in Colorado are considering loosening some of the hemp restrictions passed in 2023 in the wake of the federal government moving to ban hemp products. The new bill would allow THC drinks to be sold in liquor stores and would increase the cap on drink potency to 10mg.
Sen. Rand Paul considers making hemp a state's right 🌿
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul told the Kentucky Hemp Association that he was considering a bill that would allow states to legalize hemp regardless of its federal status, during a Zoom meeting on Nov. 19. The bill would allow state regulations to directly supersede federal law, as opposed to current federal policy on cannabis that discourages enforcement when states legalize medical and adult-use.
Ohio House bans hemp but leaves state-legal pot alone ✏️
Ohio just passed a bill that bans most intoxicating hemp products. Lawmakers left the state’s voter-approved cannabis system alone, keeping home grow and existing rules in place. The shift lines up with a broader federal crackdown coming next year and could put serious pressure on local hemp businesses. Read more.
😜 One fun thing
Ever wonder what's in those bags of "shake" they sell in dispensaries? Well, Jeff Rawson of the Institute of Cannabis Science found out:
📰 What we’re reading