Blunt Business

Massachusetts is at the center of the nation's cannabis conversation as a looming repeal ballot initiative threatens the livelihoods of nearly 18,000 workers across the state's marijuana industry. Despite the existential risk to these businesses and local jobs, recent polling shows that Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly oppose repealing adult-use cannabis, signaling strong public commitm...

While the broader cannabis market grapples with steep price compression, state-level missteps in both California and New York have turned promise into an uphill battle for legal operators. In California , despite generating $8.4 billion in economic impact, compliant businesses face relentless margin collapse driven by aggressive competition from an entrenched underground market, forcing the state...

Humboldt Health is breaking new ground with a specialized healthcare captive tailored specifically for cannabis businesses with 50 to 2,000 employees. Blackwell Captive Scott Byrne joins Blunt Business to full us in on the details on the plan offering enrollment on October 1st. By leveraging shared purchasing power and self-funding models, the program empowers employers with greater data transpare...

As the timer ticks down on an impending federal crackdown, the hemp industry faces an existential race against the clock. Mainstream retailers—led by convenience store associations—are urging Congress to hit the pause button on an outright ban and instead establish a regulated, age-gated marketplace for consumable THC products. Meanwhile, commercial insurers are already recalibrating their risk mo...

In this episode of Blunt Business, Berner opens up about putting his own money on the line to co-write, co-direct, and produce his gritty Bay Area crime thriller, Splash City. Rather than waiting around for traditional studio approval, the cannabis mogul and artist invested $2 million of his own capital to deliver a finished film to Lionsgate, exploring San Francisco’s underground wave of "bip...

The federal government’s increasing acknowledgment of medical cannabis applications marks a pivotal turning point for the sector, granting long-sought validation to consumers and patients alike. However, this formal legitimacy comes with heightened accountability, obligating operators to raise their standards around clinical credibility, operational transparency, and rigorous patient education. At...

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, marijuana reform is proving to be a rare unifying force across the political spectrum. Driven by high-stakes federal rescheduling efforts and a fresh wave of state-level ballot measures, cannabis policy has evolved from a fringe topic into a mainstream, bipartisan priority. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are increasingly recognizing that "the gre...

As the legal cannabis sector eagerly awaits federal reclassification judgments, industry players are aggressively pivoting toward untapped markets and hesitant, first-time consumers. In California, dispensaries are tearing down old retail friction points by introducing state-approved self-checkout kiosks equipped with multi-product RFID scanners, mimicking the familiarity and efficiency of traditi...

Although the historic DEA rescheduling hearings have officially concluded, the administrative process has ended without an immediate, final ruling, leaving the federal status of cannabis temporarily in limbo. Despite the lack of a definitive outcome, the hearings marked a monumental breakdown in federal policy: medical cannabis operators are emerging as clear near-term winners due to the immediate...

As the DEA moves toward rescheduling cannabis, the industry is bracing for a complex transformation defined by regulatory uncertainty and potential legal headwinds. While federal agencies have taken an unexpectedly active role in supporting this transition, the timeline for full implementation remains long and subject to likely legal challenges. Blunt Business speaks with Chris Lynch, partner at D...

Joe Bayern with MM Brands outlines a strategic roadmap for professionalizing the cannabis industry, emphasizing that sustainable growth requires moving beyond fragmented operations. Key strategies include adopting a portfolio-based management model to share operational and manufacturing costs, implementing minimalist, needs-based branding to simplify the consumer experience, and navigating regulat...

Blunt Business welcomes Joe Bayern, the CEO of MM Brands to discuss how the cannabis industry is approaching a potential turning point as DOJ and DEA hearings conclude this July, with anticipation high for a move to Schedule 3 classification. This reclassification could eliminate 280E tax constraints, driving better profitability, while FDA validation of therapeutic benefits promises to reduce sti...

Once again we welcome back Nick Richards, Partner and co-chair of the cannabis law practice group at Greenspoon Marder about how the cannabis and hemp industries currently face a complex landscape defined by existential regulatory threats and critical federal proceedings. Financial institutions are increasingly wary, with potential hemp reclassification jeopardizing banking access and subjecting b...

The sports industry is witnessing a landmark normalization of cannabis, highlighted by the WNBA’s recent collective bargaining agreement which removed cannabis from its prohibited substances list in favor of supportive substance abuse treatment programs. While this signals a new era for athlete endorsements and professional branding, the broader cannabis and hemp sector faces a precarious future....

We report on a wave of highly targeted legislative, legal, and medical updates aimed at curbing market disorder and protecting public health. In the United States, Virginia has advanced a budget deal to its governor establishing a definitive July 2027 timeline for adult-use dispensary sales, while Illinois has enacted precise safety guardrails by banning intoxicating hemp sales to minors and enfor...

Dr. Priyanka Sharma, co-CEO of Kazmira Therapeutics and fellow co-CEO Pulak Sharma, cut through the confusion surrounding the rapidly evolving cannabis and hemp sectors. She clarifies the critical distinction between THCA—the non-intoxicating precursor that converts to THC upon heating—and delta-9 THC, noting that current marketing often masks the potential intoxicating effects of heated THCA prod...

Kazmira Therapeutics is revolutionizing the CBD landscape by transitioning cannabinoids from over-the-counter health supplements to precision, pharmacist-compounded "real medicine". Led by co-founders Dr. Priyanka Sharma and Pulak Sharma, the company leverages proprietary precision-chemistry—rooted in her background as a chemical engineer—to ensure zero-THC, high-purity formulations. This...

As a massive federal hammer prepares to fall on the hemp industry, progressive states are throwing operators a regulatory lifeline—just as the legal cannabis market faces its own "Big Tobacco" reckoning. A newly filed federal class-action lawsuit targets major Chicago-based operators like Cresco Labs and Green Thumb Industries, accusing them of "Big Tobacco"-style deceptive marketi...

Blunt Business zeroes in on major developments unfolding on the congressional front. It highlights how impending federal rescheduling could significantly alter medical cannabis policies within the Veterans Administration, potentially expanding access for military veterans by allowing VA doctors to discuss and document use, as well as refer patients to state-approved programs. Additionally, we brea...

This week on Blunt Business , we’re diving into two massive legal shifts reshaping cannabis markets on opposite sides of the country. First, we break down Georgia’s major policy overhaul as Governor Brian Kemp signs the "Putting Georgia's Patients First Act."From expanding the list of qualifying conditions to include lupus, to lifting strict "end-stage" limitations and allowing...

As the federal government moves toward rescheduling marijuana, the cannabis industry is eyeing a massive financial shift: the potential for $15 billion in retroactive tax relief from Section 280E. While the transition to Schedule 3 offers a path to future profitability, businesses must act immediately to file protective claims before statutes of limitation expire. This economic evolution coincides...

The potential move to Schedule III presents a massive financial opportunity for "Sin City," yet current local friction threatens to stall that momentum. As the federal government nears reclassification, the industry is at a crossroads between record-breaking growth and a cooling tourist market. While the city is built on "cashing in," Las Vegas could be losing tourists due to a rec...

This episode of Blunt Business explores a significant shift in federal drug policy following a new executive order aimed at accelerating research into psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and ibogaine for treating mental health disorders. The newly signed executive order to direct the FDA to fast-track these compounds through new "National Priority" vouchers. Beyond psychedelics, the host di...

As the legal landscape evolves, the traditional 4/20 retail boom is showing signs of cooling, with some markets seeing higher sales during the surrounding week than on the holiday itself due to aggressive discounting and operational strain.  This shift toward a more mature market coincides with significant legal and scientific developments: the District of Columbia is currently citing federal appe...

The cannabis landscape in Massachusetts and the broader U.S. market is undergoing a significant correction as regulators and major corporations grapple with the industry's economic realities.  In a move toward increased oversight and efficiency, a state legislative committee has passed a plan to downsize and restructure the Cannabis Control Commission, signaling a major pivot in how the state...