Blunt Business

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...

In this episode of The Blunt Business , the discussion dives deep into the complex landscape of the New York cannabis market as it hits its five-year legalization anniversary . While Governor Kathy Hochul lauds the state’s achievement of $3.3 billion in total sales and the opening of its 600th licensed dispensary , the program highlights a more turbulent reality behind the numbers. Industry expert...

Blunt Business dives into the shifting landscape of American cannabis, from the halls of Congress to the microscopic world of medical research. We break down the newly proposed CLIMB Act , a bipartisan bill aimed at finally opening major U.S. stock exchanges and private lending to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses. While federal deregulation remains in a "ghost town" phase of waiting f...

Blunt Business tears apart the "bunk" science being weaponized by mainstream outlets like Reuters and The Guardian. By interrogating the raw data behind a widely cited Lancet Psychiatry study, the program exposes a collection of massive research failures—including tiny sample sizes, high risks of researcher bias, and a reliance on pharmaceutical synthetics that bear no resemblance to what...

David Spang , co-founder of Coastal Green Wellness , dives deep into the turbulent legislative landscape of the Southeast cannabis market. Spang discusses the high-stakes battle against impending hemp bans in South Carolina, advocating for comprehensive regulation over total prohibition to protect both small businesses and consumer safety. He highlights the human impact of these products—sharing m...

Scot Crow and Benjam Sobczak of Dickinson Wright tare back this week to discuss the industry’s significant $6 billion debt crisis and the necessary survival strategies for compromised companies. The debt crisis is separate from 280E tax liabilities, rooted in market volatility (like the sharp price drop in Michigan) and poor financial projections made by both operators and lenders. For operators f...

Scot Crow and Benjam Sobczak of the cannabis practice at Dickinson Wright  the impact of federal Schedule III reclassification and the increasing, albeit complex, role of private equity (PE) in the cannabis sector. Experts agreed that moving to Schedule III, while providing significant tax relief through the repeal of Section 280E, would not immediately open the floodgates to traditional banking s...

Joe Salome, co-founder of The Georgia Hemp Company and Simple Leaf Wellness, and former CMO of Halcyon Organics, is a respected figure in medical cannabis policy, instrumental in the passage of Georgia’s landmark Haleigh's Hope Act (2014) and the 2019 Georgia’s Hope Act. The discussion centers on Salome's personal advocacy, which was ignited after witnessing the therapeutic benefits of can...

This week we explore the dual impact of cannabis legalisation and rescheduling—focusing on both the massive financial implications for the industry and emerging scientific research on health benefits. The $2 Billion Tax Windfall The program leads with a deep dive into the potential rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Experts estimate that r...

After a much-needed hiatus following eight years of consistent broadcasting, Blunt Business has returned in 2026 by reaffirming the show's commitment to raw, unfiltered industry commentary. This "re-launch" episode marks a strategic shift as the program absorbs its companion series, Grassroots Marketing , to create a single, centralized home for long-form interviews and expert insights...

Blunt Business discusses the evolving landscape of cannabis banking, where Kevin Hart (CEO of Green Check Verified ) explained that financial institutions are increasingly engaging with the sector, driven by data transparency, robust compliance standards, and the realization that there is no codified rule preventing them from doing so. Hart details that Green Check Verified facilitates banking by...

Thomas Winstanley from Edibles.com is back to discuss the critical issue of federally recriminalizing hemp-derived THC products like Delta 8 THC via the congressional spending bill, despite the industry being legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. Winstanley emphasized the dire economic consequences for farmers, noting that recriminalization would wipe out a $6.6 billion industry, and argued for a si...

In what is being hailed as a "watershed moment" for the cannabis industry, President Trump has officially signed an executive order to move cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 of the Controlled Substances Act. This historic shift, which follows a bipartisan initiation process started by the Biden administration, formally recognizes the plant's medical benefits for the first time in...