News - Business (494 items)
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| Jul 29, 2026 |
Cheech and Chong are opening a cannabis shop in Milo this weekend
If you’re in the mood for some Maui Waui with a little Labrador after a trip to Gulf Hagas, Cheech and Chong are here, man. Cheech and Chong’s newest Dispensoria will have a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in Milo. You have to be at least 21 years old to join the festivities, including giveaways, raffles and other activities. The comedy duo’s brand licenses dozens of dispensaries across the country. That includes a storefront on Hammond Street in Bangor. A Dispensoria that opened on Exchange Street in Portland in 2024 closed after 13 months. |
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| Jul 29, 2026 |
Alberta-based retailer hit by Canadians drinking less booze, smoking less weed
'Canadians have less disposable income, and when they have less disposable income, they change their purchasing behaviour' Canadians eased off booze and cannabis this spring, hitting an Alberta-based retailer with falling sales and a nearly $8-million loss. Revenue at SNDL Inc, headquartered in Edmonton, fell by about four per cent to $235.8 million, according to second-quarter results released Tuesday. |
| Jul 28, 2026 |
Canadian cannabis giant SNDL claims to be world’s largest after Parallel takeover
Former lenders to Parallel, the struggling cannabis multistate operator once led by chewing-gum heir William “Beau” Wrigley, finalized their takeover of company assets this week, according to a Monday announcement. And after acquiring “certain” Parallel assets in Florida, Massachusetts and Texas, Canadian cannabis and liquor giant SNDL now claims a retail footprint of 249 licensed locations – “the largest in the world by store count,” CEO Zach George claimed in a press release Monday. |
| Jul 28, 2026 |
Big Change in the Cannabis Industry
The industry was surprised Monday with a big change in teh cannabis industry. It seems it is entering another phase of consolidation, and one of the year’s most significant deals underscores how leading multi-state operators (MSOs) are preparing for the next stage of growth. Vireo Health’s acquisition of Planet 13 brings together two respected cannabis companies with complementary strengths, creating a larger footprint across several of the country’s most valuable regulated markets. |
| Jul 28, 2026 |
Canadian Cannabis Sales Reach $485 Million in May 2026
Canada sold $485 million worth of cannabis in May 2026, according to the most recent figures from Statistics Canada. This represents a 1% year-over-year increase compared to sales in May 2025 and a 1% month-over-month decline from April 2026. National sales were down slightly from the previous month’s $490.8 million, driven by declines in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and BC. |
| Jul 28, 2026 |
Self-Checkout Approved by DCC at Perfect Union Northside, Making it the First California Cannabis Dispensary to Launch RFID-Powered Technology SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MWG Holdings Group today announced that its Perfect Union Northside dispensary in Sacramento has become the first licensed cannabis retailer in California approved by the DCC to launch RFID-powered self-checkout technology through EXO, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of cannabis retail. |
| Jul 27, 2026 |
The cannabis industry is having a price compression crisis. What’s the solution?
U.S. cannabis sales declined year over year for the first time on record, falling from $32 billion in 2024 to $29.94 billion in 2025, according to data compiled in the MJBiz Factbook. The drop marks a turning point for an industry that has spent more than a decade posting steady and uninterrupted growth at the cash register even as valuations declined. But the cause isn’t shrinking demand or vanishing consumers. It’s collapsing prices, as cannabis consumers in some states bought more product than ever before even as sales revenue declined, analysts told MJBizDaily. |
| Jul 25, 2026 |
One of N.J.’s largest weed companies is bankrupt, laying off 86 workers
One of the state’s largest cannabis companies has announced a round of layoffs as it struggles through bankruptcy. Columbia Care, also known as The Cannabist Company, notified state officials that it plans to lay off 86 employees at its Vineland facility by October, according to a notice filed with the state. The company, which operates in multiple states, filed for bankruptcy in March. |
| Jul 24, 2026 |
Mass layoffs at two California cannabis manufacturers
Two major California cannabis manufacturers are laying off more than 100 workers amid a continued downturn in the country’s largest adult-use marijuana market. CraftForce Services, the manufacturing arm of Santa Rosa, Calif.-headquartered CannaCraft, will lay off nearly 60 employees at its Santa Rosa operations on Sept. 20, according to a federally mandated Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice. And NorCal Cannabis Co., operating as GB2 LLC and also based in Santa Rosa, will lay off about 49 employees on Sept. 13, according to a WARN notice first reported by The Santa Rosa Press Democrat. |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Tilray Brands Launches ZONNA, Introducing New THC Pouches for Cannabis Consumers Fast-acting, smoke-free ZONNA THC pouches deliver precise dosing in a discreet, portable pouch – expanding consumer choice through continued cannabis innovation |
| Jul 23, 2026 |
Consumer Vape Purchasing Has Taken a Dramatic Shift
If your cannabis brand is relying on the same vape hardware lineup it used two years ago, your market share might be quietly leaking. Over the past 12 months, consumer vape purchasing behavior across legal U.S. markets hasn’t just evolved; it has experienced a seismic shift. As price compression continues to squeeze margins and consumers become more discerning about both value and flavor profiles, the traditional hierarchy of vape products has been turned upside down. |
| Jul 22, 2026 |
Patent trolls targeting cannabis firms as federal legalization nears, experts warn
Patent assertion entities, commonly known as patent trolls, are setting their sights on the cannabis industry as state-level legalization expands and federal rescheduling moves closer to reality, with legal and industry experts warning that commercially successful cannabis companies are increasingly vulnerable to infringement actions. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Roots and the Suits: Deconstructing the CPG Model in Canadian Cannabis
The Suits vs. Roots debate over whether cannabis is a consumer packaged good sounds semantic. It might be, but it also exposes a deeper disagreement over what kind of industry Canada is trying to build. The Suits hear “CPG” and think of a repeatable, distributable, and scalable commodity; The Roots hear “CPG” and think of consolidation, inducements, declining quality, and the slow eviction of the people who made the industry possible. |
| Jul 21, 2026 |
Putting Cannabis at the Intersection of Sports, Fashion and Community
Josh Schmidt is VP of business development at Natura and cofounder of Sluggers Hit, a premium cannabis brand known for sports-inspired storytelling, collectible product design and a culture-first approach. At Natura, Josh focuses on business development, strategic partnerships and growth across the company’s vertically integrated platform, while helping guide Sluggers’ expansion across regulated markets. He began his cannabis career operating one of California’s first licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Cannabis Laws Are Changing: 8 Questions Employers Should Ask Now
Employers are feeling the impact of relaxed laws and attitudes toward cannabis use, especially as positive drug test rates continue to climb. After years of state-level legalization efforts, the federal government recently rescheduled certain medical cannabis products and is considering broader cannabis rescheduling, which could lead to more disability-related and other workplace claims. As a result, many employers are rethinking cannabis testing while still grappling with how to manage risks, especially in safety-sensitive positions. Here’s everything employers need to know about the current state of cannabis laws and eight questions to consider as you balance staffing needs with workplace safety and legal compliance. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
Report: Nearly Half of Employers No Longer Screen Pre-Hires for Cannabis Fewer employers are screening new hires for cannabis, according to reporting provided by the Wall Street Journal. In a recent survey of nearly 1,000 employers, “about half” no longer test for cannabis in the pre-hire process, the Journal reported. Respondents frequently indicated that they ceased testing to increase their prospective applicant pool. |
| Jul 20, 2026 |
US (MN): White Earth Nation's cannabis expansion milestone Waabigwan Mashkiki, the tribally owned cannabis enterprise of the White Earth Nation, proudly announces the grand opening of its newest dispensary in Chanhassen, Minnesota. This milestone marks the company's fifth retail location overall and fourth off-reservation dispensary, all of which have been opened within the past year. The opening represents an achievement not only for the White Earth Nation but for Tribal economic development across the United States. With five operating dispensaries, Waabigwan Mashkiki has become the largest Tribal cannabis retailer in the nation, demonstrating what is possible when Tribal sovereignty, visionary leadership, and strategic investment come together. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
Extracts, Edibles Shape Q3 2025 Canadian Cannabis Trends
The latest sales and inventory figures from Health Canada indicate that total cannabis sales in the medical and recreational markets were up 21% in Q3 2025 (July-September) compared with Q3 2024. Dried cannabis continued to account for the largest share of total medical and non-medical sales at 48% (12,901,920 units), although its overall share continues to shrink from 50% in Q2 2025 and 51% in Q3 2024. The second largest cannabis product category after dried cannabis flower was cannabis extracts at 28%, which includes the fast-growing vape pen category. This was up from 25% in the previous quarter and 24% year over year. |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
International Cannabis Deals: Why Due Diligence Matters More Than Ever
As more Canadian cannabis companies pursue international opportunities, experienced exporters say one of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is assuming that a promising lead is automatically a legitimate one. While new medical cannabis markets continue to emerge around the world, international business relationships also introduce new legal, financial, and operational risks. Verifying who you’re doing business with and whether they can actually deliver on their promises has become an essential part of any export strategy. “The first step any exporter should take is to verify that the organization is who it claims to be. This goes beyond reviewing a professional-looking website or marketing materials, and requires independent validation through multiple sources,” said a spokesperson for Export Development Canada (EDC). |
| Jul 17, 2026 |
SEC sanctions cannabis company, execs U.S. securities regulators secured over US$40 million in disgorgement and penalties against a group of cannabis companies and executives that were accused of defrauding investors. A federal court in California entered a final judgment against American Patriot Brands, Inc. (APB), its various subsidiaries and a pair of executives — former CEO Robert Lee and chief operating officer Brian Pallas — that raised millions from investors and allegedly diverted much of that money for personal use. |