Blunt Business

True Terpenes CEO Daniel Cook joins Blunt Business to discuss the company's innovative "Loud Flavors" platform, designed to provide accessible, nostalgia-driven entry points for new cannabis consumers.

We explore rigorous toxicology compliance, co-funded university research at Johns Hopkins and UCLA, data-driven market insights across legal states, and the evolving business implications of federal c...

The debate over Question 8—the controversial ballot initiative seeking to repeal adult-use cannabis sales in Massachusetts—has pitted prohibitionist campaigns against major political leaders and industry advocates.

Scrutiny highlighted by WGBH centers on the unexpected financial backers and national anti-legalization groups fueling the rollback effort, which WBUR notes could dismantle a multi-billion-dollar commercial m...

Major outlets like PBS NewsHour, NPR, and Forbes are turning their spotlight onto an impending regulatory cliff that threatens to dismantle America's $28 billion hemp-derived THC market. As the year-end countdown accelerates, national reporting is moving beyond niche cannabis circles to expose how closing the 2018 Farm Bill's cannabinoid loophole could wipe out retail shelves overnight.

From the rapid rise of mainstream THC-infused...

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 commitment to maintaining the regulated market.

Th...

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 into continuous law-enforcement crac...

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 transparency, cost efficiency, and design fl...

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 models and tightening cove...

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 "bipping" through the eyes of two bro...

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 the same time, the broader ma...

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 green vote" could be the key to driving cr...

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 traditional supermarket shopping.&nb...

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 relief from Section 280E tax burde...

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 Dickinson Wright ...

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 regulatory hurdles through omnichannel agi...

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 stigma and build consumer trust.

Despi...

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 businesses to high-risk compliance h...

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. Blunt Business speaks with Ni...

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 enforcing strict child-proof packaging. T...

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 products.

Dr. Sharma also u...