Blunt Business

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...

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 clinical approach is increasing...

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 marketing that downplays the psychotropic risks of hi...

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 break down the bipartisan BUILD Act (Bu...

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 adult vaping and edibles, the Peach State i...

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 with a significant demographic pivo...

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 recent crackdown on public consumption and strict enfor...

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 discusses the impact of GLP-1 weight-loss dru...

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 appellate ruling...

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 manages its legal market. 

This...

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 experts and operators share insights o...

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 for DOJ action, we highlights how these finan...

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 consumers actually use.

We call out t...

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 moving stories of how they serve...