AGP Executive Report

Illinois Hemp Crackdown: Gov. JB Pritzker signed SB 3222 to ban “intoxicating hemp” sales to anyone under 21, with tighter rules coming in November for packaging and marketing. Regulatory Watch (US): Washington’s cannabis regulators flagged federal rescheduling uncertainty, retail ownership limits, and ongoing oversupply/price pressure as key hurdles for the legal market. Local Market Moves (US): Louisville records show a new dispensary planned in Okolona near Edgewood, set for a former Wendy’s site. Medical Cannabis Uptick (US): Alabama’s first dispensary, Callie’s Apothecary, reported 102 patients buying products in its first week, with demand rising as shipments arrive. Business & Compliance (US): A tip-pooling warning in dispensaries highlights internal management risks as operators navigate compliance. Enforcement (Global): Nigeria’s NDLEA arrested a Brazil-based businessman after finding 6.10kg of cocaine concealed in shirts and towels; separate arrests targeted other alleged drug trafficking suspects. Industry Signals (Australia): Queensland confirmed a John Farnham song won’t be banned under hate speech laws, while WA’s cannabis market faces pressure from federal changes and oversupply.

Cannabis Market & Wall Street: Trulieve became the first major U.S. cannabis operator to list on the NYSE after medical marijuana was moved to Schedule III, with the company restructuring so the NYSE entity is medical-only while adult-use stays separate. Local Regulation: Los Angeles voters approved Measure CB, pushing unlicensed weed shops into the same tax bracket as licensed dispensaries, a direct hit at illegal operators. Hemp/CBD Compliance: Illinois Gov. signed a bill doubling the marijuana possession limit while restricting hemp THC products and tightening business rules, and North Carolina lawmakers advanced a bill to set a minimum age for hemp and kratom purchases. Enforcement & Supply Chains: Nigeria’s NDLEA arrested a Brazil-based businessman after finding 6.10kg of liquid cocaine concealed in shirts and towels, while separate reporting highlights broader drug network crackdowns. Industry Tech & Farming: K-State and partners are set for a weed-management field day featuring AI recognition, drones, and autonomous robots as herbicide resistance and margins squeeze growers. Community & Brand Spillover: A Portage, Manitoba animal shelter partnered with Fire & Flower Cannabis for a food drive through June 30.

Federal Policy Shift: The U.S. has officially reclassified medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, a move supporters say could unlock more research and ease tax/regulatory friction for state-legal operators. Local Enforcement & Taxes: Los Angeles voters approved Measure CB, requiring unlicensed/illegal weed shops to pay the same cannabis taxes as licensed retailers, with Measure TC also passing to close hotel-tax loopholes for online travel companies. State Hemp Rules: North Carolina lawmakers advanced a bill to bar people under 21 from buying/possessing certain hemp-derived consumables (including smokable hemp flower and kratom). Industry Finance: The Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF (CNBS) is highlighted as payout-dependent on a single stressed cannabis landlord tenant, raising distribution sustainability questions. Public Health & Safety: Experts warn drug abuse is rising nationwide amid economic pressure, more narcotics availability, and gaps in enforcement and rehab. Regulatory/Operations: Fiji’s government rejected calls to end joint police-military operations, citing destruction of 74,000+ marijuana plants and ongoing drug seizures while stressing human-rights accountability.

Regulation Update (U.S.): Los Angeles voters approved Measure CB, requiring unlicensed cannabis dispensaries to pay existing city cannabis taxes, while also passing Measure TC to raise taxes on online travel companies—both changes could reshape enforcement and revenue this summer. Market Access (U.S.): Virginia lawmakers and Gov. Abigail Spanberger reached a tentative deal to create a legal adult-use marijuana marketplace framework, potentially expanding legal access for areas like Danville and Pittsylvania County. Local Rules (U.S.): Sacramento’s city council is set to vote on new cannabis dispensary location rules, including allowing storefront dispensaries in some residential mixed-use and central business districts while adding buffers around churches and other dispensaries. Enforcement (U.S.): Siskiyou County intensified summer cannabis enforcement, reporting eradication of 903 illegal plants and 90 lbs of processed marijuana in one recent warrant. Business/Finance: Verano Holdings completed a 1-for-5 reverse split ahead of a major exchange uplisting, citing rescheduling tailwinds.

Courtroom Wins for Cannabis Ballot Measures: Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court let a repeal initiative move forward for the November ballot, saying the AG’s ballot summary was fair and the measure’s parts were sufficiently related. Regulatory Enforcement in Focus: New York’s appeals court cleared the way for warrantless inspections of hemp stores, while a separate NY federal judge rejected an attempt to block retail marijuana licensure. Illinois Hemp Crackdown: Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill aligning “intoxicating hemp” sales with the 21+ age limit and adding cannabis-style rules like child-proof packaging and anti-misleading marketing. Industry & Business Moves: Avicanna closed a non-brokered private placement to fund working capital, production, and R&D; NewLake Capital Partners approved a $0.43 Q2 dividend tied to its real-estate portfolio serving licensed cannabis operators. Product Claims Under Fire: Lil Baby’s hemp company countersued over allegations of elevated THC and contamination, while Bay Smokes disputes the claims and points to its own lab testing. Compliance & Operations: Oklahoma’s enforcement teams seized 49,257 marijuana plants in Nowata County, with ICE detaining seven people amid allegations of illegal cultivation and black-market trafficking.

Regulatory Shake-Up: Rhode Island’s Senate confirmed Michelle Reddish as the new Cannabis Control Commission chair, with Robert Jacquard reappointed—setting the tone for how medical, adult-use, and hemp rules get enforced. Hemp vs. THC Court Fight: Ohio’s hemp-derived THC restrictions are now in court, with Michigan businesses watching closely as the outcome could foreshadow what happens next in other states. Testing Rules Clash: Missouri’s vape recall highlights a dispute over whether THC concentrate testing was done in the wrong form versus finished cartridges—raising compliance questions for manufacturers. Policy Push at City Hall: Springfield, Illinois is weighing a proposal to let cannabis dispensaries run drive-thrus until 1:30 a.m., aligning with liquor rules. Industry Ops & Payments: A practical explainer on payment APIs looks at how CBD-friendly processors handle online transactions and compliance. Market/Access Moves: Massachusetts’ Tribal Fire Cannabis Delivery expands its delivery footprint after CCC action, adding Falmouth and Hyannis. Public Health Warning: France’s drug monitoring report flags rising adulterated cannabis and other drugs, warning users face unpredictable risks. Medical Cannabis Launch: Ukraine’s medical cannabis program is now operational, with first dispensations reported for patients in multiple cities.

Hemp & CBD Policy: A House committee fight over federal hemp THC rules is being framed as “safety,” but critics say it effectively blocks domestic CBD production and shifts business to foreign and gray-market channels. Corporate Dealmaking: K&L Gates advised Cannatrek on its approved sale to Little Green Pharma, signaling more consolidation and vertical integration in Australia’s medicinal cannabis sector. Regulatory Appointments: Rhode Island confirmed Michelle Reddish as the new Cannabis Control Commission chair, keeping the regulator’s medical and adult-use oversight moving. Local Cannabis Rules: Springfield, Missouri planners weigh allowing dispensary drive-thrus to stay open later, while Moorefield, Ontario council keeps retail cannabis out. Enforcement & Seizures: Hong Kong Customs seized ~15 kg of suspected cannabis buds from an arriving passenger, arresting a woman. Hemp Beverages: Hometown Hero will exhibit World Cup-focused hemp-derived THC drinks at Austin’s Hemp Beverage Expo. Industry Litigation: A Florida dispensary argued a patient can’t sue over secretly sharing health data with Google, citing website consent.

Cannabis Finance: FundCanna is embedding its ReadyPaid BNPL into Apex Trading’s cannabis marketplace, letting sellers get paid instantly while buyers get extended terms—aimed at easing supply-chain cash crunches tied to delinquent receivables. Corporate Moves: Verano completed a 1-for-5 reverse stock split and filed Nevada share-authority changes as it positions for future U.S. exchange uplisting. Market Performance: Cronos says its Spinach® vapes hit #1 in Canada with 10.4% market share in April 2026, citing high-purity extracts and hardware upgrades. Company Updates: FLUENT named Matt Mundy interim CEO after David Vautrin stepped down, as the company advances its Vireo acquisition path. Policy & Compliance: North Carolina lawmakers are advancing a bill to set age 21 for buying THC, hemp products, and kratom. Regulatory Fight: A drug testing industry group and MMJ International asked a federal appeals court to pause Trump-era federal marijuana rescheduling. Hemp Industry Pressure: An industrial hemp CEO argues “hemp tax” costs are worsening as cannabinoid products like Delta-8 and THC drinks keep reigniting regulatory confusion. Packaging Innovation: Z1RO is converting fallen leaves, hemp hurds, and other non-wood biomass into moulded fibre packaging designed to replace plastic and virgin pulp.

Federal Cannabis Policy: Trade groups and a biopharma firm asked the D.C. Circuit to pause DOJ’s medical pot rescheduling rule while their challenge plays out, keeping uncertainty high for operators. State & Local Enforcement: New York City sheriff’s deputies resealed a Pelham Gardens smoke shop after a second shutdown attempt, seizing hundreds of pounds of illegal cannabis plus THC/flavored vapes and untaxed tobacco. Regulatory Pressure on Growers: Carpinteria cannabis growers rushed to install odor-control tech to avoid license revocations, with officials saying only one grower still lacks required controls. Retail Market Access: Hamilton, Ohio held a public hearing on zoning that could end its long dispensary ban, while Amador County’s first dispensary bid in Sutter Creek moves forward with a community listening session. Hemp/THC Product Rules: Pennsylvania’s Senate failed to advance a bill aimed at tightening intoxicating hemp THC limits and creating a cannabis control board, leaving current gaps in place. Industry Scaling & Ops: A cannabis automation piece argues operators should scale via staged workflow and infrastructure, not one big machine. Business Moves: Glass House Brands filed a shelf prospectus and launched an at-the-market equity program to fund growth.

NYSE Uplisting: Trulieve won approval to list on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker TRLV, positioning it as the first U.S. cannabis company on the NYSE after medical marijuana was reclassified to Schedule III. Market Watch: Traders are already bracing for a major U.S. rescheduling hearing that could move recreational marijuana toward Schedule 3, with potential ripple effects for cannabis stocks. Retail Expansion: High Tide says it opened a new Canna Cabana in Welland, Ontario, and expects another in Calgary, keeping its store count climbing. Consumer Policy: Multiple states passed 2026 laws raising adult marijuana possession limits, aiming to reduce criminal exposure while expanding what shoppers can carry. Veterans Access: A VA policy-focused op-ed argues internal rules still shape how clinicians talk to veterans about medical cannabis, with FOIA documents pointing to clearer “bright line” guidance. Compliance & Tech: CannBro highlighted ISO/GMP-certified compliance and “factory pricing + local stock” logistics at Cannabis Expo Johannesburg. Enforcement & Safety: Florida health officials reported glyphosate in store-bought bread, sparking debate with independent toxicologists over testing and safety thresholds. Industry Crime: A Royal Mail drug ring in the U.K. used thousands of parcels to ship multiple drugs, including cannabis resin and THC edibles.

Mainstreaming & Markets: Trulieve says its shares are approved for listing on the NYSE (ticker “TRLV”), a milestone that signals growing legitimacy for U.S. cannabis operators. Regulation Watch: Illinois lawmakers advance a bill to overhaul hemp and cannabis rules, including higher possession limits and potential changes to where medical marijuana can be purchased. Local Governance: Warner Robins, Georgia extends a moratorium on new liquor stores, vape shops, CBD and tobacco-focused businesses for 120 days, citing youth concerns and school proximity. Public Health & Safety: A new report warns Europe is seeing more potent drugs and shifting trafficking routes, with opioids still driving most overdose deaths. Hemp Loophole Backlash: A congressional hemp loophole is blamed for unsafe, unregulated intoxicating hemp products, with child exposures and poison control cases tied to edible THC. Industry Operations: TerrAscend shareholders approve director re-elections and auditor ratification at its annual meeting. Compliance & Crime: New Zealand customs seized about 100kg of cocaine worth up to $35m hidden in “Prada”-branded bricks inside a shipping container at the Port of Tauranga.

Medical Cannabis Market: Trulieve says it’s set to become the first U.S. cannabis company to list on the NYSE after its approval to trade under ticker TRLV, following Florida’s medical marijuana Schedule III reclassification. Regulation & Local Policy: Lake Success trustees advanced zoning changes and set a July 13 public hearing that would allow up to two cannabis dispensaries in a limited business district. Product & Tech for Operators: AccuBANKER launched the AB8000 CashGrader, pitching bank-grade bill fitness sorting and multi-layer counterfeit detection for cash-heavy businesses like dispensaries. Public Health & Safety: EU Drugs Agency warned that vapes may increasingly carry adulterated cannabis and other harmful substances, especially as youth use rises. Enforcement: Canada’s Mission RCMP arrested three people after searches tied to a website allegedly selling cannabis and psilocybin to youth, seizing vapes, edibles, and mushroom products. Business Expansion: Wholeleaf is in advanced talks to raise Rs 7.5 crore to expand its pain-therapeutics business in India.

Texas Hemp Rules: A Texas appeals court lifted a stay, letting the state enforce challenged hemp product restrictions while litigation continues, including child-resistant packaging, testing, a 0.3% THC limit for consumables, and steep retailer licensing fees. State Tax Pressure: Michigan’s new 25% wholesale cannabis tax is coming in far below projections—$34M in the first quarter versus $86M forecast—fueling calls to rethink the structure as industry argues it pushes buyers back to the illicit market. Local Dispensary Fight: Harrison County, Mississippi denied an appeal tied to a medical cannabis dispensary and processing facility, clearing the way for Intent Holdings’ plans despite resident concerns about odor and visibility. Hemp-to-Fashion Push: Choose Your Change announced a Sept. 19-20 Brooklyn Farm-to-Fabric Hemp Textile & Fashion Showcase to connect hemp farmers, manufacturers, and designers and spotlight the full supply chain. Retail Innovation: Logan’s Roadhouse is testing THC-infused cocktails in Texas using hemp-derived THC spirits, signaling how mainstream beverage brands keep experimenting with cannabis formats.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Launch: Alabama’s first legal medical dispensary, Callie’s Apothecary in Montgomery, opened this week, with patients starting to buy approved products as the state’s medical program expands beyond the initial rollout. Industry Compliance & Quality: KND Labs president Nicholas Wilson was elected to the National Animal Supplement Council board as the company grows its quality-focused contract manufacturing beyond hemp-derived inputs. Local Cannabis Retail Expansion: Lake Success, New York, advanced zoning steps toward Nassau County’s first recreational cannabis dispensary, with a proposed cap and special-use permitting plus traffic, parking, and security reviews. Tax Pressure on Markets: Michigan’s new 25% wholesale cannabis tax is coming in far below projections, generating $34M in the first quarter versus $86M forecast, fueling fresh debate over whether cannabis tax plans can reliably fund public budgets. THC Drinks Under Threat: A report highlights growing risk for the THC beverage boom, pointing to a federal rule change that could tighten or restrict intoxicating hemp-derived drinks starting this November. Animal Wellness & Cannabinoids: The KND Labs move also underscores how cannabinoids are increasingly showing up in pet wellness manufacturing conversations alongside broader supplement standards.

Regulatory Pressure on Weedkiller: Australia’s top neurologists say the APVMA ignored their warnings during its paraquat review, as a final decision is expected mid-year—raising fresh concerns for Parkinson’s-linked risk. Legal Cannabis Market Watch: Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board says federal rescheduling uncertainty, retail ownership limits, and ongoing oversupply are squeezing the state’s legal marijuana model while illicit sales remain “thriving.” Industry Expansion Moves: Tilray is trying to evolve from marijuana into a broader consumer brand manager after buying craft brewer Brewdog, though critics point to Brewdog’s recent struggles. Public Safety & Access: New York regulators are rolling out a World Cup education push so tourists can find and use legal cannabis responsibly around MetLife Stadium. Crime & Enforcement: UK reports warn Chinese triads are being directed by Beijing to spy and could use brothels to blackmail MPs, while separate coverage highlights drug contamination fears in Grimsby. Local Business/Community: A Dorset farm robot (“Raggy”) is entering trials to mechanically remove ragwort, aiming to cut chemical use and protect livestock.

Cannabis Regulation & Markets: Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board says federal rescheduling and state oversupply are creating uncertainty, while regulators try to protect a small-business retail model and keep pressure on illicit sales. Adult-Use Policy: Virginia lawmakers are still negotiating after Gov. Spanberger vetoed a recreational retail bill, with talks aimed at a compromise before the June 30 budget deadline. Medical Cannabis & Federal Rules: Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management held listening sessions as officials warn that upcoming federal limits on THC/CBD per container could hurt both hemp and cannabis businesses. Retail Innovation: Toronto’s Cosmic Charlies is leaning into World Cup tourism with trophy-themed novelty bongs, expecting a sales lift as international visitors arrive. Enforcement & Compliance: California’s Carpinteria Valley growers are racing to meet odor-control requirements after county threats of license revocation; officials say only one grower still lacks required controls. Industry Business: Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) is pitched as a cannabis-focused REIT opportunity, banking on specialized facilities and regulatory barriers that keep tenants “sticky.”