Welcome back cannabis colleagues, friends and readers. Javier Hasse and Maureen Meehan here to get the week started after a long weekend. Lots of international cannabis news this week, from Argentina to Russia and back again.

In today's issue:

• TOP Story: Brittney Griner Pulls Out Of Women Grow Conference

• Speaking Of Being Imprisoned In Russia

• Remember The Navy Seal That Took Down Osama bin Laden? He’s Got A Weed Company In NYC

• Attorney Robert Hoban On The Global Trade Of Cannabis: A Growing Commodity Market

• Florida: How Are Things Going?

• What Benzinga Has Been Reporting These Past Several Days

TOP Story: Brittney Griner Pulls Out Of Women Grow Conference

Brittney Griner, who spent nearly 10 months in a Russian prison for cannabis possession, pulled out of the Women Grow Leadership Summit in Maryland on Monday where she was slated to speak, reported Marijuana Moment.

What Happened: After discovering what she felt was a threatening message in her hotel room. Women Grow told the outlet that Griner was dropping out because she found a note duct taped to the door of her room that read “Gay Baby Jail.” Marijuana Moment’s Kyle Jaeger noted that it was not clear whether the message in her room was intended for Griner, who is openly gay, but apparently it was enough to make her decide to stay away.

Speaking Of Being Imprisoned In Russia

CBS News reported that Russia had freed an American citizen who was facing charges over alleged cannabis possession. Kalob Byers, 28, was released after officials reportedly found cannabis products in his luggage at a Moscow airport. Byers, who was arrested on February 7, was allegedly found with cannabis-laced gummies or marmalade in his baggage.

Byers’ release followed last week’s freeing of Marc Fogel, a former employee of the US Embassy in Moscow and an English teacher who had spent four years in prison in Russia for having entered the country with medical marijuana. The Trump administration obtained the release of Fogel in exchange for a Russian citizen as part of current moves to strike a deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Remember The Navy Seal That Took Down Osama bin Laden? He’s Got A Weed Company In NYC

Robert O’Neill, the decorated ex-Navy seal who fired the shots that killed Osama bin Laden has started his own cannabis company, Operator Canna Co, and will soon begin selling his own weed brand in New York City, reported the NY Post.

“I wanted to get into the cannabis business through my experience in the military and watching vets suffer from things like post-traumatic stress disorder,” O’Neill, 48, told the Post.

Attorney Robert Hoban On The Global Trade Of Cannabis: A Growing Commodity Market

Robert Hoban wrote in Forbes about how the global cannabis market has transformed from a stigmatized industry to a fast-growing commodity, driven by legalization, shifting perceptions and rising demand. “Once relegated to the shadows, cannabis is now recognized as a valuable agricultural commodity. With a projected global market size of $82.3 billion by 2027, the industry spans a diverse range of products, from medicinal cannabis and CBD oils to industrial hemp and recreational marijuana.”

Hoban refers to platforms like CanXchange, Leaflink and Leaftrade as being at the forefront of shaping the future of cannabis trade “by fostering transparency, efficiency, and scalability in a complex global market.”

Florida: How Are Things Going?

The Hemp Gazette is reporting that support for legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida is still strong – but not enough, and it appears to be weakening.

What Benzinga Has Been Reporting These Past Several Days:

• Spain's Largest Cannabis B2B Event, ICBC, Returns To Barcelona: Info, Discounts and More

• Argentinian Government To Roll Back Medical Cannabis Program—300K Patients At Risk, Experts Warn: Legal Battle Ahead?

• EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Rep. Kinzinger On GOP's Internal War Over Drug Policy, Cannabis, Psychedelics – 'Quite Likely Legal In 5-10 Years'

• Super Bowl Champ's Fight for Cannabis: 'Opioids Are Killing Athletes'

• Women Grow Foundation: New 501(c)(3) to Provide Advocacy and Resources for Cannabis Entrepreneurs

• Switzerland Moves To Legalize Recreational Cannabis Under Strict Government Control

• Snoop Dogg Launches Dogg Woods Blunt Wraps, New Podcast

• THC-Infused Coffee Pods? House Of Kush Blends Cannabis & Caffeine For The Ultimate Wake & Bake

• This Week In Cannabis: RFK's HHS Confirmation, Trump's DEA Bombshell, Earnings, Global News And More

• Cannabis Stock Valuations Reflect No Expectation Of Federal Reform: Study

• US man held in Russia for carrying cannabis sweets - state media

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