Hey there, Benzinga Cannabis friends. It’s Maureen Meehan here, your resident cannabis connoisseur and reporter, coming to you with the latest highs and lows from our favorite green corner of the world.

Today’s roundup? Oh, it’s juicy. We’ve got everything from a Hollywood heist (seriously—Bill Maher and Woody Harrelson’s dispensary got hit!) to the DEA blaming, well… pretty much everyone, and the Trump administration doing a 180 on psychedelics.

Plus, a new poll on veterans and medical marijuana, federal funding drama in Florida implicating Gov. DeSantis, and a New York Knicks legend reflecting on a cannabis-infused turning point.

Buckle up, light up (if you’re legal), and let’s dive in.👇

In today's issue:

• 🔒 Crime & Cannabis

• 🧠 Psychedelics, Policy & The Trump Administration

• 🪖 Veterans & Medical Access

• 🏛️ Politics & Legal Showdowns

• 🚔 DEA Double Talk

• 🏀 Cannabis & Culture

🚨 Cannabis Store Owned By Bill Maher, Woody Harrelson Hit By Smash-And-Grab Burglars

The Woods WeHo, the lush West Hollywood dispensary co-owned by Bill Maher, Woody Harrelson, Laura Harrelson and John McEnroe, was smashed into by a crew of masked burglars around 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Security footage shows five individuals breaking in, scooping up bags of product, and vanishing in seconds. The same crew reportedly struck ERBA in Santa Monica the next night—only this time, they were met with bullets from a security guard. No injuries were reported, but yikes.

“Shots fired, shots fired, shots fired. That’s the only way to defend what’s yours in the city of L.A.,” said Elliot Lewis, the owner who shared the footage.

🍄 Exploring Psychedelic Medicine Is A ‘Top Priority’ For Trump Administration, FDA Commissioner Says

Yep, you read that right. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary just called the push to explore psychedelics like psilocybin and ibogaine a “top priority,” especially for helping military vets heal from what he called “unnecessary wars.”

🗣️ “I don’t think the medical establishment is listening to doctors,” Makary said on NewsNation. “People tell me that they believe that psilocybin was successful. It was a curative, or significantly helped, their severe mood disorder.”

Federal greenlight on psychedelics? Don’t look now, but it’s picking up speed.

👨‍✈️ Most Veterans And Their Family Members Say VA Doctors Should Be Able To Provide Medical Marijuana, Poll Shows

According to a new survey from Mission Roll Call, 57% of veterans and family members think VA doctors should be allowed to provide medical cannabis. That number dips when it comes to psychedelics (27%), ketamine (17%), and esketamine (12%). The poll gathered nearly 2,000 responses from across all 50 states.

The message? Veterans want more options—especially safe ones.

💰 Members Of Congress Want Federal Investigation Into Use Of Florida Medicaid Funds To Oppose Marijuana Legalization By Group Tied To DeSantis

Two Florida Democrats in Congress—Reps. Kathy Castor and Darren Soto—want a federal investigation into what they call a “potentially unlawful diversion” of Medicaid dollars. The money allegedly funded anti-cannabis campaigns aimed at blocking Florida’s adult-use legalization ballot initiative. The kicker? The group reportedly has close ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“The diversion of Medicaid dollars requires immediate investigation,” the lawmakers wrote. And yes, this could get ugly.

🕵️‍♂️ DEA Blames Legal Marijuana States For Inadvertently Aiding Cartels While Also Admitting That Prohibition States Create Illegal Market Opportunities

In its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment, the DEA says legal states are unintentionally giving cover to international cartels using state licenses to mask illegal activity. At the same time, the agency quietly admits that prohibition states fuel demand for illicit cannabis in the first place.

Translation? Legal states are apparently both the problem and the solution, depending on who you ask.

🌱 DEA: Criminal ‘Marijuana Farm’ In New York Supplied Illegal NYC Smoke Shops

The DEA also busted a massive illegal grow op in Walworth, NY—nearly 30,000 plants and 3,700 pounds of processed cannabis. Two men, Ferrydoon Ardehali from Staten Island and Colby Riggle from California, are now facing charges that could land them in federal prison for a decade or more.

🗣️ “Large scale marijuana grows that violate federal law are not legal and will remain targets of our enforcement efforts,” said DEA Special Agent Frank Tarentino.

🎤 John Starks Recalls Getting Kicked Out Of College For Smoking Marijuana And Getting A Regular Job

Before he was a New York Knicks legend, John Starks was just a kid who partied too hard, smoked weed, and got kicked out of junior college. That moment pushed him into a regular job making $3.35 an hour—until he realized where he really belonged: the hardwood.

🗣️ “That is when I started working at Safeway and making $3.35 an hour,” he told the Gimme The Hot Sauce podcast. “I had to go home, face my mother, grandmother.”

From bagging groceries to draining jumpers at Madison Square Garden? Now that’s a comeback.

That’s it for today’s Cannabis Daily, folks. Keep it safe, keep it smart, and keep fighting the good fight for cannabis reform, equity, and access.

BEFORE YOU GO

Were you forwarded this email? Click here to subscribe.

And be sure to check out our other newsletters:

Ring The Bell: Created for market enthusiasts by market enthusiasts, this twice-daily newsletter delivers top stories, fast movers, and hot trade ideas straight to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Future Finance: Where fintech, crypto, and the future of finance collide. Future Finance is a perfect lunch read packed with quick bites for industry enthusiasts. Subscribe here.

Advisor: Tailor-made for Financial Advisors, this weekly newsletter has industry-specific insights, analysis, and news. Subscribe here.

Tech Trends: Get the inside scoop on AI, the hottest gadgets, and mind-blowing tech trends. Subscribe here.