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Hey there, happy Friday! It’s Nicolás Rodríguez and Patricio Liddle here, bringing you this week’s latest updates from the cannabis world. We’ll dive into Curaleaf’s struggles, Village Farms’ international prospects, and Advanced Flower Capital’s strong performance. Plus, we’ll unpack the drama surrounding President-elect Trump’s DEA pick, the U.S.’s $13 billion global drug war, and its impact. Lastly, if you're running a dispensary, we’ve got some holiday inventory tips to boost your profits. Let’s get into it!

Time to Light Up Your Portfolio These Holidays

After crashing 75% from its 2022 high of $8, Curaleaf stock is testing $1.70—its next support level. If $1.70 holds, maybe there’s a chance for a bounce, but don’t hold your breath. Without a game-changing catalyst, this one looks stuck. Resistance levels to watch: $2.50 and $3.00. But if that breaks, it’s likely back to $1.00. Tough times. Do you want to know if this is a buy or a hold? Check out Rolando Garcia’s full analysis for the inside scoop.

Village Farms shows signs of recovery with a 30-40% margin on branded sales and a growing footprint in Germany, Australia, and the UK. Despite a 1% growth in Canada, international sales are expected to drive future revenue. The stock is undervalued, trading at an enterprise value of $120 million, which analyst Pablo Zuanic argues doesn’t reflect the true value of its cannabis assets.

Meanwhile Advanced Flower Capital continues to outperform, delivering a 14% dividend yield with a quarterly payout of $0.33. In 2024, it secured $116 million in new loan commitments, including a $41 million facility to Story Cannabis in Maryland. Its portfolio diversification has reduced risk, and analysts predict continued growth in distributable earnings, with potential dividend hikes and an increase in BVPS from $9.91.

Trump’s DEA Drama Amid A $13 Billion Reckoning

President-elect Trump’s DEA pick chaos feels like theater, but behind the curtain lies a more sobering act: the U.S.’s $13 billion spent on global “counternarcotics” since 2015. 

A report by Harm Reduction International and the Drug Policy Alliance reveals how these taxpayer dollars have funded forced rehabilitation, toxic fumigation, and militarized drug wars in countries like the Philippines, Colombia, and Mexico—leaving devastation in their wake. The DEA’s role in these initiatives highlights a troubling commitment to colonialist, violent drug policies over evidence-based harm reduction.

As international communities suffer, the U.S. remains haunted by its domestic war on drugs. Charlamagne the God hit the nail on the head, calling out President Biden for pardoning his son but failing to release non-violent cannabis prisoners like Edwin Rubis, who’s served 27 years for weed offenses.

The hypocrisy is glaring: billions wasted abroad, lives destroyed at home, and promises still unfulfilled.

Push Back

As Texas gears up to pass Senate Bill 3, aiming to ban all THC products, the state is looking to close a legal loophole exploited since 2019.

In Illinois, the state Supreme Court has approved searches based on the smell of raw cannabis, raising privacy concerns.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s push for legalization could generate up to $2.8 billion in tax revenue and create 45,000 jobs in its first year. With numbers like these on the line, the stakes are high for cannabis businesses as the battle over legalization and prohibition intensifies.

Smart Stocking

Dispensary owners, now’s the time to rethink your inventory. Green Wednesday 2024 delivered massive sales, with average basket sizes jumping 91% from a normal Wednesday to $70.80. Flower sales saw a dip, but vapes (+28%) and edibles (+14%) spiked, proving consumers are after variety. 

Offering discounts—38% off flowers, 35% off vapes, 28% off edibles, and 33% off pre-rolls—drove traffic and boosted sales. Markets like Ohio (+89%) and New Jersey (+27%) are on fire, while California (-8%) and Colorado (-9%) lag. New York saw top basket averages at $83.37. Smart stocking—focus on vapes, edibles, and pre-rolls—could maximize profits through the holiday season.

Weekend Weed Reads:

• Will Hemp Clothing Ever Become Affordable? Here's What's Changing

• Snoop Dogg Launches Online Cannabis Marketplace Featuring THCA Flower And Smoking Accessories

• Cannabis-Focused Poseidon Bets On New Jersey, Wraps Up Investments In These Two Dispensaries

• EXCLUSIVE: Why Teens Are Confused By Cannabis Products And How Parents Can Help

• NFL Eases Marijuana Rules: Is Full Legalization In The Game Plan?

• Aaron Rodgers Opens Up About Psychedelic Healing In New Netflix Docuseries, 'Enigma'

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Our Writers Today

Nicolás holds a B.A. in International Relations, an M.A. in International Affairs, and an M.Phil in Public Policy. He is a doctoral student in Public and Urban Policy at The New School in New York City. After working for the United Nations in 2014, Nico pivoted his research to studying the relationship between the cannabis industry and economic development.

Patricio is a development economist with extensive experience in IT, finance, and banking. He writes about the economic and social opportunities obscured by over half a century of failed drug prohibition. Beyond his professional expertise, Pato is a committed advocate for social change, passionately working to promote harm reduction and reform drug policies.

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