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Good morning everyone! Nicolás Rodríguez here, sweeping up the latest highlights—just like those relentless fall leaves that never stop piling up. Village Farms is calling out the DEA for bias, demanding it step aside in the cannabis rescheduling process. Meanwhile, Dave Petersen, a veteran turned entrepreneur, is reviving the American dream with automation and workforce development. And just as the weekend approaches, the Beer Institute is pushing for cannabis beverages to pay more taxes. Let’s read it all while Friday gets closer!

Shamshank Redemption

Village Farms (NASDAQ: VFF) and Hemp for Victory want the DEA out of rescheduling, citing bias and a lack of transparency. Their solution? Pass the baton to the DOJ for a fair shot at moving cannabis to Schedule III.

The motion accuses the DEA of “unlawful” actions, biased decisions, and excluding key voices while including prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). Village Farms CEO Michael DeGiglio called out regulatory barriers “restricting access to cannabis and blocking clinical research.”

Legal counsel Shane Pennington didn’t hold back: “Treating the DEA as the proponent of the Proposed Rule would render these proceedings a sham.” The motion demands transparency, record preservation, and accountability for any misconduct.

The controversy deepens as cannabis advocacy groups and researchers voice concerns. The Veterans Action Council (VAC) and Panacea Plant Sciences allege the DEA excluded critical stakeholders, undermining the fairness of the upcoming December 2 hearing. VAC’s Michael Krawitz stated, “The DEA failed to meet its obligation to include all interested parties.”

The motion could reset the rules of engagement, paving the way for greater transparency and accountability. However, with the DEA unlikely to step aside quietly, the battle is far from over. Could this shake up the regulatory landscape, or is it just another round of bureaucratic stalling?

And what about Trump’s anti-establishment streak? With his pro-cannabis appointees—Kennedy, Oz, and Gaetz—at the helm of key agencies, could this signal a shift toward a more cannabis-friendly government? Might the fight move beyond the DEA, bringing cannabis reform into new institutional spheres? Or, is this motion setting the stage for a media-fueled legal showdown, a move Trump loves to make?

Wana Bet? Canopy’s Low-Risk Exposure For Investors

Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC) is betting big on the U.S. cannabis market with Canopy USA (CUSA), which is structured to comply with NASDAQ rules while preparing for federal reform. CEO David Klein and CFO Judy Hong revealed CUSA’s potential to generate $300 million annually at 20% EBITDA margins. 

Key holdings include Wana, Jetty, and Acreage, with full Acreage ownership expected in 2025 to unlock cost savings and efficiency. CUSA faces challenges in mature markets like Colorado but leverages brand synergies, including collaborations between Wana and Jetty. Audited CUSA financials in 2025 aim to boost investor confidence.

Beer Industry To Cannabis: Pay Up

The Beer Institute is pushing for higher taxes on intoxicating hemp and cannabis beverages, recommending rates “higher than the highest” for alcohol. They argue that cannabis products should meet stricter safety and oversight standards, pay more taxes, and avoid co-location with alcohol sales to maintain consumer safety and public health.

America First

Dave Petersen, a former Green Beret, uses automation at his Chico, California-based C4 Cannabis Company to revive the American dream. By combining advanced technology with workforce development, Petersen equips young adults with trade skills that echo the roots of American manufacturing—turning jobs into lifelong professions. His vision is clear: automation isn’t just efficiency, it’s empowerment.

“This isn’t only about cannabis. We’re building skills for industries like pharmaceuticals and essential oils,” Petersen said. His philosophy merges local opportunity with global ambition, aiming to position U.S.-made cannabis equipment as a worldwide market leader. “Putting cannabis first is putting America first,” Petersen emphasized.

From PTSD To Down Syndrome: Cannabis Treatments 

The FDA has approved a long-delayed Phase 2 trial on smoked cannabis for veterans with PTSD, involving 320 participants to assess benefits and risks. Meanwhile, French biotech Aelis Farma reported groundbreaking results from a Phase 1/2 trial of AEF0217, a selective CB1 receptor inhibitor, improving adaptive behavior in young adults with Down syndrome after just four weeks. These advances highlight cannabis and CB1-focused treatments as promising avenues for cognitive and behavioral conditions.

Buds Like Diamonds: Botswana Bets On Cannabis

Botswana’s new president, Duma Boko, plans to diversify the nation’s diamond-dependent economy by launching a medical cannabis and hemp market. With diamonds accounting for 25% of GDP but falling in value, Boko projects cannabis could significantly boost GDP while creating jobs. The strategy also includes solar energy expansion and tech infrastructure investments like Starlink.

Stories In The Spotlight:

• Missouri's Psychoactive Hemp Products Boom Sparks Regulatory, Industry Conflict

• Psyence Biomedical Secures Extension To Meet Nasdaq Compliance Standards

• Canopy Growth, Aurora And Another Cannabis Giant Unveil Product Innovations, Here's What's New

• 'Culture Is Not Something You Can Buy': Why Genuine Engagement Matters In Cannabis

Our Writer 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 Public and Urban Policy doctoral student 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.

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